This is a great article that describes the power of having a vision in the simplest of terms, and points out that the most successful people on the plant had a vision.  The pitfalls in life are just a part of the process, especially when you have a strong vision that keeps you motivated and moving forward.

Like many of the people listed in this article, they were all discourage from doing what they envisioned was possible and are the best in their industry today.

It is a short but powerful read.  Enjoy.

To Your Success,

Carolyn

5 Reason Why Vision is Important in Leadership

By: Chantal Bechervaise

“Your vision will become clear only when you can look into your own heart. Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes.”                                                                ~ Carl Jung

Walt Disney was fired from a newspaper because he “lacked imagination and had no good ideas.”

Oprah Winfrey, at the age of 22, was fired from her job as a television reporter because she was "unfit for TV.”

Steven Spielberg was rejected from film school, not once…not twice…but three times.

Michael Jordan was cut from his high school basketball team.

Thomas Edison failed some 10,000 times before successfully inventing the light bulb.

What led these successful and talented people to continue despite failure and rejection?

VISION

What is Vision?

Vision is a mental picture of the future. It is an idea of what the future can hold, but has not yet happened.

Vision is the thing inside of us that guides us. It creates a desire to grow and improve. Vision embodies our hopes and ideals. It gives us a sense of purpose. Visions brings us flashes or glimpses of what is possible.

Vision is when architects dream of new buildings and designs. Or when business people dream of growing their business.

So why is Vision important in Leadership?

1) Vision shows us where we are headed.

As a leader you have to look forward and see where you and the company are headed. This is important in order to avert catastrophe before it happens, or to plan for increases in staffing, production, etc. Vision helps a leader prepare for the future. Vision keeps a leader on course during rocky times or unexpected set backs.

2) Vision provides motivation and inspires us to keep on going.

Leaders need to keep the end result in mind. A leader’s vision needs to be strong enough to carry them through to the end. Otherwise they will stop short of their goals.

3) Vision helps to keep us moving forward and move through obstacles.

If a leader has a strong vision, little set backs and obstacles will seem small and / or insignificant. They will work through them and persevere to the end, learning as they go. Vision helps leaders to persevere.

4) Vision provides focus.

With all of life’s distractions, and people vying for our attention nowadays, it can be hard to feel a sense of accomplishment. As a leader, acting on your vision will provide you with the focus needed to accomplish your goals. Vision helps leaders work on what is important to achieve the end results and not get caught up in the mundane stuff. It helps leaders to focus on the 20% that is important instead of the remaining 80% that can be delegated and handled by others.

5) Vision gives us meaning and purpose to what we do.

As a leader, it will help you to see the end result of your efforts. It will give you your “why?” and the reason that you are doing what you do.

“A leader has the vision and conviction that a dream can be achieved. He inspires the power and energy to get it done.”
                                                                           ~ Ralph Lauren