I’ve been thinking about this a lot after leaving my last company.
Vision is crucial for motivations but it’s also the “where” for your journey.
Without a vision, you wander. And a company without a vision flounders.
So if a vision keeps you on “track” and “motivated” why don’t more people talk about it. Probably because they are difficult to put into words. Or maybe people are too shy to share them.
A vision is more abstract than a goal. You can get behind someone who wants to make $10,000 extra this year or start a side hustle.
But a vision is in stark difference to what now is.
Lyndon B Johnson would say he’s going to be President of the US when we in grade school. This seems more like a vision than a goal. Often you know the steps to get to a goal. But with visions being more abstract the journey is unknown.
I believe this is why many entrepreneurs say “enjoy the journey” when pressed for answers of how to end up like them. The journey was intoxicating for them. And it’s what makes a vision squishy.
You don’t know what lies in wait for you on your journey to realize your vision.
My vision is to create a business that I love and make good money from. It serves people, employees people, and it makes a difference in their lives. People enjoy coming to work and I enjoy running it. It generates cash to invest in other projects as well as investing in the community by helping others realize their visions.
As I grow older the local community is even more important. It’s where my kids go to school, where my church is, and where I spend most of my time.