According to a world renowned author, political activist, and lecturer – Helen Keller – what is worse than being born blind is “to have a sight but no vision”. Born blind in a town of Tuscumbia, Alabama in the United States, Helen Keller caught a vision that made her a global icon. She was the first deaf-blind person in the world to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree. Unfortunately today, many have eyes but cannot see beyond their environment because they lack the vision of the future. What is Vision? Vision is the crystal clear mental picture of the Future. It is faith in Pictures. Vision is not a goal, and neither is it an ambition. Vision is God’s dream for your life. The principal key to becoming successful in life is vision. If a nation is confused, it’s because the leaders have lost the vision. If a company is confused, it’s because the management lacks vision. As an individual, settle on one vision. Why nations do not succeed is because they do not have a common vision. Your company will not succeed if all stakeholders do not agree on a common vision. Listen, vision means a single vision; di-vision means two visions. So the greatest enemy of vision is another vision confusing your vision. Therefore, you must settle on a vision you want to achieve in life. God is not an author of confusion. He had a vision of the creation when He created the earth. True leadership is born when vision is captured. Vision is never given to a group, it is given to an individual, who in turn communicates it to others and enlist them in bringing it to reality. That is the reason it becomes so dangerous when the CEO of a company or President of a nation lacks the vision of why he is elected to an office, he throws everyone into confusion. Remember, you are born with a vision; you do not imagine or conjure it. Vision produces goals and set targets to realizing it. As long as you live, just know that every vision will be tested. Your vision will be attacked to test if you truly believe it. But know that vision is more powerful than opposition. Therefore, believe in your vision even though no one believes in it. Visionary leaders possess a sense of destiny. They transfer ownership of the vision to others. Why? It is because they see beyond themselves to the next generation of leaders.

Below is “The Seven Principles to Turning Your Vision into Reality”:

(1) Your Vision must be conceived – it must be birthed in your heart
(2) Your Vision must be believed – every vision must first have a believer – the originator – You
(3) Your Vision must be documented – write it down and make it plain (Habakkuk 2:2)
(4) Your Vision must be simplified – make it workable and achievable
(5) Your Vision must be communicated – everyone involved must be in the knowing
(6) Your Vision must be shared – it should be well distributed for effective division of labor
(7) Your Vision must be anticipated – expect the vision to come to pass

See you at the TOP.

Dr. Elvis Ukpaka
Leadership Consultant