What's your Vision?

I'm curious about the difference between people who have a big vision for their life or their business  and those who have a very small vision.  Some people just think in the 1's and 2's while others think of the 100's and 1000's.  What's the root?

After listening to hundreds of personal and organizational stories over the years, I have begun to form a hypothesis that goes like this:

"The only difference between people who achieve big or small visions is that those who achieve bigger visions believe they are worthy of achieving bigger visions."

It all seems to come down to belief. 

Someone was commenting the other day that a big CEO was hired because he had "an awesome rolodex", meaning he had all kinds of juicy connections that the hiring Board thought would be advantageous.  After ten years though, the CEO's alleged file of connections had not produced any fruit.  What happened?

What I learned was that the CEO came in and found an organization that didn't believe it was worthy of a big vision.  All they wanted was to protect their historical significance.  So, there was no entry point for his "rolodex" to connect.  People with big vision don't tend to connect with people with small vision.

My desire is to have a vision for my life that aligns with the gifts, capacity, and experiences that I have been afforded...  To leave behind a world that, like a campsite, is cleaner then I found it… a world of people living on purpose and using their gifts and talents for the greater good… a world connected by a common concern for the future and the belief that all people are resourceful and whole with the capacity to love and be loved.

I know how easy it is to slip into complacency and comfort.  My desire then is to stay on my edge, to stay in what makes life challenging and sometimes uncomfortable, to continue the pursuit of the uncertain outcome. 

What about you?

Onward!

V

What's Next?

Three young adult leaders of the Syrian Armenian YMCA in Yerevan were at a forum last week and we were able to meet up for a few minutes.  Amidst all of their current challenges and opportunities they have found the YMCA to be the place for their self-expression and contribution.  The three leaders were from three different political parties in Syria and would never have associated had it not been for their displacement and unified desire to support their Syrian community.  What they discovered was they had more to bring them together than to keep them apart.  While facing significant challenges in their current situation, we talked and began to break things down.  We addressed some fears.  We talked about what they were wanting.  As we progressed, I could sense a calming and a resolve to action. 

 

It occurs to me that this is how change comes about.  When challenged, we can hunker down and protect ourselves and likely not change or grow as we focus on simply surviving.  Another way is to face the challenge, honor our fears, and dig into our deeper desires.  From there, a clarity emerges that ultimately drives and motivates our forward action.

 

So, it's not so much a single question as it is following a path of exploration and inquiry.  What's going on?  What are you wanting?  What's blocking you?  How are your fears playing in the situation?  What is it you really want?  What might you do to get that?  What's next?

 

I love what I get to do.

 

Onward!

 

V