Seeing is Believing

As a business advisor I get to speak with a large1961 when President Kennedy announced his vision for
number of business owners. Most of these ownersputting a man on the moon and bringing him safely
are small to mid-sized companies with 5 to 150home again before the end of the decade. Of course,
employees. Although there are many factors that canwe all know the result of what most skeptics believed
cause a company to be successful or not, onewas an impossible dream.
common characteristic that distinguishes the goodThere is one other important element that contributes
from the bad is the owner's vision for the company.to the successful vision. Not only is it important that
Almost everyone who owns a business has at oneyou, as the business owner, are clear on the vision,
time formulated a vision of some kind. The successfuleveryone in your organization and around you needs
business owner usually takes the vision however, andto have the same clarity. Perhaps that is why during
crystallizes it until it becomes as clear as a photograph.the 60's, the Soviet Union's space program failed, even
To the successful business owner, the vision is theafter taking a commanding early lead. Their lack of
target, the goal, the measure of success that keepscommunication to their own people, and to the world,
the passion alive. To the struggling business owner, thewas exasperated by their strong fisted position to
vision is cloudy, with no distinguishing milestones orrestrict freedom of speech.
meaningful characteristics. Because of this, it is rarelyA friend of mine once offered up this Yogi-ism
thought about as he/she continues to struggle with theregarding vision, "A man without vision, is an umpire!"
challenge of the business.Don't become an umpire, clarify your vision today and
A good vision can produce amazing results, a poorshare it with someone. Do this simple thing and you will
vision won't. A good example of a clear vision was inincrease your odds for success.