The Importance of Personal Vision

Apr18
2012 40 Comments Written by danonleadership

If a leader has no vision while leading others then they will be ineffective in successfully leading the organization forward. This is because, “Where there is no vision, the people perish.” This is true in the context of leading other people and within a leader’s individual life. A leader who does not have personal vision will be ineffective in accomplishing their dreams and goals. This is why it is essential for a leader to have a personal vision. It gives them self motivation to move forward in accomplishing their dreams and have a positive impact on others. Tony Dungysays this about personal vision:

“The first step toward creating an improved future is developing the ability to envision it. Vision will ignite the fire of passion that fuels our commitment to do WHATEVER IT TAKES to achieve excellence. Vision has no boundaries and knows no limits. Our vision is what we become in life.”

Since vision is a large component of living a significant life, it’s wise to have and be pursuing a personal vision. Here are some suggestions on finding and moving toward your personal vision:

Think about what you want to accomplish, do, and achieve in your life. Then develop a life plan to accomplish it. It should include something that makes a difference and will leave a lasting legacy.

Write a personal vision statement on paper. This is a process that requires thought and time to develop. It should be a statement which reflects your life purpose, goals, and intentions.

Set realistic short and long term Goals aligned with your vision. Setting and focusing on your goals allows you to be moving forward in what you want to accomplish. They are the pathway from where you are to where you want to go.

Start to turn your vision into reality by taking daily steps toward what you want to do and accomplish. If you want to be moving toward your personal vision and dreams, it requires daily intentional steps toward it.

Questions:What other ways can a person find and be moving toward a personal vision? Do you have a personal vision for your life?

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  • http://tcavey.blogspot.com/ TCAvey

    For me, while I have a long term goal (right now one of my biggest is to get published), I have to keep my eyes focused on all my short term goals in order to get there. If I were to only see the long term goal I could easily get discouraged and give up. But when I set my short term goals I have small victories along the way to boost my confidence and give me energy to keep pushing forward.
    Long term goals are just that- long term. If one doesn’t include the steps that get you there there is a real danger of never reaching that long term destination.

    • http://danblackonleadership.com/ Dan Black

      TC Avey,

      It’s the short goals that will lead a person to accomplishing longer term goals. I know you will be published one day, if you keep writing and posting. It’s those short/day things we do that lead to our dreams being accomplished.

      Thank you for reading and adding to the conversation.

    • http://www.robsorbo.com/p/welcome-from-disqus.html Rob Sorbo

      I’m in a similar place, TC Avey. Writing down my goal has really helped. When I did that, it helped me understand what I’m shooting for, then identify steps to get there. For me, this led me to start posting a special feature on my blog every Wednesday about missions. Once I have enough posts, I’ll begin compiling it into an eBook. I know that an eBook isn’t quite the same as getting published, but the principles of goal setting and achieving are still applicable.

      • http://tcavey.blogspot.com/ TCAvey

        Wonderful goal! I look forward to that eBook and don’t sell yourself short. Publishing an eBook is just as tricky as traditional publishing (and just as rewarding if that is your goal). I hate that some want to make such a distinction between the two, makes no sense to me. Books are books and I love books!
        God bless you on your endeavor.

        • http://danblackonleadership.com/ Dan Black

          Amen about that. I have read and heard about many self published eBooks that have done really good and even lead up to future book contracts.

      • http://danblackonleadership.com/ Dan Black

        Rob, that’s a very good idea!!! A self published eBook in my mind is a big step in potentially getting published. It shows the publisher that your already committed to writing.

        I’m writing a manifesto on talents and I’m using my past blog post to help me write the eBook. It has really helped me.

        • http://www.robsorbo.com/p/welcome-from-disqus.html Rob Sorbo

          I’ll make sure to check! Manifestos seem to be a great blogging trend, I’m just not sure what I’d write one on.

          • http://danblackonleadership.com/ Dan Black

            It does seem to be a big trend, I’m going back and forth between a manifesto vs a shorter book. My goal is to write a 10-15 page book then provide a workbook. Well see what happens though.

  • http://www.beyondthesinnersprayer.wordpress.com/ Barb

    I think I err on the side of not making goals. I know the message God wants me to share, but I don’t have a step by step plan on how to share it. Because of that, I tend to jump from one thing to the next without finishing anything. This is a good idea: set some long-term and short-term goals. Thanks for reminder.

    • http://danblackonleadership.com/ Dan Black

      Barb,

      Have you thought about setting up a plan with goals? It might help:)

      Thank you for stopping by and reading.

      • http://www.beyondthesinnersprayer.wordpress.com/ Barb

        Thanks to you, I’m thinking about it! I’m planning to take a few hours one of these days (soon) and spend time with God praying and thinking about this and set out some goals. I did at least clarify what writing projects I want to work on each day so I can systematically pursue actually completing some writing projects.

        • http://danblackonleadership.com/ Dan Black

          Great idea about taking time to seek God and think about your future plans and goals. I make it a point to get away so I can connect with God and take time to plan and think about the future.

  • http://talesofwork.com/ kimanzi constable

    My personal vision was inspired from reading (48 Days To The Work You Love) the book really opened my eyes to whta was already in my heart and where the Lord was leading. Reading an inspirational book or blog can help with vision.

    • http://danblackonleadership.com/ Dan Black

      Kimanzi,

      What a great personal vision!!! I still need to read that book, it sounds like a great one. Thank you for sharing.

  • http://www.jasonvana.com Jason Vana

    Understanding your passions and strengths / talents goes a long way to coming up with a personal vision. Too often we think the vision for our lives is some disconnected ideal that comes down from Heaven and it something we never would have thought of on our own. While it’s true that our lives do take weird turns and God has plans we might not have for ourselves, it rarely is divorced from how he has gifted us.

    The vision for my life is simple: to ignite young people to passionately pursue Christ and transform their world.

    And by simple, I mean huge.

    • http://danblackonleadership.com/ Dan Black

      Jason,

      I totally agree with you, a persons talents, passions, and personal vision are closely connected with each other.

      Thank you for sharing your vision, It’s a great one. Your doing a great job at sharing your vision through your blog and preaching. Keep it up bro.

  • http://www.jmlalonde.com Joe Lalonde

    Last night I wrote a post on how to do this set to go out on Friday. Great minds must think alike!

    • http://danblackonleadership.com/ Dan Black

      Joe,

      I’m looking forward to reading the post on Friday. Agreed, great minds thing alike. Thank you for reading.

  • http://www.lifeofasteward.com Loren Pinilis

    I think that having this over-arching vision is crucial. Without it, we get so focused on the short-term goals that we forget why we’re striving after them in the first place.

    • http://danblackonleadership.com/ Dan Black

      What a great point Loren. Knowing your vision and being able to see the big picture is so important when it comes to daily goals and tasks. It can motivate us and keep us going when times are difficult. Thank you for reading and sharing.

  • http://www.thedeterminedchristian.com/ Susan

    These are all wonderful ways of implementing a vision. The only thing I would add is prayer and listening to God’s voice in Scripture. When we weigh the options according to God’s scale, our motives to achieve become clear.

    • http://danblackonleadership.com/ Dan Black

      Susan,

      Totally agree. Both are important for Christians who want to find and move forward in a personal vision. Thank you for adding this.

  • http://joeandancy.com/ Joe Abraham

    I have seen that sometimes it’s not what I like but what I dislike that leads me to my personal vision. For example, I dislike mediocrity. Though I didn’t understand it initially, I later came to know that my personal vision has something to do with helping others do an excellent job.

    Good post, Dan.

    • http://danblackonleadership.com/ Dan Black

      Joe,

      Good point and perspective. Your doing a great job with helping others become and do better with your blog and teaching. Keep it up.

      • http://joeandancy.com/ Joe Abraham

        Thanks, Dan. You are truly a good friend!

        • http://danblackonleadership.com/ Dan Black

          You as well my friend.

  • http://www.nginaotiende.blogspot.com Ngina Otiende

    Clear practical steps Dan.

    I would add visualize the end of some of those goals. Just this morning in my quiet time, I visualized the the fulfillment of our life vision – the places, the people, the programs and services, the impact, the specific areas and nations. There’s something powerful about hovering and brooding over the vision, seeing things with God’s eye, allowing the end of the matter to sink deep and find root in our hearts.

    Great post.

    • http://danblackonleadership.com/ Dan Black

      I’m glad you enjoyed the post Ngina.

      Great addition, visualizing the end results is a great point. I pray I can always see things through God’s perspective.

      Thank you for adding to the conversation.

  • http://www.lincolnparks.com Lincoln Parks

    I’ve been wanting to post on this blog since this morning when I read it. However, vision is so important to me. I post my vision on all my blog posts so that everyone knows exactly what my vision is. I am sitting my wife down and going over our family vision again and life plan. Thanks for the reminder of this. Personal, business, family and religious visions are a must.

    • http://danblackonleadership.com/ Dan Black

      Lincoln Parks,

      What a great idea about posting your vision on your blog posts. I think you hit an important point about having a family life plan and vision, this is so important in a persons over all life. Thanks for reading and sharing.

  • http://theregoi.com/ floyd

    Good tips. I used to write specific goals and hang them on my rear view mirror. I still have a verse written by hand of Isaiah 8:13 sitting on my bathroom sink. Reminders of the daily focus.

    I think the vision should be encouraged to be seen as a daydream, the things the teachers in school tried to break us from as children. To see the future picture of your life in vivid detail is a powerful design of the mind created by God.

    • http://danblackonleadership.com/ Dan Black

      Floyd,

      I just looked up the passage and what a great one. Good point about seeing our vision as a daydream. This is something that might be hard because of parents/teachers who have broken our big dreams and desires.

      Thank you for reading and adding to the discussion.

  • http://www.robsorbo.com/p/welcome-from-disqus.html Rob Sorbo

    I think it’s also important to revisit the goals often–not necessarily for the sake to reevaluate them, but as a constant reminder to yourself. I’m not the best at going back and rereading my goals, but I mull them over in my mind so often that I get plenty of reminder.

    • http://danblackonleadership.com/ Dan Black

      Rob,

      Very good point about revisiting your goals. I think having them around your house so you can see them on a daily basis(multiple times) can really help a person stay on track. Thank you for adding this valuable point.

  • http://soulfari.blogspot.com/ Jay Cookingham

    Working on revising my personal vision this particular season that I find myself in. I find that as I press in towards the Father, that He is transforming my vision…as He is transforming me.

    Good post bro’!

    • http://danblackonleadership.com/ Dan Black

      Amen Jay. The personal vision we have should come from and be directed by God. I’m glad you enjoyed the post and thank you for stopping by.

  • http://www.revivallifestyle.com/ Daniel Vogler

    Great post, Dan! I’ve always been very vision-driven. I discover that many Christian seem to get “passive” in the belief that God is going to magically get them where they want to go. I’ve discovered in my life that it’s a healthy co-laborship between me given the best I can and then trusting God to do the rest. That’s always worked out great for me. I love to pursue dreams that I can’t possibly accomplish without God’s help.

    • http://danblackonleadership.com/ Dan Black

      Daniel,

      Every vision and dream takes hard work to accoplish. Many people who think God is going to magically take them where they want is wrong. It takes God and hard work to accoplish your personal vision and purpose. Anything is possible with God and our willingness to work and be diligent.

      Thank you for stopping by and sharing.

  • http://www.leadtoimpact.com/ Bernard Haynes

    Dan, this was an awesome post. This post is right up my alley. I did a post on my blog a few months ago that was titled “5 Elements of a Powerful Vision”, it is right in alignment of what you wrote about in this article. I love the subject of vision. Keep inspiring people to live their vision.

    • http://danblackonleadership.com/ Dan Black

      Bernard,

      I’m glad you enjoyed the post. Vision is so important for leaders. A personal and organizational vision is needed. Thank you for reading and sharing.