VISION is everything

"The future belongs to those who see possibilities before they become obvious."
                            --John Sculley (Former CEO, Pepsi)

Vision is everything for leadership success. It LEADS you.  It gives you your spark and fuels the fire within--it sparks the fire for others to follow.  Without vision you won't be moving forward--at best you'll be travelling in circles.

Getting a Handle on VISION and Making It a Part of Your Life:

1) Vision Starts Within
One cannot create a vision for someone else.  If you lack vision, look inside yourself.  (Look for what could be)  Look to your calling if you have one, and if you don't--consider working together with someone whose vision resonates with you

2) Vision Draws on Your History
It grows from your past and the history of the people around you.  Many leaders cite key events in their past that were instrumental in creating their vision.

3) Vision  Meets Others' Needs
True vision is far-reaching, and if it has real value, it does more than just include others--it adds value to others.  If you have a vision that doesn't serve others, it's probably too small.

4) Vision Helps You Gather Resources
Vision attracts, challenges, and unites people, bringing resources and funding.  The greater the vision the larger following you can attract and if it's a challenging one, the harder people will fight to achieve it.

Where Does VISION Come From?

There are several aspects that you'll reflect upon or 'listen to' to find the successful vision for you:

1)  Your Inner Voice--vision starts within you.  Do you know your life's mission?   What stirs your heart? If what you're pursuing in life doesn't come from a  desire within--from the very depths of who you are (and believe)--you will not be able to accomplish it.

2) Discontent--Inspiration for great ideas comes from noticing what does NOT work.  Discontent with the status quo is a great catalyst for vision.  No great leader in history has ever fought to prevent change.

3) Advisement--Look to someone who is ahead of you in the leadership journey for sound advice.  Finding a mentor can help you lead others to greatness.  Do you have an advisor who can help you sharpen your vision?

How Can I Improve my VISION?

1) Measure Yourself--Measure how well you are carrying out your vision.  Speak with several key people who know you, asking them to state what they think your vision is--If they can articulate it then you're probably living it.

2) Write It Down--If you've thought about your vision but never put it in writing, take the time to do it today.  Writing it will clarify your thinking and provide direction.  Is this worthy of all my time and energy for life?

3) Passion--What's in your gut?---If you haven't done a lot of work on your vision, spend time over weeks or months to do so.  Evaluate what you are very passionate about.  What makes you dream?  What gives you energy or drive?  What would you like to see change in the world around you? What do you see that isn't--but could be?  IMPACT.

Work with a mentor or any other additional/impactful resources to solidify your vision and plan your life's work.

Discipline Yourself First

How many times have you or someone else you may know fallen off the path to achievement or success?  Perhaps whatever reason or excuse you attribute this to has taken you 'captive' and you can't seem to gain your own personal power back?  Or maybe these reasons/excuses have become a self-fulfilling prophecy?   Leadership, and success, require a very fundamental trait that's not a 'natural ability', in-born, or an innate talent--it's called SELF-DISCIPLINE.  No one achieves and sustains success without it, and no one reaches their maximum potential without it.

If you want to develop your leadership asset of self-discipline, and continue your path to success,  follow these ACTION STEPS:

1) Develop and Follow Your Priorities

If you only do what you must when you're in the mood or when it's convenient, you're not going to be successful.  You need to have a Plan.  If you can determine what's really a priority and release yourself from everything else, it's a lot easier to follow through on what's important.

2) Make a Disciplined Lifestyle Your Goal

To be successful, self-discipline can't be a one-time event.  It has to become a lifestyle.  One of the best ways to do that is to develop systems and routines, especially in areas crucial to your long-term growth and success.

3) Challenge Your Excuses

To develop a lifestyle of discipline, one of your first tasks must be to challenge and eliminate any tendency to make excuses.  If you have several reasons why you can't be self-disciplined, realize they are just a bunch of excuses--all of which need to be challenged if you want to go to the next level as a leader.

4) Remove Rewards until the Job Is Done

I think this one speaks for itself.

5) Stay Focused on Results

Whenever you concentrate on on the difficulty of the work instead of its rewards or results, you're likely to become discouraged.  Dwell on it too long and you'll develop self-pity instead of self-discipline.  The next time you're facing a must-do task and you're thinking of doing what's convenient instead of paying the price, change your focus.  Count the benefits of doing what's right, and then dive in!

                          Ways to Improve Your Self-Discipline

• Sort out your priorities - Think about 2 or 3 areas of your life that are most important to you.  Write them down, along with the disciplines you must develop to keep growing and improving in those areas.  Develop a plan to make those disciplines a daily or weekly part of your life.
• List the Reasons - Take time to write out the benefits of practicing those disciplines you listed.  Post the benefits where you'll see them daily.  On the days when you don't want to follow through, re-read your list.
• Get Rid of Excuses - Write down every reason why you might not be able to follow through with your disciplines.  Read through them.  You need to dismiss them as the excuses that they are.  Even if a reason seems legitimate, find a solution to overcome it.  Don't leave yourself any reason to quit. 

Remember, only with discipline do you have the power to achieve your dreams.