What do you see when you look in the mirror? The eyes, ears and nose that you are either grateful that you inherited, or will hold an eternal grudge for? Do you see the person you used to be and think you still are? Or do you see the person you’re becoming? How do you view your current situation- as a means to an end, as a curse, a holiday you’ll bask in as if tomorrow won’t come or as a necessary brick being laid for the mansion you’re building?
Why so many questions? Because they’re all necessary, the answers could very well determine the rest of your life. So yes, these are vital questions, the answers are of a life and death type of importance. The decision to pass on something or take someone up on an offer is based on the bigger picture; but there actually has to be a bigger picture to refer back to when you’re at a crossroads, that picture becomes your compass when you’re lost or confused.
It is beyond unfortunate that the majority of people living in this day still only see what the physical eye presents to them when they look in the mirror. Being able to see ten years into the future allows you to make calculated risks, decisive moves, it brings focus to your life, trims your circle down to the people you can form a symbiotic relationship with, that would prove beneficial to their journey as well as yours. Having foresight into your future saves you time and unnecessary heartache. We all know the famous quote by Sir Winston Churchill, “If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail”. This is bigger than planning your day or preparing for a presentation; it’s even bigger than your financial planning abilities because this is what determines all of the other stuff.
What is this this? Your Vision. A lot of Christians love the scripture in Proverbs 16:3 which reads,” Commit your actions to the LORD, and your plans will be established/ succeed.” and others like it. But what exactly is God supposed to establish if there are no plans? Habakkuk 2:2 reads, “And the LORD answered me: “Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it”, the NLT replaces the word “vision” with “my answer”. This shows us that :
1.It is a Godly instruction to write down your vision. This is important not only for you to keep referring back to it when making decisions and moves in your life, but also so that whoever comes into your life can read it and if they fit into your vision then they too can be able to run with it. This point is true with employees you bring aboard as an entrepreneur, as a man who chooses a wife, as a person who chooses friends and so forth.
2. This is actually number one, but I will leave at number two because of the order in the scripture translations. The NLT version along with the first verse of this chapter indicates that what ends up becoming your vision is an answer from God. Which means before you decide on this, you inquire from the Lord about the life He’s given you and the purpose of this life, the answer He gives you becomes your vision that you MUST write down, having it written down keeps you accountable. This is how our lives are made slightly easier; it gives us direction.
A builder doesn’t just start randomly digging a foundation and then building a house. First comes a blueprint and the architectural plans; and only then is the budget factored in- this is what I meant when I said the vision comes before you’re financial planning, you need to know what you’re saving and investing for. A lot of people struggle with the concept of their vision, even if they have an idea or a revelation of sorts, sometimes we just can’t articulate it well. If that’s you, don’t fret, below are some points that will help you develop and write your vision down from LiquidPlanner.
A vision statement is a paragraph that helps defines you and your future goals (not hopes and dreams on clouds decorated by unicorns and rainbows). This paragraph encapsulates the following:
1.Everything you want to be
2.Everything you want to do
3.Everything you want to have
All of the above in the following areas of your life:
1.Family
2.Career/ Business
3.Ministry/ Spiritual Life
Your Vision statement is meant to reflect your purpose, values and goals in the above areas of your life. A vision statement without a mission statement is very close to a wish or a dream; it may seem daunting and unattainable. The mission statement is basically a summary of the “how”, this is a paragraph explaining how you will go about being the person in your vision statement. After this point, we start breaking things down into bite-size points so it’s not so scary. You start listing your short and long term goals that are all steps towards the “optimum you” that is the person in that vision statement, under each goal have a detailed “how” plan. Because life is what it is, plans change, we take alternative routes and detours on our journeys, but don’t lose sight of the vision. Even if it’s by a different route, make sure that’s still where you’re headed. Make sure the people in your boat are those with visions that have them headed in the same direction as you for that symbiotic relationship to work, don’t allow any Jonah’s in your boat, they’ll sink it, and likewise, don’t be a Jonah in someone else’s boat. Find and be your authentic self, the one you were created to be and live out your purpose. The cost is always worth it.
Yours Sincerely,
Tshepiso Molakeng,
Quality Growth International
Quality Growth International 