The Importance of Business Vision

As a small business owner or solo entrepreneur Vision is often an afterthought. But there’s a very good reason why Stephen Covey made the second habit of highly successful people “begin with the end in mind.”

Covey Says:

“‘Begin with the end in mind’ is based on the principle that all things are created twice. There’s a mental or first creation, and a physical or second creation to all things.”

One of your most important tasks as a business owner or entrepreneur is that mental, or first creation that Covey speaks of. You must envision the outcome. You must know what you want for your business. Only then, can you successfully engage in the second, or physical, creation.

When you know where you’re going, you know the direction you need to travel and the the roads you need to take to get there.

Whereas Mark Twain reminded us that “If you don’t know where you’re going, any road will get you there.”

Far too many businesses, fall into this trap. Because they don’t know where they’re going, every road looks like a good option. And so they end up trying them all, heading this way and that way, circling back and realizing they’ve already been there.

If you’ve ever wondered why your business keeps ending up in the same place, it’s probably because you don’t know where you’re going, you don’t have the end in mind!

Your business vision describes the way you imagine and intend your business to look in five, ten or more years. This vision should engender passion and excitement to keep you moving forward. It motivates you, any employees, and all who come into contact with you and your business to take the inspired actions necessary to attain the vision.

To be effective, your business vision needs to be bold, expansive and inspiring. Think of the phrase that Neale Donald Walsh uses in his Conversations with God series: The Grandest Version of the Greatest Vision you’ve ever had. That should apply to your business vision.

When formulating your business vision, step outside the box of your own limiting beliefs and the beliefs of those around you. It’s much better to have a business vision that is too grand, too large, too expansive and not achieve it than to be too realistic and limit yourself before you even begin.

It was Michelangelo who said,

The greater danger for most of us lies not in setting our aim too high and falling short; but in setting our aim too low, and achieving our mark.

An expansive vision provides you with motivation to keep going. A grand vision, one that clearly and passionately expresses a big dream, can also help call in the support you need to create it. People are attracted to boldness. People want to attach themselves to and support a big dream. Make it yours!

When beginning to work on your business vision, don’t get caught up in style or format. Just start dreaming and writing. Ultimately you may refine these ideas into a formal vision statement.

But for now, let your imagination play and let yourself experience the feelings associated with your big vision.

For a great story about the power of vision, check out this interview that Ryan Higgins did with Frank Kern.

Your vision is the top of the mountain you are climbing. If you know you’re going to the top, you know that if you just keep hiking up, you’ll eventually get there.

But don’t worry… there are always other mountains to climb!

What is your business vision?

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