The Power of a Compelling Vision

Little Jimmy’s mother came into his room one night to tuck him into bed, and found him staring out the window, into the evening sky.

“What are you doing, honey?” she asked.

“I’m looking at the moon.”

“Well, Jimmy, it’s time to stop staring at the moon and go to bed.”

“Mommy, one day I am going to walk on the moon.”

“Sure Jimmy, now go to bed.”

32 years later Jimmy (James Irwin) actually did it! He reached the moon on Apollo 15. Not only did he step on the moon’s surface – one of the very few humans to accomplish this feat – but he also drove the first Lunar Rover.

First, Jimmy dreamed it – then, Jimmy did it! There is tremendous power in a compelling vision.

An unknown philosopher said, “Do not follow where the path may lead; go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.”

So, how do we find a compelling vision?

1. Look Up. Pray and listen. All faith-inspiring dreams come from above.

2. Look Down. What have your failures and painful experiences taught you? Failure isn’t final if you learn something from it. The greatest growth occurs in the darkest valleys.

3. Look Inside Yourself. Explore your unique gifts, passions and abilities. Do you love your work? If not, what kind of work would you love? What activities give you energy (green light) vs. activities that drain you (red light).

4. Look Around. What is your current reality? What needs to be changed? What first steps should you take? What are your friends telling you? How would you advise someone else in your situation?

5. Look Back. Where have you been successful in the past? What has given you the greatest reward and fulfillment? Has there ever been a moment when you thought, “I was born for this”? What have you learned from your experiences?

6. Look Ahead. Where do you want to go? Will the path you’re currently on take you there? What do you hope to accomplish in life? What do you want to have written in your obituary? What action must you take now to achieve your goal later?

“Whatever you do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, and power and magic in it.” – Johann Wolfgang von Goethe