 Photo Credit: Terry Smith, LinkedIn By William Ballard It was during the height of the Cold War when President John F. Kennedy viewed space as a critical Cold War battleground and was convinced that America could not afford to turn over any more ground to the Soviets when it came to pursuing space exploration. That was when he stood before a joint session of Congress and made the biggest sales pitch of his presidency, “Now it is time … for this nation to take a clearly leading role in space achievement, which in many ways may hold the key to our future on earth.” That was what he said just before outlining his specific vision for the future: “I believe that this nation should commit itself to … landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to earth. No single space project in this period will be more impressive to mankind, or more important for the long-range exploration of space; and none will be so difficult or expensive to accomplish … It will not be one man going to the moon—if we make this judgment affirmatively, it will be an entire nation. For all of us must work to put him there.” Many were not supportive of President Kennedy when he first proposed this vision. During the initial phases of attempting to achieve it, one man died, which nearly brought the vision to a halt. But it was on July 20th, 1969, when astronaut, Neil Armstrong, emerged from Apollo 11 and made the following statement: “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” Another president whom many have said lacked vision was President George H. W. Bush. In 1987, when he was running for office, he asked a colleague to identify some issues that resonated with voters. According to Time magazine, his friend suggested that he go to Camp David for a few days to get clear on where he wanted to take the country. President Bush responded by saying, “Oh … the vision thing.” You see, President Bush possessed many positive qualities, but when it came to vision, he viewed it as pointless, uninteresting, or perhaps too difficult. In his book, The Vision-Driven Leader (AFF), Michael Hyatt said, (AFF), “Vision is the inessential ingredient for successful leadership.” As the scripture tells us in Proverbs 29:18, “Where there is no vision, the people perish.” I would also say that there is no purpose where there is no vision. And where there is no purpose, like President Bush, many questioned what he stood for. As you’ve probably heard it said before, “If you stand for nothing, you’ll fall for anything.” Imagine navigating a ship without a compass or map. Sounds impossible, right? Yet, many entrepreneurs embark on their business journey without a clear vision to guide them. According to a study by the Harvard Business Review, companies with a well-defined vision are 20% more likely to achieve long-term success. In business, vision is not just a lofty idea—it’s the foundation of strategic planning and a catalyst for growth. Whether just starting your entrepreneurial journey or steering an established small business, understanding the power of vision can transform your trajectory. In this article, we’ll explore why vision matters, how it impacts strategic planning, and how you can craft a vision that sets your business apart.
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