The Best Element In Your Vision

“…to be the best in the industry!”

“..to be the biggest name in the market!”

…Are just a couple of examples of possible snippets to a business’ mission and/or vision statements.

Who wouldn’t want to be at the top? Recent conversations with current and soon-to-be business owners always got me thinking- what makes a good vision for your business? They say a vision is something big, the future seen through the lens of your business, something almost unattainable but could provide the organizations direction. Something that would last for generations.

Last week the topic in church was about one of the greatest leaders of all time, Nehemiah. The lesson was about VISION. One of the many things that caught my attention, among others, was the mention of a very straightforward chinese proverb, it says:

“If your vision is for a year, plant wheat.

If your vision is for ten years, plant trees

if your vision is for a lifetime, plant people” – Chinese proverb

It’s very interesting how the proverb confirmed a very strong belief inside of me. The most important element of any organization’s vision- are PEOPLE.

Not the market shares, not the sales. not even the products or service they sell and how excellent they can deliver. If you want a vision to last a lifetime, make it about people. Here are some snippets of organization’s mission/vision statements:

“..our mission and values are to help people and businesses throughout the world realize their full potential..” – Microsoft

“The Customer, our reason for being, is foremost in our minds. Everything we do, we do for the customer: we anticipate and respond to his/her ever-changing needs.” – Ayala Property Management Corp.

“..to give people the power to share and make the world more open and connected.” – Facebook

When we start to put people first and begin to add value to them, we give more meaning to what our vision, the purpose of your organization’s existence. I think Jesus has a lot to teach us in this aspect. Max Lucado in his book On The Anvil said this about Jesus:

His movement thrived not on personality or power but on championing the value of a person. He built bridges and crossed them.Touching the leper…uniting the estranged…exalting the prostitute. And what was that he said about loving your neighbor as yourself?

When people value people, an impenetrable web is drawn, a web of vitality and security. A relationship. – Max Lucado, On The Anvil

May it be the people who work for us or the people we serve, the best element any of us can build our vision on, is no less than the people. How much do you value and add value to people in your workplace today?

Everyone Must Be Like You To Succeed - Broken!

Bump and Spill Part 2: Taming Your Tongue

You Are A Genius! You Are A Leader!

Comments

Ayala, Facebook, leader, Microsoft, mission, Nehemiah, people, statement, value, vision, workplace

Broken Mindset