Big question, right? I challenge you to think about it. Finding your passion and talking about it is the best way to get what you want right now.
When President Franklin Roosevelt wanted to end child polio he helped create the nonprofit that became the March of Dimes. As the whole country rallied around this big goal, scientists went to work.
Your vision is your organization’s way of sharing a big dream for the future. It’s walking on the moon, ending discrimination, giving every child a home.
Possibility.
Discovering your vision means backing up a bit, zooming out, to get a wider view.
Let’s get personal. Put aside the written vision statement of your organization and explore your own reason for the work you do.
What is the problem you’d give your life to solve?
It’s a big question. Exploring it gives you a different perspective. It’s so easy to get caught up in the details and forget the big view.
The March of Dimes didn’t want to do research, they wanted to end childhood polio. They succeeded. Rather than end the fight, they went for a bigger dream. They expanded the Vision: March of Dimes leads the fight for the health of all moms and babies.
Think about your Vision, is it big enough? It is fat and audacious? Does it feel like a dream and inspire you to work harder?
YES! That’s what the world needs, right now.
How to Write Your Vision
- Look at your own life journey and what brought you to where you are. Then explore why this work matters to you right now.
- Dig deep, go beyond your mission (the work you do) to find the bigger dream for a world where your work is unnecessary.
- Name the bigger dream. Visualize it. Find the words to express it.
Don’t edit yourself! This is an important first step but it is not your final draft, in fact it’s not for publication. This is about you finding the words to express your dream.
When you expand your Vision, and begin to dream what’s possible, you see opportunity where it didn’t exist before. When you find the words to express it – your purpose, passion, and dream – your message becomes contagious. You are expanding your reach and appealing to a broader audience. You are communicating to win.
What is the problem you’d give your life to solve?