Whether you are a senior administrator or a new student in college, vision matters.  While most of our lives are lived at the strategic and tactical levels, vision matters. Even if you are pressed to complete a project or make an appointment on time, vision matters.

Vision is our compass.  Vision is our fuel.  Vision gives purpose to strategies and activity.  I appreciate Proverbs 29:18 (NASB), “Where there is no vision, the people go unrestrained.” Vision provides direction and discipline.  No doubt, the Manning brothers had a vision of winning the Super Bowl even when they were throwing the ball in the backyard with their dad.  Day after day, that vision drove them toward excellence. Today, they are both Super Bowl champions.

You want to lose weight? Why, because you have a vision of being the healthiest version of you.  You want to earn a college degree?  Why, because you have a vision for a future that will link your passion, gifting, and interest with a number of vocational options.  Or even more, you have a vision to serve others through healthcare, education, ministry, or business.  My vision for the last 25 years has been “Equipping Others for Significant Leadership.”  That vision brought me to Crown and engages my imagination every day.

Let me encourage you at the beginning of this new year to spend time thinking about your vision, values, and voice.  Vision is that picture of a preferred future.  Vision is your future direction.  Values are those things you care about most.  Voice is the unique look and feel of your leadership.

Do the hard work of clarifying your vision, values, and voice (the Why and the Who) and then move on the strategies (the How) and tactics (the What). When your hard work and daily life are aligned with the vision God has for you, there can be a new sense of energy, engagement, and effectiveness.