03.08.20
The Vision Thing
Karl R. LaPan, President & CEO, The NIIC
The dictionary defines vision as “the ability to see something that you imagine, a picture in your mind, something that you see or dream”. This establishes the “fire in the belly” (unwavering passion, sense of urgency and resilience) that many vision-makers had for why they started their company. A popular motivational speaker reminds us that “people often get what you do but not why you do it.”
Every day, we learn of compelling entrepreneurial visions for changing the world in just about every industry imaginable. Walt Disney had a persuasive dream to build a theme park where both parents and children could have fun. He did so by developing swamp land in Florida. Steve Jobs wanted to change the world for the better. He started in his bedroom (not the garage as most people think). Starbucks wanted to inspire and nurture the human spirit, one person, one cup, and one neighborhood at a time. The idea was conceived by an English teacher, a history teacher and a writer.
What’s your why? Watch this inspirational Ted Talk and see if you can build your golden circle The Why you do what you do, How you do it (value proposition or unique selling proposition), What you do) and figure out if you have something different and special.
