Crafting A Personal Vision Statement
Info Graphics have been gaining in popularity as a simple visual to help communicate ideas. I have created a info graphic that outlines visually how to write a personal vision statement. Download it here https://www.jeffcalloway.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/vision-infographic.jpg
Writing things down is so important in life. For us men, how many times has our wives given us a task that we have quickly forgotten about because we failed to actually write it on the honey-do list? Big mistake! Most people think they don’t need to write things down because they have a great memory or it isn’t that important in the first place. I have learned that writing things down makes things a lot easier in life, especially the things that are important to my wife.
I have had the opportunity to attend many conferences during my adult life, in both the business world and also as a pastor. Nearly every one I’ve attended has dealt with vision, goals, etc., and all have made it a point that one of the keys to knowing where you are going is to write out your life/church vision or mission statement. In May of 2004, I attended Ken Davis’s “Dynamic Communication Workshop” in Colorado. There, I met Cheryl Dick, the director of operations for Chick-fil-A restaurants. As we exchanged business cards, I was pleasantly surprised to see Chick-fil-A’s corporate purpose statement on their business cards: “To glorify God by being a faithful steward of all that is entrusted to us and to have a positive influence on all who come in contact with Chick-fil-A.” It didn’t impress me that much that the fast food chain had a purpose statement printed on their business cards, as this is rather common. What did impress me, though, was that they had the audacity to start their statement with their purpose, “to glorify God,” Followed by their vision, “to have a positive influence on all who come in contact with Chick-fil-A.”
Great vision without a plan is just words on a piece of paper or a screen. I want to share how to write a vision statement that will walk.
I have had the responsibility to draft, edit, and approve many vision statements for companies I have worked for in the marketplace and probably double that in the ministry world. As I was writing this second installment, I began to ask myself several questions such as, “What makes a great vision statement great?” “Does it make sense?” “Does it communicate my heartbeat (if personal) or Does it communicated the heartbeat of the organization?”
A great vision statement should be simple and memorable.
Don’t try to impress people with lots of language they get lost in or language that is fuzzy. It depends on who you read on this subject, but I believe that a vision statement should be one sentence long. Think elevator pitch. As you know you should be able to summarize your vision, dream, or idea in less than three minutes. The vision statement is the outline for your elevator pitch. It should include the dream, the why, and the culmination of that vision. Here are some samples:
- Chevron – At the heart of The Chevron Way is our Vision to be the global energy company most admired for its people, partnership and performance.
- Dollar General – Serving Others For Customers A Better Life For Shareholders A Superior Return For Employees Respect and Opportunity
- Estee Lauder – The guiding vision of The Estee Lauder Companies is “Bringing the best to everyone we touch”. By “The best”, we mean the best products, the best people and the best ideas.
- Harley Davidson – We fulfill dreams through the experience of motorcycling, by providing to motorcyclists and to the general public an expanding line of motorcycles and branded products and services in selected market segments.
- Walt Disney Corporation -To make people happy.
- My personal vision statement: Jeff Calloway – To love and serve God, growing his kingdom with people I love.
Some of these are long and one is very short.
The vision statement must encapsulate the heart of the individual or the organization.
The vision statement is the fuel for the engine and if the fuel is bad, the engine will sputter and eventually quit. There are three actions you need to write a vision statement:
- Find A Quiet Place
- Start With A Blank Sheet of Paper
- Execute The Three Components Of A Vision Statement
- Who is the vision statement is about. Is this a personal vision statement, one for a church or other NPO, or for a business? Answers the “who” of the vision that has been called out.
- What is the vision? What is it you feel led to accomplish? This is the dreaming stage or the “what if” of vision. What if you were able to do what it is you feel called or compelled to do? This might be the lengthy part, so do not feel you need to try to cram everything into one sentence, at least not now. When you are writing, always keep in the back of your mind where you are now and where you want to be – THIS IS KEY! Answers how will the vision be fleshed out?
- How will you know you have accomplished the vision? Again, the vision will be words on paper until it is happening and has been or is in the process of being fulfilled. Answers what does the vision look like in action? How will the vision be lived out?
These three actions are the "what"that refines the fuel you will put into the engine.
After you have written your vision statement, it needs to go before at least two different sets of eyes who know your heart and vision. Ask them to scrutinize the vision statement, not to find errors or to change the “fuel,” but to help you refine it further and possibly help you clarify it so it will clearly communicate what will be accomplished.
Now, start living it!