Make Your Vision Big

“If you want to achieve widespread impact and lasting value, be bold.” – Howard Schultz

In a client's strategic planning session, after the planning team looked at the elements and importance of finding a shared vision of great success, I was asked, "So what's the vision for Forrest Consulting?"

Because I fervently believe in the importance of a big vision and I practice what I preach, I was quick to respond: "What we say externally is 'Live your vision of great success.' In fact, that's our brand tag line. Internally, this becomes ‘Every organization has a current plan and is implementing it.' "

In fact, our vision is to deliver on our mission of overcoming the planning gap, that is, the sad state of affairs that less than 60% of organizations have a current plan and 70% of plans are either poorly implemented or not implemented at all.?

There is incontrovertible, prevalent evidence showing the organizations that plan and implement are more successful.

We have added our own bit to this evidence through our research that demonstrates the association of greater success and the presence of a big vision and big goals.? See the exhibit below, from the findings from our 2016 Strategic Leader Survey.* ?

Our findings were that nearly three quarters of more successful organizations had a large and challenging strategic vision and/or goals, while only half of less successful organizations had a large and challenging strategic vision and/or goals.

Higher percentages of less successful organizations had a vision and/or goals that were “business as usual” or that were unrealistic and unattainable.

That's why I challenge clients - and you - to pursue a big vision, for your organization, for yourself professionally, and, hey, why not for your own life, as well? We only go around once in our business, professional, and personal lives, so what not strive to make it the biggest, best, greatest adventure possible?

* See https://www.forrestconsult.com/2016sblsurveylanding.