As the year draws to an end, there is an increasing amount of talk about redoubling our efforts towards achieving our goals: there is a lot of talk about strategy and less talk about vision. This kind of troubles me and that is why I am writing this post.
A lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path
The palmist described the word of God as a lamp to his feet and a light to his path (Psalm 119:104). I did not clearly understand what this meant until recently when one of our pastors explained it to us during a weekly business training class. He brought to our attention the fact that when a person is walking there are two things that he has to have a clear sight of or risk tripping. First, he has to have a clear sight of where he is going; thus, his path. Second, the person has to have a clear sight of where his feet is stepping; thus, his feet. Therefore, when a person is walking he always needs illumination on his path and on his feet or risk tripping.
So, what does all this have to do with vision, strategy and goal-setting? I am glad you asked.
Well, we have just said that when a person is walking he always needs illumination on his path and on his feet or risk tripping. In simple terms, a vision is a picture of what is ahead of you and a strategy is the roadmap to what is ahead of you. You cannot get or reach to what is ahead of you unless you can clearly see it just as much as you cannot walk and not risk tripping unless you have clear sight of your path and feet. The illumination on the path of the man gives him a clear sight of where he is going like a good vision. The illumination at the feet of the man gives him a clear sight of where his feet is stepping like a good strategy.
There is need for illumination both on the man's path and at his feet or risks tripping. Likewise, there is need for a good vision and a good strategy to guide you to where you are going or you risk tripping. Vision and strategy are both important in your life to guide you to where you are going.
Fine-tune Your Vision and Strategy to Achieve Your Goals in 2010
I have already told you that I am kind of troubled by the lot of talk about strategy and less talk about vision. Many of us believe, or have been made to believe, that when things are not working it is because we have a bad strategy – there is not enough illumination on our feet. In a number of instances, this is true but not all the time. Do you suppose that when you do not have a clear picture of where you want to go, you can have a clear picture of how you are going to get there? Sometimes, things do not work because we have a blurred vision – there is not enough illumination on our path.
Think about it.
If you cannot clearly see what is ahead of you, do you suppose you can get it? Let alone, create a roadmap to it? I do not think so. If you cannot clearly see what is ahead of you, it is most likely that you will have a roadmap that cannot get you to it. Howbeit, even if you can clearly see what is ahead of you, you can also have a roadmap that cannot get you to it. If you are going to get what is ahead of you, you need both a clear picture of what is ahead of you and a clear roadmap to what is ahead of you: if you are going to get where you going in 2010, you need both a clear vision and a clear strategy.
Clear sight of where you are going and of where your feet are stepping are like a good vision and a good strategy. A good vision represents clear sight of where you are going. A good strategy represents clear sight of where your foot is stepping. Both, a good vision and a good strategy, guide you to where you are going or you risk tripping.
If you are tripping, first check whether it is your vision or strategy that is faulty before you do anything. If your vision is faulty, adjust both your vision and strategy accordingly. However, if it is your strategy that is faulty, adjust your strategy accordingly and keep up with your vision. Do not rush to assume that it is your strategy that is faulty as no matter how many times you may adjust your strategy it will not get you to where you are going if it is your vision that is faulty.
Be Inspired.
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