I was listening to a podcast the other day, and the host had a guest who was talking about how your vision has to be true. Your vision is similar to your goals, belief system, and character. I believe your clear vision is what you see out of your life. When you are old and gray, what do you look back to? What is the legacy that precedes you? We know that we cannot take anything with us, so it is all about what we leave behind. How big of an impact can we have on the world?

The impact we can have on the world depends on our vision. Our vision is what motivates us in each of our steps. If procrastination or distractions get into our line of sight, then our vision becomes clouded. We have to make sure that our vision is always in perfect focus. We want to make sure that we know, understand, and make constant strides toward the vision and goals we see.

If you are having a hard time understanding and figuring out your vision, then try to look at what you do/think of each day. The things that you dream about have a high potential to be what your vision can be about. No, it is not staying at home and watching Netflix and not having to go to work. If you find what you love to do, then you never work a day in your life. Nonetheless, you do not have to create your own vision to have worth in your life. You can help other people achieve their vision, but it has to be something you believe in too. Their vision will become yours, but the vision started with someone who saw something that they wanted to attain. This visionary has to be a leader and develop a plan to further his/her goal.

We are all our own individual people with our own needs and desires, but that doesn’t stop others from believing in us and passing their vision onto us. I see this often in parents and CEOs. A CEO is a more obvious choice when you think about a leader. Here we have an individual who makes it their priority that the company grows and becomes successful. Well, parenting is the same way. For the most part, parents want their children to do better in life. They want them to be successful and achieve great things.

I recall two times in my life when I could see the goals/visions of my parents were achieved. For my mother, it was when I graduated from college. I was the first of her three children to complete college. She had a goal/vision that her kids would go on and get a college education and make a lot of money. My mother sacrificed many years and worked long hours to ensure that my siblings and I had a proper foundation. She worked two to three jobs just to make sure we got sent to a good school and received a good education. She wanted each of us to achieve great things, and that was her plan. The second time was with my father.

It was in 2018, on my 30th birthday, when my mom and dad called me to wish me well. I was in the gym when they called. I thought it wasn’t going to be a long conversation, but I was wrong. My dad began to give me a lecture! Either way, during the conversation, he made a point to say that his goal in life was to make sure we came out better than he did. He and my mother sacrificed their glory years to make sure we were well taken care of. What was their vision before kids? Now, it is all blurred between the lines, and they would have it no other way. What can one person do as a son/daughter, politician, teacher, coach, or entrepreneur? I am sure with the correct leadership mindset, a legend could be born.

Starting from nothing or rock bottom is the perfect place to begin. This is because you can build a foundation strong enough to build upon. My vision was always to be a leader. I do not have to be a politician or someone of high authority to be a leader. Leadership is a mindset. I remember speaking to my sister one night in the car about how she had to step up and be a leader. She was hanging around some not-so-great folks, but she learned. I gave the example that a leader is someone that people look for. You do not need anyone else’s validation or approval to be amazing.

Finding your stride in leadership does not have to be a huge ordeal. You can be a teacher, coach, or loving spouse. How will you lead your pack? Will they prosper underneath your guidance or wither like a leaf in the fall? A great leader will have a vision and goal for his family, friends, employees, and co-workers. My parents both did for us. They had a vision and kept pushing and praying that things would turn out alright. What is your vision? What will be your legacy?

People will see your vision when you take action and have a clear and concise plan to achieve it. What stops many people from going after goals and achieving great things in life are failures. A failure can pick you up and slam you so hard to the ground that you are afraid to get back up. I have failed in my life, but I am not a failure. I have struggled through times like many others, but I learned something along the way, and that is that I cannot be held back. If I have a goal or vision, it is up to me to make that a reality. I have to put in the effort and set an example for others.

The many visionary leaders you will encounter in life all have a unique vision. There is no right or wrong with either of them. Some of those people you meet you may even disagree with and want nothing to do with them. You have the choice to follow whomever you wish to, and you have the choice to be the torch that guides others through the darkness. If you do not want to be a follower, then become a leader.

In conclusion, becoming a visionary begins with the end in mind. The destination you are trying to reach can be reached alone or with others. You do not need a guide to travel with you to your destination. You just have to follow the path you are on with certainty and faith. You will get tired, rained on, and trip and stumble on your journey, but it is worth it. The stride to leadership is in your next step and your next thought. What type of leader would you like to become? I believe you have the potential, no matter where you are in life, to have your vision come to a reality for you and those around you who believe in you too. If you think you’re down and out, then get out of that mindset and step into the mindset of being a visionary leader.

Until then,

Michael Rearden

Founder of Reven Concepts