2. Vision

As mentioned earlier Vision, like Preparation and Action, is a required but not sufficient element for success. That is why we used a multiplication in the formula. Although this sounds very theoretical, we all know and recognize people that have just a part of these elements in our inner circle, we just didn’t think about what it is that makes them stand out.

We all know the “Dreamers” in our social network, people that have create ideas, visions of a brighter future but whose ideas are unfounded and lack a sense of realism. Think about whom in your life have had these ideas of which you knew they were so far out of their own comfort zone that it wasn’t going to happen. Even if this Vision was acted upon, the chances of reaching those unattainable goals were slim to none. It is not that these people can’t be successful, but maybe they aren’t really thinking about it in the right way. If these Dreamers would understand what they are good at, realize where their current value lies and how this could be important to be successful, they might focus their vision on the goals within reach. And if they aspire to a long term goal out of their current field of expertise, they might want to think about intermediate goals and a preparation path towards each of them. As mentioned in the formula, success is a process, a sum of small steps. If you can think about it this way, you can reach goals beyond your current scope, but this requires a long term Vision and a great plan.

Further, certainly you also know people that have great visions which are built upon sound logic and are argumented based on their vast experience but lack the motivation to act upon it. I call this type the “Futurologist”. I have met many people who were better trained, skilled and prepared than me with sounds vision and strategy but without the attitude to act upon it they remain ideas. Confusius (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confusius) clearly valued the action oriented approach: “The superior man is modest in his speech but exceeds in his actions.” And as Ernest Miller Hemingway (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ernest_Hemingway) used to say: “Never mistake motion for action.” For people that find themselves using the words “if only I had” more than once, I would advise to notice the next time they speak about a new idea they have and ask what would be needed to actually do it. This simple step to make action tangible can help you achieve and realize those ideas.

Finally, we have the hard working “Expert”. Some people have this definition of success and I believe them really to be so, however more people are stuck in that role unwillingly and lack the Vision to get out of it. They are stuck in the trenches dreaming of more. They are so focused on the details of the day-to-day job that there is no time left to think ahead or to think outside off the box. We all know somebody of whom we all believe that they have more potential. It is often thanks to the Expert, that others become successful. I’m sure everybody knows the story about how Bill Gates (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_gates) had the vision and acted upon the work of an Expert programmer who really invented DOS. For those that recognize themselves in this Expert role I would firmly advise some time for reflection. It doesn’t have to be a long consecutive period, actually rather not. Try to take small periods regularly to stand still with your current situation and envision where you would like to see yourself.  Take 15 minutes a week. Block your agenda to think about where you are. Where you want to see yourself in the future? Whether you are still on track? And if not, what it is you need to do tomorrow to get back on it? That visualization of success actually leads to a better and more focused performance, but also allows you to keep yourself mentally aligned with your success goals. In line with Edmund Burke (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edmund_Burke) who claims that “Reading without reflecting is like eating without digesting” I claim that living without reflection, reduces your chances for success.

However beware, although planning is needed, don’t overdo it. As one of Murphy’s Laws (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murphy%27s_Law) – extensions of Edward Murphy’s (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_A._Murphy,_Jr.) “Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong” – rightly states: “A plan never survives contact with the enemy”, hereby referring to the need of flexibility and agility in the real world. If you plan too much you might become mentally paralyzed as soon as you come into a situation that wasn’t foreseen and that in its turn will reduce your ability to act. I like the quote of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antoine_de_Saint-Exup%C3%A9ry) to that effect: “You know when you have reached perfection in design, not when you have nothing more to add, but when you have nothing more to take away.” Only plan the bigger framework, the direction and critical milestones, don’t get stuck in the details, because chances are it’s not going to happen exactly as planned anyway.

A nice book to read is “Who moved my cheese” by Spencer Johnson (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spencer_Johnson_(writer), the story of two mice and two men. Both pairs are confronted with the fact that what they long for is taken from them, their cheese. When you see the cheese as a metaphor for your success indeed in many cases the situation might change in which you will have to adapt your goals or the road towards it. In the book, the men are mentally stuck with their loss and refrain from action, don’t even have the vision to escape from this impasse. The mice are skillfully prepared to look for cheese. They are visionary enough to see that they have to go out and look for it instead of accepting the loss as this won’t resolve their problem. And they also take action and go out and actually do it. I wonder which one of the two you think is more successful and how you see yourself respond if things don’t go as planned.

Conclusion, define your cheese, reflect on how to get it and get moving. Success is around the corner, closer than you think.