First, a few questions for you to think through:
- When was the last time you daydreamed?
- When you were a child, what did you want to be?
- If you could start you life tomorrow doing something new, what would you pick?
- Where in the world would you most like to live?
- Who is someone you’d love the chance to sit down with and have a chat?
- Do you ever stop to think, what’s the future look like for me?
- If you were given a blank white canvas and asked to paint what your dream life looks like, what would you create?
- Money isn’t an option, and whatever you want is at your fingertips. What is the first thing that comes to mind?
My nana gave me a pin, and on it, it read: “you have to believe to achieve.” Sure, you’ve probably heard it before. But how often to think about it. And when you do, do you believe it? If you say no, think of how limiting you’ve already become.
If someone asks you about vision, what first comes to mind? I hope you didn’t answer being able to see. If you did, that’s ok — but think differently and have something greater in mind to describe the word.
I recall being young and in my parents living room, wearing headphones listening to The Preacher’s Wife soundtrack. I was singing along with Whitney Houston, dreaming about how incredible it would be to sing with her in real life. How lucky I’d be to get to actually sing with someone who I believe is one of the greatest singers of all time. How magical would life become if that ever came true?
I’ll cut to the chase. The vision I had as a child was foreshadowing to the future. Years later while at a Whitney Houston concert, I was sitting at the front of the audience. This was my first concert ever having front row seats, and there was no one else I’d be willing to beg my parents as much as I did to be this close.
As she sang, I sang with her. I looked at her and we made eye contact. It was as if our voices were in sync. Then the moment happened. Whitney quieted the audience and told them she wanted them to hear something. She walk to me and asked me to come to her and extended her microphone to me. She told me to sing. In an instant my make believe dreams from childhood came true. I was living my vision.
I believed in something so strongly that when the opportunity presented itself, the outcome came alive in the way I had always seen it. Do I think Whitney really could hear me singing. Sure…but I know it wasn’t completely that. She saw the passion in my eyes. The energy in my body. And she was influenced by my focus. And in that moment, my shine was radiant. She welcomed it and let it be shared with the thousands of people who came to see her perform.
I share this story as a starting point for vision. Now when I ask you about vision, what comes to mind? How big can you see? What’s ahead for you?