Page 14 - February 2022 Barbecue News Magazine

Vic Clevenger
Chimney Cartel
victor0568@gmail.com
While visiting with my dad recently, he reminded me of a verse in the Bible, “Where there is no vision, the people perish” Proverbs 29:18. This got me to thinking about vision how important vision is. Every year or two we make appointments to the optometrist to have our vision examined. Through all the tests from the burst of air to check for glaucoma to the famous eye chart. Then when there is an issue, corrections are made. Drops are given, glasses/contacts prescribed or in worst cases, surgery is sched- uled. The result is a vision which is clearer than
before.
Back in the 80’s the big thing for busi-
nesses and even churches were to have a
purpose statement. Most were long, unin-
spiring all while trying to be catchy. They
tried to engulf all they did with the end re-
sult of being the complete opposite of their
intention. It wasn’t until someone in the
business world caught onto the idea of not
looking backward or even now but where
they were heading as a company. This ush-
ered in the vision statement era. Casting a
vision for one’s business isn’t really anything
new. We do this in every interview we’ve asked the
question, “Where do you see yourself in five years?”
I have decided to ask myself this question in order to set my vi- sion for me as a person and for my business. Where do I see my- self in five years?
Where do I see my business in five years? These aren’t goals but the sight of the sun rising on the horizon. I have been thinking a
lot about what is a goal versus a vision. The more I think about it, a goal seems to be something abstract. One writes them down and, in many cases, that is as far as they get. The discouragement of trying to reach that goal is overwhelming and you give up. Then the goal remains that word on a piece a paper one can just discard.
A vision is something you can see.
Isn’t that what we’re asked in all those in- terviews, “Where do you see yourself...?”
Human resources are really asking us if we have a vision for ourselves. Without thinking much about it, we spout off an answer we think will get us a job. But have you sat down and really asked what your vision is for yourself?
When you can see where you are going, it becomes obtainable.
The easiest way to illustrate this is when we take a trip. Driving a long trip can be a
daunting task. You get tired. Your legs get sore and arms heavy from holding the steering wheel. But it is the vi- sion of the beach that keeps you going. Just when you think, “How much longer?” you see the sign which lets you know there are only 30 miles remaining. Your energy is renewed, and you feel like you can drive a thousand more. When you can see where you are headed, the journey getting there is a challenging adventure.
If you have no vision, then you can’t see.
I know this sounds obvious but when you are looking at your fu- ture and the future of your business, it doesn’t seem that obvious at all. However, ever successful business recognizes this. For in- stance, look at Amazon, their statement is, “Our vision is to be earth's most customer-centric company; to build a place where people can come to find and discover anything they might want to buy online.” They saw where they wanted to be and now, most likely, you see one of their trucks in your neighborhood every day. Without a clear vision of where you are going, you’ll be less like Amazon and more like “Wrong Way” Corrigan who, in 1938, set off to fly from New York to California but landed in Dublin, Ire- land 28 hours later. As he stepped off of his plane he asked, “Just got in from New York. Where am I?”
2022 is the year to set your vision and see where you are headed.
Where There is No Vision
BarbecueNews.com - 14
FEBRUARY 2022