Like all highly effective individuals, social entrepreneurs begin with the end in mind. A BOLD vision serves as the destination in your GPS—it sets the intention and direction of your work and your life. Without this vision, it’s all too easy to get lost in the busyness of everyday life, going through the motions day after day. It's distressing to think most of us spend more time planning our lunch than we do planning our lives.
But social entrepreneurs are change that. They dare to envision a better future, paving the way for transformative solutions. Before taking positive action, you must first cultivate a positive vision. Without vision, it’s impossible to imagine that change is even possible.
Vision answers the fundamental question: “What am I here on this earth for?”
The Three Pillars of Vision
Your vision does three crucial things:
A Vision Expresses Your Purpose: The secret to success lies in understanding your purpose. Instead of fixating on goals, focus on the "why"—the reason you exist and the legacy you wish to leave behind.
A Vision Develops Your Potential: Discovering your vision often involves reflecting on the tools, experiences, and gifts you possess. How will you invest in these gifts and put them to use for a greater cause?
A Vision Enriches the Lives of Others: A life of significance is one that positively impacts others. Consider how you can leverage your purpose, passion, and talents to invest in the lives of those around you.
Cast a Bold Vision
Vision is critical for everyone, but it takes on heightened importance for social entrepreneurs. Once you identify the pain points you want to address, you’ll begin to envision a better way to create solutions.
A BOLD vision encompasses four key qualities:
B: Benefit:
It aims to make a positive impact, leaving the world better than you found it.
O: Others: It considers more than yourself. It serves multiple stakeholders - the customers, causes, and communities you care about.
L: Legacy: It addresses an issue larger than yourself and has a lasting impact beyond your lifetime.
D: Disruptive: It challenges the status quo and transforms outdated systems for the greater good.
BOLD Vision Framework:
“I want to live in a world where… [insert your bold vision here].”
Consider visions like: “I want to live in a world where…
Marginalized communities have access to strong mental health services.
Immigrants experience equal rights and opportunities.
Justice prevails for indigenous communities.
Pregnancy and childbirth are safe for every mother.
The planet is protected for future generations.
People with disabilities are valued and represented as strong individuals.
Teen girls have body acceptance role models.
Elderly adults are cared for with dignity and respect.
Gender equality is a norm in workplaces.
Our government thrives on diverse representation.
No one lives in fear of gun violence.
Children in our communities are healthy, educated, and inspired.
Everyone has a safe place to call home.
All kids can explore their creativity and enjoy the arts.
Animals are treated with kindness and respect.
Extreme poverty is eradicated.
The One-Sentence Life
Another way to conceptualize your BOLD vision is through the legacy you want to leave. John Maxwell, a leadership expert, states, “A great (wo)man is one sentence.” His point is that the essence of positive leadership can often be distilled into a single powerful sentence. For example:
“He preserved the union and freed the slaves.” (Lincoln)
“He lifted us out of a great depression and helped to win a World War.” (FDR)
This type of vision is catalytic, motivating, and inspiring. Now, it's your turn to decide: What will your one sentence be? What is your BOLD vision?
Key Takeaways
In this exploration of vision, you’ve learned that:
Positive action is rooted in a positive vision.
A BOLD vision benefits others, leaves a lasting legacy, and disrupts the status quo to foster positive change.
The Maxwell One-Sentence framework is a powerful tool for articulating your bold vision.
As you reflect on your vision, remember this quote from Rosabeth Kanter: “Vision is not just a picture of what could be. It is an appeal to our better selves; a call to be something more.”
The Importance of Clarity
Why do we often struggle against temptation? Why do we find it hard to say “No” to distractions or “Yes” to the work we know we’re meant to do? The answer lies in our lack of clear vision. We become distractible when we are not grounded in our purpose.
Just as 20/20 vision signifies clarity in eyesight, too many of us navigate life as if blindfolded—wandering aimlessly, year after year, without a sense of meaning, purpose, or fulfillment. One day, we look up and wonder, “What am I doing with my life?”
Imagine waking up each day knowing exactly why you are here. Imagine jumping out of bed in the morning and saying, “THIS is my purpose. THIS is my passion.” You don’t want to look back years later and realize you’ve spent that time meandering, without direction.
So this year, don’t settle for trivial goals. Show up with vision. Begin to understand why you are on this earth, why you have experienced certain things, and why you possess specific gifts. You are here to make a difference, and the world needs the unique contributions only you can offer.
The biggest regret at the end of life often stems from the dreams we didn’t chase, the risks we didn’t take, and the work we didn’t do. Now is the time to decide where you want your journey to lead and to design a plan to help us all get there.
Conclusion
The world is waiting for your BOLD vision. Embrace your purpose, harness your potential, and enrich the lives of others. It’s time to cast a vision that will transform not only your life but also the lives of those around you. Let’s start today!
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