How Clear is your Vision?

Plenty of people and organizations have vision statements, but where is the vision in:

  • Being the best among our competition? (Relative Mastery)
  • Being great at what we do? (Absolute Mastery)

While mastery is a key aspect of any pursuit, it tells us virtually nothing about the future we want to strive for.

  • Who do we want to become?
  • What do we want to do?

A vision statement should be able to clearly direct the efforts of all involved, acting as a counter to our individual preferences. SpaceX, for example, is clearly the best in its industry; no competitor has been able to keep up with their innovations. Their vision clearly wasn’t to be the best, it is to go to mars. While the statement is a good start, but it is only the seed for a true vision. It should grow and evolve to clarify all of the important aspects:

Whether or not many of us can produce a video like this, our visions should be foundational to the content:

  1. Statement
    • We will travel to Mars
  2. Story
    • Long form description of making the journey to Mars
  3. Storyboard
    • Panels of the key visuals demonstrating the journey to Mars
  4. Trailer

  1. Simulation (Virtual or physical)
    • Interactive experience of key parts of the journey
  2. Prototype
    • Full build of a rocket and other requirements

  1. Trial
    • Single rocket to Mars, with expendable goods

As each level is reached, we gain a far greater understanding of the vision, and any issues with it:

A similar effect continues as we expand to a larger userbase:

Of course, getting to Mars is only part of the problem, but it is enough for the example. The greater vision is to become a multiplanetary species, not merely space tourists:

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