Finishing Well
The Winter Olympics have ended. All the years of preparation and training have come down to this. Over the past two weeks, the Olympics have been filled with people who compete with an intensity and energy that is admired by millions, but the prize only goes to the one who finishes well – ahead of the others.
Vision and discipline
There are at least four attributes that are needed in order to compete well: vision, discipline, adaptability and personal satisfaction. Vision can be defined as “a mental picture of the desired future”. The more specific the vision is, the greater the potential benefit of that vision toward success.
I had the desire to run a marathon. It was a great vision, but not really helpful in terms accomplishing my desire. It wasn’t until I set a date, picked a race, and set a time goal for pacing myself that the vision became a useful tool. Only then did my vision begin to become a reality.
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Once my vision was more defined, it moved me to action. I began to train in a focused way. I talked about what I was going to do, which provided a sense of accountability to follow through on my vision. The discipline that I imposed on myself in training for a marathon also began to impact other areas of my life. It caused me to be more focused in setting goals and implementing them. I’m convinced that a true vision will result in focused goals and self discipline needed to move towards those goals.
Adaptability and satisfaction
Adaptability and personal satisfaction come as by-products of the vision and its implementation. It’s surprising how the will to accomplish something causes us to adapt accordingly. The ultimate satisfaction of seeing the vision “in process” and becoming a reality can help with the challenging moments along the way.
Sometimes people become overwhelmed with the task of creating and implementing a vision because they feel the need to have an ultimate vision for their life. It’s actually easier to start with baby steps. Pick an area of life and get a mental picture of a desired future in that area. This could be in the physical, intellectual, financial, professional, spiritual or relational sphere. Just choose a specific place to start.
Vision is created twice. First, the mental picture is created. This shaping of the vision is like the general form of clay in a potter’s hand. Second, the vision is created by defining it so that it can be lived out in a physical reality, taking specific, small steps toward the vision becoming reality. Both steps are important.
In his book, Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, Stephen Covey calls this “Beginning with the End in Mind.” What is your desired future? Take the time to think and dream before rushing headlong into goal setting and implementation. King Solomon said, “Without a vision, the people perish.” He must have understood some very fundamental about the human spirit. Each of us longs to for change and a better future. Solomon, a rich and powerful king during biblical times, realized that the future was realized beyond the physical. What is your vision for 2010? Does that desire go beyond the physical?
Share your vision for 2010 with us in the comments! If you’d like to talk to a mentor privately about your vision and have them walk alongside you to help it become a reality, contact an online mentor privately via email!
Tags: competition, goals, LIFE, Men, mike woodard, olympics, sports, vision, Women
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