day 1164: Vision Casting

"Where there is no vision, the people perish.." 

Everyone likes vision casters.  These are the people who seem to be able to see around the corner and create a vision of what the rest of us can't yet see.  Investors especially love vision from CEO and Founders.  Those analysts who represent investors sometimes though have the least vision, so they are even more enamored with those who lean forward into the future.  This is the problem the Apple has right now.  The analysts think that Apple has lost their vision.  Have they though?  Analysts are asking questions like, "Is it search?", "Is it voice?"  But, what do we know?  One can't ask a question about what a vision is because a vision, again, is something that the rest of us can't yet see.  Prior to the launch of the iPod, Steve Jobs played the guessing game with me and asked me what I thought could change the world, would fit in my pocket, but wasn't a a phone or a camera.  At that time, the last thing I was going to come up with was another mp3 player.  But, he had a vision and that is why other others followed.  If we aren't constantly trying to create a vision for our employees, our customers, our consumers and our shareholders, then we run the risk of losing their attention and worse yet the curiosity of their imagination.

We know that God has a vision for us and how eternity will play itself out.  He created this for us so we don't have to create one on our own.  In fact, when we try to do so we run counter to what He desires for us.  Each and every day we have the opportunity to follow and work into His vision.  That vision is clearly spelled out for us in His Word and if we just begin to inquire into the Bible for how we fit into that vision much will be opened up for us to explore.  We can get so caught up with what is right in front of us that we lose sight of the bigger picture.  Today as we close off this work week let's not take this day as just any other Friday, but instead ask God what He has in store for us and ask Him to reveal His vision today. It might just end up being a remarkable Friday (not to mention the longest day of the year)!

Reference: Proverbs 29:18 (New Living Translation) 

day 578: Attention To The Details

I marvel with the people who could be so successful in their careers if they just could find a way to have an attention to details. Big idea people are needed but ideas without execution go nowhere. It takes attention to details to make something go from good to great. The business world has been abuzz the last week over the potential of the Apple coporatation not having Steve Jobs at the helm. I have had the privilege to interact with Steve a number of times in one on one conversations and I have said consistently that he is the Walt Disney of our age (ironically, he is also the largest shareholder of the Walk Disney Company). Why is he like Walt Disney? It is because he has the vision to see into the future but also has the attention to detail to make those visions come to life and in a manner that is of the highest quality and consistency for the consumer/user. Without his attention to the details, would the iPod or the iPad be what it is today? I seriously doubt it. All any us have to do is read the book of Numbers and we can see that part of how God created and rules this world is also with an attention to detail. I was struck by the book of Numbers Chapter 26 when God asks that a census be held. After all of the counting of the men over 20 years of age, God did not lose sight of the detail that He had said, "They will all die in the wilderness'. The only exceptions were Caleb, son of Jephunneh and Joshuah son of Nun." When you do the math that was two of 624,730 people. God was in the details. As we go about our work, much of how we do our work and do something with excellence or not is in the details. The small things do count. As you think through today, what details are hanging that need to be sewn up? What details need attention that you haven't been giving? What orientation in your work do you need to change so you can find yourself attentive to the details? It will make a difference.

Reference: Numbers 26:65 (New Living Testament)