Which way you choose to go has a lot to do with what outcome you want to produce including who you want to reach. That can evolve over time of course, but if you take your BIG vision and consider “what do I want to create over the next 6 mos to a year?” and “how will I know I’ve been successful?” it will help you focus on what to do now (including the site style).

For what it’s worth I have struggled with this for myself and it was getting in the way of me just getting out there with this blog. So what you see here is my starting place Like you I jumped in and decided I would figure it out along the way. One question I was asked that could be helpful to you is “what do you want people to feel when they come to your site?” My answer is welcomed & intrigued. In one month I don’t have enough input to know if I hit the mark but it certainly feels good to move forward and to get to engage with people like you

The greater the vision, sometimes the harder to get started… Because you don’t know where to start!

Another issue with vision, is not knowing exactly where to go with it. That’s me!

My example… I’ve been doing a blog since late last summer for my friends and family on the topic of saving money & being frugal. I would like to see it evolve into something bigger and see myself having someone help me design a header and page elements to make it pop. I’m not sure of the direction I want to go with it… clean & business-like, or fun & quirky. To this point I have simply used the header available to me and found some freebie backgrounds that I change on occasion.

If anyone cares to take a look, let me know what you think! (I’m not particularly fond of the background I currently have)

You bring up excellent points, thank you!

For me, I envision a pyramid divided in three starting with “passion” at the bottom, “vision” in the middle and “goal” at the apex.

As you say, vision comes before all else until it is actualized.

Back Soon,
Henie

So often, I think we can get caught up in the rhetoric of a vision statement. For some, it becomes a ’sacred cow’ that is revered but never brought to any form of reality.

Keeping it simple makes engaging others in it a much less onerous task. And it makes the possibility of achieving it that much more believable.

@Richard There are truly many levels to owning a vision both individually and organizationally. Many of us have battled our inner selves when it comes to declaring a vision. Thinking of something we aspire to create and committing to it are two entirely different things. Commitment can provoke immense fear. But is the battle with our fear, of failure, or of success even, or something else.

To be willing to commit an act of leadership what are the things we must resolve for ourselves and how can we go about resolving them?

Also your point: “If a leader is someone who makes a difference, period, then every being gives meaning to the lives of others just by existing.” so eloquently articulates the premise for this idea. If you haven’t yet you may want to read the Story Behind the Idea in the About tab.

Thank you for your wonderfully thoughtful and thought provoking comments.

If a leader is someone who makes a difference, period, then every being gives meaning to the lives of others just by existing. As you learn to roll back to layers of judgment and conditioned views of hierarchies, you begin to realize that everyone is guiding or inspiring everyone. We do it consciously and unconsciously. We all make a difference in the ways we take steps to care for others and ourselves.