Martin Luther King Jr. didn’t say, “I have a 5-year plan.” He said, “I have a dream.”
In those words, he painted one of the most powerful, enduring pictures of a better future the world has ever seen.
JFK invited a nation to imagine landing on the moon. Malala didn’t call for task forces or targets.
She said: One child, one teacher, one book, and one pen can change the world.
And countless other visionary leaders, from boardrooms to grassroots movements, have rallied people – not with spreadsheets, but with stories. Not with bullet points, but with belief.
They offered us a picture we could see ourselves in.
I’ve had a few conversations with leaders recently – about the future of our economy or the implementation of major organizational changes – where the real missing piece wasn’t strategy or resources. It was a vision.
A clear, inspiring picture of where we’re headed that people can actually see themselves in.
Vision is visceral. What does “the best” look like on a Tuesday morning? Who’s in the room? What do they say when they walk out the door? What song plays when you win?
There’s a 1-minute section of a Daft Punk song, starting at 3:22 that I will 100% play when I’m called up to the stage to accept the award I have yet to decide I’m winning.
Neuroscience tells us we’re wired to respond to vivid imagery. When you describe a future state with enough colour and shape, the brain reacts as if it’s already real. That’s when people start making it real.
A vision that only lives in your head doesn’t inspire action.
You might think you’ve shared it. But if your team is confused, your clients are cautious, or your audience isn’t engaging, it’s worth asking:
Have I actually painted the picture?
A fuzzy vision leads to fuzzy execution.
But a sharp, shared picture?
It becomes a magnet.
Whether you’re leading a team, launching a project, or selling an idea, ask yourself:
- Can I describe our future in a way a 10-year-old could understand?
- If someone closed their eyes while I spoke, could they see what I see?
- Does this picture feel energizing and possible or overwhelming and vague?
And if you’re stuck, simplify.
Dream first. Describe second. Deliver third.
Vision isn’t just for flying to the moon or creating national movements.
It’s for anyone who wants to be more intentional about the moments that matter.
The next meeting. A hard conversation. A big decision. A big day.
I’ll give it a whirl right now…
In 9 days, we take our youngest to university. Both kids, off on their next chapters. Which makes us…empty nesters. For now, anyway.
It’s exactly what we’d hoped for…two amazing humans, out in the world, thriving. In many ways, it’s its own kind of finish line. A parenting win.
It’s also a gut punch. How could this amazing part of life be over?
Wah, wah, wah.
The way I see it, I have a choice. Victory or trauma. I know what I choose to see.
It’s a Saturday morning. A big day for our whole family really.
I wake up early and go for a run (endorphins make everything better). The air is cool, crisp. The house buzzes with energy and excitement.
My sister flew in from Montreal for the weekend, because ‘why not’? It’s a big day.
We make time for Starbucks — all good road trips begin with coffee — and hit the road with a soundtrack made up of the songs this 18-year-old grew up with. Everything from Pixar to Taylor Swift.
We meet her brother on campus. Another win — both kids at the same school.
We set up her room. The duvet, the pictures on the wall, the lamp on her desk – the perfect home away from home. Her roommate – one of her lifelong friends. Winning…
And when it’s time to go? We hug…a little longer than normal. And we drive away knowing this is exactly as it should be. She’s just a FaceTime away.
Our house is empty when we get home, minus the pets, but friends and family are bountiful. We fill the rest of the day with people we love.
We check on the kids before bed and welcome the next stage.
A vivid picture of a day I’m lucky to live.
How about you?
Do you have a dream?
Can you paint a picture to make it so real, it’s inevitable?
New to One Thing Thursdays?
Each week, I share something I’m learning, living, or working out in real time. It’s part storytelling, part reflection. I hope there’s something in it for you too.
Mary
P.S. We help visionary leaders and organizations achieve more impact through purpose, engagement and storytelling. When you’re ready, here’s how we can help:
- Build the story of your impact through Envision OnPrpose™
- Energize your people’s potential from the inside out with Engage OnPrpose™
- Amplify your industry voice through Influence OnPrpose™
- Develop purpose-driven leaders and storytellers with Influential Leaders Circle™