Be mean about the vision

Be mean about the vision.

Wondering what I’m talking about, today?

Vision. Tenacity. Determination. The ability to finish the race God called us to.

Whether you are a pastor, a leader, a parent or an employer, you started with a vision. We all did.

  • Pastors want to shepherd and disciple a group of people.
  • Parents want to raise God-loving, integrity-filled children.
  • CEO’s want to run purpose-filled, profitable organizations.
  • People want to accomplish their goals.

All of us have a vision of what we want to do and who we’d like to become, yet few of us stick to it over time. Even after short-term success, visions tend to blur, drift and fade.

  • Pastors get sidetracked with people’s agendas and well-meaning ideas.
  • Parents get lost in demanding daily routines.
  • Organizations drown in red tape.
  • Our goals are forgotten as we address day-to-day minutia.

Can you relate? I sure can. After 21 years in ministry, I can testify to countless times my vision for a particular ministry or group almost drifted away from what God originally tasked me to accomplish. Even as a parent, I often feel the pull to get off course and succumb to the demands of a busy schedule rather than pay attention to the spiritual growth of my kids.

The bottom line is vision fades. We forget why we do what we do. We mean to do something specific, but we drift off course.

That’s why I think we should be mean! We should mean to do what we do! All of us—in every role we have—should be mean about the vision God has given us. We should be intentional in our leadership! That kind of intentionality requires consistency, commitment, and yes, courage. Trust me, you need a lot of that last one.

Being mean about your vision…sticking to it…saying “no” to some good things in order to say “yes” to the best things….not pleasing everyone all the time…making some tough calls…Well, that’s “rubber meets the road” kind of stuff. It’s not for the faint-hearted.

But here are the payoffs: life, passion, growth, success! When we resolutely stick to the vision God has given for our lives, our ministries, and our families, we flourish! And so do the people around us. Accomplishing what we set out to do brings satisfaction, fulfillment and contentedness. That’s much better than drowning in daily minutia, don’t you agree?

Be Mean About The Vision, will help you protect and preserve what really matters. If you’ve ever drifted off-course, or if you’d like to prevent it from happening, get this book. Perhaps as a Father’s Day gift for that precious leader that you married?

Don’t wander in random directions. Be mean about your vision. Be mean about the vision God has for your ministry and family. Be mean about the vision God has for your life. In doing so, you’ll become intentional. Your life will be resolute.

Be mean about the vision!


Published June 9, 2016