“Where there is no vision, the people perish.”—Proverbs 29:18a (KJV)
Written by the wisest man in the world, Solomon knew that to live this life well, we need to have a vision and follow it. Having a vision is a necessary ingredient for good leadership, otherwise, we don’t have a good game plan and are likely to go nowhere or worse—end up where we never wanted to go. As Pastor Craig Groeschel has said; “Everyone will end up somewhere in life, but few end up there on purpose.” This is true of our families as well! Every Family will end up somewhere, but few will end up somewhere…ON PURPOSE. Putting Proverbs 29:18 into the family context we could say, “Where there is no Family Vision…the Family will perish.”
Companies and organizations need to have a vision to establish their work and be successful and so do families. The family is where the next generation is raised and handed the baton to carry on our legacy. But we need more than a vision to be successful. We need to have a mission to carry out our vision, and core values or guiding principles that guide us. So what kind of vision ought we to have?
Inspiring
If your WHY is Big enough, you’ll figure out HOW! The “Why” is our Family Vision; the “How” is our Family’s Mission. Is your Vision for your Family big enough and grand enough to be inspiring for future generations? In business we talk about having a BHAG (Big Hairy Audacious Goal; as a Christian, I like to call it my Big Heavenly Audacious Goal!). What is your BHAG for your Family? What is your vision for how your family can impact your community, the world, and even generations to come? We need to invest time thinking deeply to create a compelling, inspiring Vision for our Children, Grandchildren and future generations so that our family ends up where we want to go…On Purpose.
Wise
Failed visions are often the result of making unwise choices. We spend so much time educating our children with “knowledge” and “information” but how much time does the average family invest in helping their children and grandchildren to be wise and discerning decision makers? Wisdom defined is the “correct application of knowledge.” So, if we don’t teach our heirs to be wise, we may unintentionally create “well-educated fools;” people who are smart intellectually but who lack common sense, virtues and values. As it says in Ephesians 5:15-16, “Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.” So, part of our Family Vision and Mission ought to be to promote Wisdom.
Timeless
Our vision needs to have adaptability and yet remain the same. The timeless qualities of a sound vision lead to a lasting legacy—consistency and faithfulness in carrying it out, wise values and principles at its foundation—are unlike having a vision based on the latest fad or the culture around us.
Unique
Personalize your vision to fit your calling and the uniqueness of your family. Doing so will help you to adopt a mission that will be easier to carry out than someone else’s vision.
Plan
A vision without a plan will not get very far. As you seek to lead your family well, take our assessment to see how you are doing in the planning of your personal and family legacy. Download our free sample of a Family Mission and Vision template to help you establish your vision and mission with some values, measures and strategies that go into a successful vision. Then fill out your own Family Mission and Vision template as a tool/resource to guide your family through the creation of your own Vision/Mission statement. Many people might need guidance in crafting their Vision/Mission statement. If you need some assistance in crafting yours, contact us.
Need additional tips for how to cultivate gratitude and generosity in the next generation? Create A Thriving Family Legacy: How To Share Your Wisdom And Wealth With Your Children And Grandchildren is available at major book retailers. Contact our office for a free consultation. We assist clients in developing an intentional, proactive plan for mentoring and discipling their children and grandchildren and in creating family unity and purpose in a multi-generational context. If that sounds like something that would be a blessing to your family, please contact us to schedule a conversation.
