The Power of Vision

Have you ever dreamt about winning the lottery? What you would do first? Who you would share the news with? Who you could help? Where you would move, what your house would look like? What you would do if money were not an issue? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you are capable of vision. This is an example of vision.

Do you remember the feeling that came along with that vision?

The truth is, I hear a lot, like... a lot, that people don't want a bigger company, they just want to "stay small". I never believe them at face value and when prodded a little more, it turns out, most often, they don't want to go bigger because they don't want more of the same and they don't have enough money as it is.

Cashflow is an issue, even if they are a multi-million dollar company, they just don't see how bigger can work out, without more of the same pain they already have. And I don't blame them, I wouldn't want more of that either. I had more of that, and it sucked!

The problem is not lack of money or the chaos. The problem is vision. The problem is not being able to see what the possibilities could be if money were not an issue and all the chaos was sorted. The problem is having faith in yourself to do the things that may seem hard, even "impossible". The problem is believing you can create a tomorrow that is better than today.

100% belief.

100% commitment. 

100% of the time.

And this approach does not start when everything is going great, because truth be told, every construction or trades service based business I've met, has been ugly at one point or another. It takes a lot of effort, intention and grit to become great. And it's all possible when you have the vision, coupled with 100% belief, 100% commitment, 100% of the time.

Last week, we talked about how to attract and keep A-players in your construction business. (Missed it? Read it here.)

This week we are going a step further. We're talking about the role of vision in keeping those A-players. Here’s the truth: Great people don’t follow a paycheque, they follow a vision.

If your team doesn’t know where the business is going, how can they help you get there?

That’s where most construction businesses get stuck. They’re working hard, really hard, growing fast and have no clear direction. The crew’s busy, however, they’re rowing in different directions.

A vague goal like “grow the business” won’t align your team. You need a clear, compelling, detailed vision, and everyone needs to see it. Everyone - your employees, your trade partners, your suppliers, your clients - everyone.

Introducing the “Vivid Vision” Concept 

It's been called a few different things, depending on where you learn about it. I've heard the "painted picture" or the one I have found the easiest to digest is Cameron Herold’s Vivid Vision. Either way, this idea goes beyond the traditional "vision statement".

Instead of writing an "inspiring" one-sentence statement for your website, you create a 3-5 page, detailed snapshot of your company 3 years into the future. It is a powerful exercise. It covers: 

✅ What the company looks and feels like 

✅ What your culture is like 

✅ What customers are saying 

✅ What your team is doing and how they act 

✅ What systems and processes you’ve built

And here’s the key: You write it as if it already exists.

“It’s December 31st, 2027. As I look around the office I can't believe how far we've come…”

This brings your future into focus and gives your team something real to chase. The brain can not distinguish between what is real and what is not, so writing it as though it's already happened has the power to influence your actions toward that vision. If you'd like to check out the Vivid Vision we created for our HVAC company, you can check it out here. Scroll down to the Vivid Vision section.

Why Vision Matters in Construction

Construction is tough. It’s fast-paced, high-pressure, and often reactive. We don't have time to stop and think ahead. We're running by the seat of our pants saying yes to everything with no real intention. Overwhelm and chaos are standard conditions. However, when you set a vision as clear as the vivid vision, a lot of the noise goes away because with the vivid vision you are also creating focus and direction with what you are working toward.

The by-product of this, when shared with your team, is that they know what they’re building, where they fit in, what they will be contributing and they will show up differently.

💡 They make decisions based on where the business is going 

💡 They bring new ideas to the table 

💡 They start taking ownership

How to Create Your Own Vivid Vision

The book Vivid Vision by Cameron Herold is a quick read and very helpful in guiding you through the vivid vision process. Notwithstanding, 

1️⃣ Pick a date 3 years out – Choose a future date and visualize your ideal business.

2️⃣ Brain dump – Describe what your team, jobs, clients, financials, systems, and leadership structure all look like.

3️⃣ Write it in present tense – Make it feel real. "We have a strong leadership team..." not "We want to have..."

4️⃣ Share it widely – This isn’t for your desk drawer. It’s for your team, partners, and even potential hires. Be bold and post it on your website for all to see.

The more people you share it with the better. Not only will you have more accountability partners, you'll have people who are helping you get there. Your clients will know more about you. It will be a conversation starter in various circles. The more people that know, the more people there will be helping you create it.

Next week, we’ll talk about how to create a company culture that supports that vision, on purpose.

If you are ready for things to be different and could use some help implementing the ideas presented in the last several weeks, reach out to me, it's what I do. I'm here to help.