I’ve had a lot on my mind lately, but one of those things is having a personal vision, having a vision for my family, as well as a vision in my job.  The theme has come up over and over again since October when I talked to my friend Dave O’Hara who started the dominoes tipping.  I’m not talking about simple goals like, “don’t worry, be happy,” but instead I’m referring to the massively grand vision.  Let me explain a bit.

My grandfather, on my dad’s side, created multi-track recording equipment that is rumored to have been used by the Beatles because it was so innovative.  He’s created special instruments for all sorts of technological needs.  He’s an inventor (still, even in his 80’s).  In his lifetime he’s done some pretty amazing things that outstrip most lives in stories and impact.  He still has a 5 year plan that involves working on projects as well as ministry and evangelism.

My dad has so far turned around two businesses of two different kinds in ways that were unconventional, but really impacted lives by enabling employees and letting them know their ability to contribute to a grand vision.  He saved hundreds if not thousands of jobs.  He’s still impacting lives with an even grander vision as an elder at Holly HIlls Bible Church.

I write software for a living.  I want to create the equivalent to “something the Beatles used,” or turning an entire company around.  My vision for my life needs to be bigger, longer term, and most definitely grand.  Personally I need to have areas I know I’m growing.  As a husband and leader of a family my direction for my family needs vision so I can make better decisions about our stewardship of finances.  As an employee I need to have a vision for the projects I’m given that is bigger than everyone else’s vision for the project because I want to exceed expectations.

Do you have a grand vision?  Can you set goals and make plans without one?  I would contend you cannot push out into deeper waters without a plan, but you can’t have a good plan without a better vision.

Of course vision requires context, but that’s probably better for another post.

I haven’t listened to Dave Ramsey in a while.  Usually I find his dealing with certain issues legalistically to be a bit rough for me.  However, my personal preference for grace aside, he’s got a message that I think is important for humans of the world: grow up.  Be an adult.  When people call him for financial advice he almost always tells them the same thing after hearing their situation: face it.  Face the situation and be an adult.  Don’t ignore it any more.

I hate this advice because it usually points out my own maturity problems, but it is what we need to be encouraged to do as humanz.  If you’re having a problem in life it is possible it was thrust on you by someone else or out of your control.  Doesn’t matter.  Face it like an adult.  You may be facing a financial or other hole where you’ve got to dig yourself out.  Face it.  Man up.  Woman up.  Don’t just ignore it until you’ve really, really screwed things up.

I listened to him a bit this last week via his podcast and I can say that if you’re going to talk about politics, religion, money, sex or any other taboo: don’t be afraid to face the root problem, and don’t be afraid to accept responsibility.  You can’t deal with a problem until you’ve owned up to it and understand it.  This counts for money,  but pretty much the rest of life as well.  Trying to do anything else but be an adult about it is just plain stupid.  Dave says that, too.  I don’t prefer it, but it’s probably true.