What’s so great about vision? Maybe because it helps people head in the right direction? True vision creates a feeling that people can connect with, and aim towards without becoming overwhelmed. A vision that no one wants or can comprehend isn’t vision.

Management books and teachings all pretty much agree that to have a successful team/project, everyone needs buy-in. All involved need to agree with the vision on some level. Not everyone has to be gung-ho for it, but as long as people will accept it and agree with it, the vision can be a success.

Take JFK’s promise to put a man on the moon by the end of the 60′s. Audacious, visible, and ultimately obtainable. While it was before my time, I don’t presume to think everyone was for it. But I can probably guess that the propaganda machine made the majority buy into the vision, for those that were on the fence.

It’s magical to accomplish something that seems out of reach. Noble, in fact, to achieve the vision, especially when the proclaimer is unable to see the completion.

On the flip side, vision without buy-in is futile. Take for instance the current health care plan. Did everyone want it? Is it obtainable? Is it something that has never been done before? There’s no reason for people to get behind it. No cohesive purpose. Yes, it would be great if people could get affordable insurance. Should individuals not covered be penalized? No. Is this ground breaking? Hardly. But some people want cake and they want to eat it, too.

Before the federal government begins mandating things the people don’t want, why not try to fix the government first? Trim the fat, so to say, and eliminate wasteful programs and offices. A government is to govern, serve and protect its citizens. Find out what the people want, and find a vision that fits that desire, making it easy and worthwhile to support the vision. Create a vision of high-speed rail and mass transit in every major city and metro area. Put a deadline to remove internal combustion engines from the roadways. Build solar energy farms to support a major city like Chicago or Charlotte. Of course, these example aren’t popular opinion, since most Americans would likely sell their children before getting rid of the family car. How about a vision where the federal tax was lowered to 10%? I think most everyone would be on board with that one.