Creating a solid foundation for your business starts with clearly understanding your business.  Your vision for your business is a great place to start.  Once your organization has a clear vision you are able to see the vision and live it as well.

When your organization has a clearly defined vision, you have answered the fundamental question of “Where am I going?”.   When you have this set, everyone in your organization knows where the business is going and can use this to guide their decision making.  By using a vision effectively, you can also better dictate the culture that you want to create in your organization.

As far as building your organization goes, vision allows you to better see what players that you need on the team to make your vision a reality.  It also lets you figure out what qualities that these new players need as well.  In the end, you have a better quality team and a more efficient team.

Another benefit to understanding your vision is in your communication to the public.  Your marketing will be more effective because you better understand what channels work for your business and what message is right for your client base.  Business owners network better when they can communicate more clearly with other people they meet at events.  Ever talked with someone about their venture and walked away having no clue what they do?  Don’t worry about it, chances are they aren’t sure either.  Last, but not least, vision helps you to communicate your business through a business plan which can lead to potential funding for your business in the future.

A couple of words of caution about vision:

The first word of caution is that vision is no different than anything else.  If you don’t take care of it and cultivate it properly, it will die.  There are too many businesses that pay vision lip service and then watch as it has no impact on their business.

The second is the fact that vision is an ongoing process and is constantly evolving.  Make sure that you take the time to review this so that the only time you go off course is because you planned it.

If you don’t have a vision in place for your business then spend some time and work on this now.  If you have a vision, how is it working for your organization?  Where does it help you?  Where does it hinder you?

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