Vision Roadblocks

The above picture is from one side of the mall in my small city.

It was built about 15 – 20 years ago with gusto and a huge vision. Someone had a vision for this area of land that was beyond what I’d venture to say most believed was possible.

And so they acted on that vision. They took the initial step to see it through and built the mall in little Orangeburg, SC.

As you can see from the picture, that vision has lost its steam.

There’s a large department store location that sits empty, a parking lot that is usually void of cars, and storefronts inside that have gates over the doors year around.

What happened?

I’m not sure, but I have to believe that this isn’t what was dreamed up when the place was constructed.

Somewhere, the vision was lost…

Maybe it was in the follow through of the location,
Maybe the team in charge of developing the building dropped the ball,
Maybe the ground work wasn’t done well before it was constructed.

Whatever it was, there was a vision roadblock along the way.

The vision died.

That can happen with us too if we’re not careful..

The vision for our lives,
the vision for our family,
the vision for our church,
the vision for our marriage,
the vision for our startup business,
can die quickly if we don’t work through the road blocks and put peole and things in place to see it through.

It can’t die with you or with the initial implementation.

We have to push through,
we have to see it through.

What kind of vision roadblocks have you experienced? How can we avoid them? Share in the comments.

[I outline 5 reasons people quit in this post.]

3 Ways to Motivate Millennials

The millennial generation (those of us born between 1980 and 2000) has been referred to as an apathetic generation by many of our elders. The fact is, however, when motivated to do something and after seeing the real need to participate in a cause, we’re actually quite the opposite. In fact, millennials are people that usually want to participate in something big, they want a part in something bigger than themselves.

With that being said, here are 3 ways to motivate a millennial (or anyone really)…

1. Speak to their potential.

When leading a millennial, speak to their potential, not their mess-ups. It’s really easy to criticize anyone (especially and young person) for what they’ve done wrong, but the real way to prevent it in the future is to correct them and speak to their potential. Tell them why it’s not acceptable, tell them that they’re better than that. If you want a millennial to feel motivated, speak to what’s ahead of them, of how they are needed, and of what special things they have to offer.

2. Speak your vision.

Speak a compelling vision. To anyone, if you want to motivate them, speak vision, show them what they’re working towards. If I told you that I wanted you to swing a hammer all day, carry shingles up a roof, and sweat in the hot sun for 2 months, you’d probably say ‘no thanks.’ If I told you that I wanted you to have an integral part in building a home for a family that is in desperate need of feeling some love and needs Jesus, that would change your perspective on doing it. It’s the same way with the vision you’ve been given. Whether you’re leading a millennial, an older person, a child, a classroom, speak vision.

3. Speak your life (mentor them).

There’s a deep longing for connection among the millennial generation. We want community and aren’t’ afraid of being helped along life. Most of us know that we have a lot of learning ahead of us and we desire to have someone teach us about it… in relationship. Motivate that millennial you’re leading by speaking life, by doing life… genuine life with them.

How else can we motivate people? Anyone?

Success Comes to Those That Go Get It

No one’s going to MAKE you be successful.

Think about it, whatever you do, there are people around you that do the same thing. You’re all (in many cases) doing much of the same work, making much of the same salary, and trying to accomplish much of the same thing.

No one is going to MAKE you be the best.

That’s up to you.

If you’re a Mom or Dad or husband or wife or friend or pastor or leader, it’s up to you to push yourself to be the best.

There has to be conviction on our part each and every day to not settle for second best,
to not settle where we are.

We have to rise above.
To keep getting better.
To keep striving for more.

No one is going to make us be better.

That’s up to us.

The successful people are the ones that have the conviction and the drive all on their own.

To consistently run toward the goal without stopping.

The successful people are the ones that are determined to be the most successful…

• mom
• dad
• brother
• sister
• friend
• custodian
• employee
• athlete
• teacher
• leader
• pastor
• driver
• principal
• secretary
• etc

…that they can be.

Are you determined to succeed? No one’s forcing you to. 

[For more about seizing success, see this post.]