She only had a vision to own a tea shop.  From a little girl on, she loved tea parties.  In fact, she loved tea and all it entailed–scones with lemon curd and cream, mini-muffins, delicate cucumber sandwiches, fancy teacups, and lacy tablecloths.  She had a vision to provide a sanctuary for customers to enjoy their tea experience by using soothing colors, sounds, and materials.  She knew exactly what her shop would look like because she had dreamed of it so often.

She envisioned the beauty, elegance, and charm of a Victorian tea shop where, in the time honored traditions of England, taking tea would be a time to reflect on the simple pleasures of life in the special company of dear friends and family.

But the dream was not enough; within a year after starting, her first tea shop failed.

She was devastated.  Nevertheless, she picked up the pieces and studied a new business strategy.  This time she was careful to create a business plan, get adequate start-up financing, and find strategic shop space for her new venture.  She elicited the advice of other tea professionals to help develop her business.  Now her vision and dream were being made a reality through sound strategy and the wise planning it needed to move ahead.  But was all that enough?  Was she communicating the vision clearly?  Did she have good people to help her fulfill the vision?  Her vision was facing the test.

Today, Jane is the owner of 12 specialty tea shops.  Her vision had not only survived, it prospered and expanded!  The 16-hour workdays and wise decision making on her part helped turn it into a success with revenue to prove it.  She wrote her vision down and surrounded herself with staff that joined her in her vision and also wanted to see it succeed.

Jane realized it was not enough just a have a vision; she also had to learn how to communicate it properly and invite others to join with her to help accomplish it.  Only then would her vision be fulfilled.  Larry Kreider, “The Vision Test,” 21 Tests of Effective Leadership, 105-106, 113

THOUGHT:  There is no leadership in the Lord’s church without vision.

“Now it was in the heart of my father David to build a temple for the name of the LORD God of Israel.”  1 Kings 8.17

Mike Benson