Vision is defined as a mental picture or an idea of where you are going or of what you want to achieve. Vision or the idea gives us direction and acts as a road map to our preferred destination. God’s word says that without a vision His people perish. Therefore it is key that as women entrepreneurs who aim to be purposeful and deliberate we must have a VISION that is birthed deep within us and prepare a plan for execution of the vision.
Proverbs 29:18 AMP
Where there is no vision [no redemptive revelation of God], the people perish; but he who keeps the law [of God, which includes that of man]–blessed (happy, fortunate, and enviable) is he.
After such a profound instruction I am sure you are asking yourself ‘So how do I go about creating a vision?’ Well here goes: you need to get into a quiet space… in this age of technology and information overload… no phones, internet, noise or people and ask yourself and answer these seven questions: What? Why? How? When? Where? Who and To Whom?
Let’s break it down.
What is the VISION that is in my heart and mind? What do I want to do? What does God want me to do?
Hebrews 10:16 AMP
This is the agreement (testament, covenant) that I will set up and conclude with them after those days, says the Lord: I will imprint My laws upon their hearts, and I will inscribe them on their minds (on their inmost thoughts and understanding)…
These seven questions can be applied to all areas of our lives as women. Ask them of yourself personally in line with what you want to achieve. What is your VISION for your family, marriage, current position and business? What is your vision for your community, Kenya and Africa?
Why do you want to do what you want to do? Life has taught me that the reason and motive for engaging in anything is very key in the success and the final results of what you want to achieve or engage in. For example the motive to have a business should not be just to make money. Ideally it should be for solving a problem by providing a product or a service to the marketplace that will impact and affect positively the lives of people as they interact with your product.
How am I going to achieve my vision? This should be laid out in easy steps that you can action immediately or in the future within the parameters of medium or long term. The How can be as easy or as complicated as you want it to be depending on your personality, exposure and experiences. The How could be in becoming more disciplined, in learning new skills, gaining experience, getting a mentor, carrying out research, talking to people, talking to and listening to God and so on… The How is a process. Don’t rush to implement everything at once. Pace yourself. The How can be tested and tried on family and friends.
When is very straight forward but I do advise that you have someone to hold you accountable especially if you tend to procrastinate or experience fear as you approach the action and execution stage of the vision.
Where allows you the opportunity to dream and make a progressive plan. All things should start where you are. I love the way Jesus said to his disciples: “Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and then to the ends of the earth”. There is so much order in that plan just as you need order for the vision plan. Start with where you are and then progressively to other parts of your country of residence and then to other nations in Africa and to the rest of the world as the VISION and passion within you directs you. I am very convinced that God is raising entrepreneurs for Africa, so think Africa but start where you are with what you have.
Who is going to carry out the vision? Who do you need to effectively execute the vision-idea that you have in your mind and in your heart?
To Whom informs you who your audience is and who your product or service is targeted to. It presents an opportunity for you to learn more about your audience through research, interaction and reflective thought that allows you to understand your audience, their needs and how your product or service meets their needs.
If you are an entrepreneur in this time and season in Africa and the world at large then your product or service must be a solution that transforms Africa and must be a replicable solution that can be reproduced in other nations of Africa and the world.
Habakkuk 2:2-3 AMP
And the Lord answered me and said, Write the vision and engrave it so plainly upon tablets that everyone who passes may [be able to] read [it easily and quickly] as he hastens by. For the vision is yet for an appointed time and it hastens to the end [fulfillment]; it will not deceive or disappoint. Though it tarry, wait [earnestly] for it, because it will surely come; it will not be behindhand on its appointed day.
Kingdom Business Solutions our mandate is transformation of the marketplaces of Africa through engaging solution oriented leaders of integrity and excellence. This we do through an initiative titled “The Purpose & Leadership Forum” (PLF), where we are equipping the next generation of African marketplace leaders who are and will continue to make an impact on present and future generations on this African continent because they understand the purpose of their leadership. Read the magazine
