Dreaming the Big

I’ve planned for my own organizations and for client organizations. I’ve done it for good sized fees and for free. The process is the same. The contents differ by organization; their DNA is in the details and that’s what makes it work for them.

The hardest part about planning has two parts.

First, is clarifying the what and why they do what they do. What is their purpose for being? Articulate that clearly and half the planning battle is over. It is not as simple as saying – ‘We sell books to readers.’ No, it is more complex than that, but not a mystery either.

Why do you sell books to readers? No, not because they want them; it is more than that. Don’t you sell books to readers, so they can explore the world in many dimensions? Understand the world better? Isn’t reading a pathway to the brain and its ability to articulate subject matter and integrate it to everything else in the universe?

So, you do sell books, but the purpose is to feed curious minds on the complexity of the world.

This broad purpose is the mission of the organization. It galvanizes your efforts to serve this end. It is a motivator in major and subtle ways.

Now the dream is another issue entirely. This is the second part about planning. Over a long-term period, say 10 or 15 years, if the mission is very successful for your organization, what will you be accomplishing? What impact will your work have had? How would you describe your organization at that point in the future?

Impact is not an easy concept to grasp. For our book seller, let’s just say that discussion groups will form around many of our book authors, or topic groups will form around a diverse author group on the same subject matter. These groups will have a presence in literature, academia, and the arts. Social media will carry their messages far and wide. In short, these groups will take on heft in our social order all because they were attracted in the first place by book shops willing to buy, sell and distribute books on these subjects.

Society becomes more knowledgeable and articulate. Our governments and policy makers become more attuned to the issues and make wise decisions.

Your organization may also change its appearance. It may be a book seller AND a publisher or large distributor. It may cover more than the city of its origin, but now covers four midwestern states. A national presence may be in the offing, too.

Mission is purpose. Vision is scope. Both operate together separately. They help identify near and dear operating issues for daily functioning. At the same time there is a pull far into the future to build something bigger, better or more impactful.

I think societies can benefit from planning as well. What purpose does the American society have? Are we about freedom and acceptance in a messy world of differences? Do we get along while each of us finds our way in a confusing mass of options, all of which are good and proper? Or don’t we? Why should we? How should we?

And if we nail down that mission, what else would be happening in our society? The effect of our mission operating successfully in our midst will produce what?

I think it will produce an open and accepting society where people do not discriminate against people who are different from themselves. I think they will learn to value the difference as asset, as gold in our midst. These are the builders of strength of our own personhood. Help others be strong while becoming strong ourselves.

My plan for America is to adopt this mission for us all. Then adopt that vision for us all.

Oh what we could become if only this were true!

September 25, 2018