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For the longest time I have always been proud of my eyesight. I have never needed to get glasses or any kind of corrective help with my eyesight until…

I started to notice that when I needed to read something I was having to push the item further and further away from me to get it into focus. Now if you are like me, this does not bother you until one day, it becomes so problematic you ask yourself, “How did this happen? How did it get this bad?”

Things naturally degenerate unless they are given attention. I took my eye sight for granted and never made a point of taking care of them. I did not value my eye sight as much as I valued other aspects of my life. The reality is that without good vision it is hard to move forward clearly.

As leaders we have to keep an eye on what our values are because it is our values that define our vision. Too many times we come up with a vision first and then create our values around that vision. The reality is that our vision is a concise synthesis of our values. In other words, vision is the visible fruit of our values. If I value serving other people and becoming a servant leader in all I do, that will come out in a vision to lead others to do the same. If I value the character of giving of myself and resources, then I will lead a group of giving people and help others to become giving people. Vision is the response to values.

It is easy to say that you and your organization are going to help the starving children of Africa, only and only when, you are helping the hungry in your community first. Naturally, the next step is to take your service abroad.

Question: Leader, how’s your vision? Can your people see your values through your vision?