Navigate with Vision: Avoiding a Million Aimless Paths

“Without vision, the people cast off restraint.”-Proverbs 29:18 ASV

One mistake I made when I designed my online mental performance training is where I placed the “vision” lesson. It currently resides WITHIN the “purpose” lesson at number 7/37. Vision is so important that it deserves its own lesson and needs to be way closer to the beginning of the training.

When you have a clear vision of where you want to go, a clear path emerges to get there. The problem with not having a clear vision is that there are unlimited ways to reach your eventual destination-which is the inevitable end of the season for coaches.

One of the most incredible teams I’ve ever worked with is a beautiful school in Wisconsin located in a town named Oshkosh. I landed at the airport, got my rental car, and had absolutely no cell service. My google maps loaded enough to show the general direction that I needed to go: northeast. I sat there with a choice in front of me. Would my vague vision be enough to get me to Oshkosh, or did I need to go back inside the airport and figure out a more precise plan? I am an adventurer at heart, and had the luxury of time, so I headed off and took every northeastern route I could find. I loved every second of it. It was one of the most wonderful and energizing drives I’ve ever had. I bet this sentiment has some of you readers’ blood pressure skyrocketing! But you know what I didn’t have on the way to Oshkosh that you have as a coach this season? Time constraints. I didn’t start working with my people until the next day. My vague vision did get me to the town eventually. I just took the long way (see below).

Fastest path from Madison, Wisconsin to Osh Kosh, Wisconsin

The path I took on my own

My vague vision got me to Oshkosh eventually but the specificity of needing to be at my hotel had me stopping to find wifi.  My steps needed to be more specific when my end goal became more specific. The story ended with me arriving where I needed to be, when I needed to be there, and with a brilliant (thank you Carrie) assistant coach turning my cellular data back on despite my insistence that it was already on. Oops.

Coaching means your season is on a clock. All teams (legally) start on the same date, and then time marches on towards the eventual goal of winning it all. So what will keep you and your team moving on the same path? Vision. Without vision, the Bible says we will cast off restraint. If the vision of what your team will be isn’t compelling enough, your athletes will go their own way. What could be worth sacrificing sleeping in, long hours in the gym, and fighting against every instinct to give up?

My advice is that you figure it out together. To be worth all that sacrifice, this vision needs to be vivid. It needs to be visible. It needs to be worth fighting for.

My senior year of college volleyball, I had the vision of being named to the All-American team. I had it written in my dorm, I had it written on my phone, and I even wrote it on my wrist before games. I was serious about it. However, I had developed what’s called “chondromalacia” after my first few years of college volleyball. In layman’s terms, my knees sucked. It sounded like I was opening a bag of chips when I would squat. It was so painful to even walk up the stairs. I got cortisone shots regularly, had the fluid drained from my knees multiple times a year, and I cried after most practices because of the pain. But I kept going because Ioved playing, I loved my team, and I wanted to be an All-American. The vision of glory was compelling enough to fight. I ended my career as a three-time all-conference player and statistically, that is what I deserved. I fell short of seeing my vision come to fruition but wow…the clarity put me on a path that made it easier to make (literally) painful decisions that supported excellence.

Consider the parable of the three bricklayers. When asked, “What are you doing?” The first bricklayer complained, “Just laying bricks.” The second answered, “I’m putting up a wall.” The third exclaimed, “I am building a spectacular cathedral that will serve thousands for centuries to come!”

Which of these three bricklayers is going to last the longest? Which of them is going to come to work even when they are tired? Which of them is going to fight through adversity and find the strength to finish the job?

My vision for Armor Mental Performance is to create systems for Christ following coaches that facilitate organizational change. I see parents being empowered to support and love their children more effectively. I see athletes confidently succeeding and failing forward. I see coaches speaking life into their players and being the guiding light to growth. I see teams gathering together to know and love Jesus more. I see thousands entering the Kingdom of God and living with the same unearthly peace that I do. This vision makes my heart swell and my feet hit the floor. THIS is what motivates me to wake up early. You think money will do that? Then you don’t know how much I love to sleep. 

What keeps you going past the drama? Past the lack of compensation? Past the fatigue? Most teams and people are not intentional and clear about where they want to go. Or their coach is, but the team isn’t clued in to the vision. Or they have one or two motivated athletes, but everyone else is there for a good time (not a long time). Human nature is to be selfish and lazy. Fight the gravitational pull of average. We are not just dreaming here. In the words of the great Marshawn Lynch, “I’m bout that action boss”. So what are you going to do now?

Action item for this week: 

Craft this vision. Pretend that you are being honored on your retirement day. Write a speech from the vantage point of your players about yourself. What do you want them to say about you when it’s all said and done? Write down the answers to these two questions after finishing this exercise: how does shape the vision of how you want to be remembered? How will that change your actions moving forward?

When you get together with your team, repeat this process with them, but it’s senior night. What do they want their teammates to say about them? Their coaches?

And finally, craft a vision statement for the entire team. It should be inspiring, achievable, and clear.

In closing, I pray this over you, “Lord please draw near to the people reading this. I ask you to help them create a clear vision of who they want to be and the things they want to accomplish. I pray for clarity in their steps and renewed passion along the way. May we lean on you every step of the way and walk only where you would lead us. In your name we pray, Amen.”

I created a 7-Day devotional for your team to jumpstart growing closer to God, growing closer together, and growing a connected foundation. The devotional works fantastic as a group or you can tackle it solo! Download for free by clicking the button below.