The only thing worse than being blind is having sight, but no vision.”
— Helen Keller
Welcome to the August issue of BIC Magazine! A good friend of mine expressed to me deep depression about his job recently. He works as a project manager in the construction of low rent apartment complexes. He certainly had some legitimate beefs about his job, I suppose — maybe the pay wasn’t reflective of his contribution, perhaps his boss lacked leadership skills, the company may treat subcontractors unfairly at times, etc. I’m not sure, as I only get to hear one side of the story. The deeper overall displeasure I discerned as I allowed my friend to vent was his lack of fulfillment at the job. He described the tasks to me as mundane and joyless, and he fantasized about his “escape” to another environment.
I encouraged my friend by asking him if he had ever considered all the decent, hardworking families who had an affordable quality roof over their heads because of his own labor and leadership of other construction workers. I encouraged my buddy that his work was for a noble cause. Men and women like him, perhaps many with fewer blessings, could at least sleep well in a well built and affordable home due in part to my friend’s efforts. He confessed he hadn’t ever thought of it that way. Almost immediately, his countenance changed, and he began to feel much more positively about his job.
Such is the power of vision. Shoveling sand to fill bags is dull, monotonous and tiresome. But helping save a city from a flood is motivating, exciting and honorable. Good leaders set a vision for their companies, departments and families. But if you, like my friend, don’t have a mentor or supervisor helping set your vision, you can set one for yourself, both at work and for your personal life.
I had the good fortune to see the statue of David recently in Italy. I learned a boy once asked Michelangelo why he was working so hard chipping away on the block of marble that would become his greatest masterpiece. The artist replied, “There’s an angel inside of this rock, and I am setting him free.” The power of vision enables you to see a potential masterpiece in what others overlook or consider worthless. It also helps you discover things within yourself you never knew were there. It brings out the best in you.
Michelangelo was a Christian who believed God blessed him with his talents and vision. It shaped him deeply. Similarly, much of our self-directed vision comes from what we believe. For me personally, part of my vision for life is to help and support others. It stems from belief of God as a father who adopted me. Seeing myself as part of a family, I can use vision to help and support others as “brothers and sisters.” At work, my vision comes from our mission statement, “connecting people in business and industry with one another for the betterment of all.” I think it is important for a work vision to be in alignment with a personal vision.
Having vision for your life gives you four things:
- Direction. Vision simplifies decision making. Anything that moves you closer to your vision gets the green light. As a leader, you have to look forward and see where you and your group are headed. French writer Antoine de Saint-Exupery has one of the best metaphorically encompassing quotations regarding vision: “If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up people to collect wood and don’t assign them tasks and work, but rather teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea.”
- Motivation. Vision helps to keep us moving forward and move through obstacles. Setbacks and obstacles will seem less significant. With vision, you will work through them and persevere to the end, learning as you go.
- Passion. Vision provides something you love to do, something bigger than you and something you believe in and are good at.
- Purpose. Vision tells you, “If you don’t show up, something important won’t happen. Without you, what could be won’t be.”
I hope you are blessed with vision for your life today, and I hope the articles in this issue of BIC help move you closer to that vision, both on and off the job.
In this issue of BIC, we offer insight from Kinder Morgan CEO Richard Kinder, Lubrizol Texas Plants General Manager Tanya Travis, SPI: The Plastics Industry Trade Association President and CEO William R. Carteaux, Safway® Group CEO Bill Hayes and Woven Metal Products President Russell Hillenburg.
Additionally, we include a wealth of information to help you on the job with topics including turnaround readiness and success, hurricane preparedness and recovery, successful safety programs, rail safety, Gulf Coast mega projects and much more.
I also invite you to read Dr. Shirley White’s article “Making a career transition: Five steps to success” on page 133 for motivation if you are considering changing jobs or careers.
As always, please share this issue of BIC with your colleagues, family and friends, and visit BICMagazine.com daily for the latest industry updates and events.
