» Management

Be a Visionary

W

Let visionary thinking move

your business away from the norm and into higher realms of possibility.

BY ROD MACDONALD

hen contemplat- ing the meaning of the word “vision- ary,” the romantics amongst us likely

imagine a leader with secret, clair- voyant powers, standing on a moun- tain pointing inspirationally upward

28 Fitness Business Canada March/April 2009

(possibly accompanied by emotional music and a sunrise). In reality, visionaries are simply peo-

ple with a clear and distinctive vision of the future. They are not born as much as nurtured. Many of them have been encouraged, often from a young age, to do things differently than others,

sometimes by choice and sometimes by circumstance. Visionary people have the poten-

tial to dramatically change a business from one that follows to one that leads. Visionaries see things that others don’t (or won’t) and, more importantly, they take decisive action. Their ability to see (usually things that are hiding in plain sight) typically comes from good

judgement, insight and courage.

“Good judgment comes from expe-

rience. Experience comes from bad judgment.” This often-used quote by Mullah Nasrudin, a 13th century Sufi sage, illustrates that while we all make mistakes, they must serve as lessons Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56