My definition of vision is the aspirational description of a point and/or place where one, be it an individual or organization, hopes to see themselves in the long term future Vision gives us direction. It sets the path for us to follow with the intention of reaching our respective destinations, whilst achieving our goal. Without this, we would have no focal marker to aid in informing us that we are veering on or off the wanted path. Vision and dreams are highly correlated.
Execution, by my own definition in the context of business, is the physical process of engaging in different types of work with the goal of achieving a desired outcome, be it for oneself or as a task. In other words, execution generally means implementation, or getting something done.
Henry Ford’s statement of “Vision Without Execution is Just Hallucination” fuses both vision and execution, which is an equation that cannot work without the both things. Especially if the aim is to reach a goal. If you were to have a dream and choose not to implement the necessary procedures needed to achieve that dream, then you are victim to Ford’s statement. This categorizes the dream as a hallucination, something that will not become real and stays in your own mind. Should you have this vision and chose to execute it, this turns this statement into a working equation.
Coincidently, this topic brings up another point of argument which falls directly in line with Ford’s statement. “Knowledge is Power” (KIP). ‘KIP’ is a grand statement, used by many highly influential individuals, postulating that if one has the knowledge in relation to their goal, task or in general, then that “one”, has “the power”. The power: insinuating that an individual is at an advantage and has a far superior know how than that of someone who lacks knowledge. The knowledge holder is more likely to reach the end game of their overall mission.
Very few people understand the above statement of ‘KIP’ and its underlying connotation. Yes, to an extent, knowledge is power, but one cannot have knowledge without having to physically ascertain that knowledge. With that being said, ‘Knowledge Is Power’ holds more weight than Ford’s statement, being that it is more factual and will create a better result when put in place. To clarify this, the correct form of the ‘KIP’ statement should be: ‘Implementation Is Power’. For instance, you may know that in order to gain knowledge, you will have to read a book. Once the book is read, knowledge is gained. But, until you physically IMPLEMENT this: getting up, getting the book and actually reading it, then you will not achieve what is necessary to reach that next level of power. That being the knowledge which will guide and assist you with reaching your goal.
For us to reach the vision that we seek, we must implement the necessary tasks needed to gain the necessary knowledge, and give us the necessary theoretical skills that will shape our vision into something realistic, based on the knowledge gained. One could call it an infinite cycle that continues to feed off of each of the consisting three vital procedures: Implementation, Knowledge and Vision, all of which have their degree of power within each individual path.
In conclusion, ‘Knowledge Is Power’ should truly be: ‘Implementation Is Power’. Logic helps aid and assist the growth, development and the grasping of ‘Implementation, Knowledge and Vision’. We all strive at one point in our lives to reach something that gives us some form of physiological comfort. Without actually doing something, and knowing where you need to be to achieve it, that won’t happen. Only when we acknowledge that we need to take these steps mentioned, about how to get to where we want to go, will the vision be reached, and most importantly, appreciated.