WHAT IS A VISION STATEMENT?

A Vision Statement is a key component when it comes to the issue of project management. Such a statement needs to offer several things:

1. There should be a summary of specific tasks to be performed for the purpose of meeting one's objectives. For example, one task might be described as follows: "Register a domain name which will make it easy for people to find my web site instead of having to remember a long and obscure web address." (That particular task has already been accomplished.) Some tasks (like the preceding one) are one-time tasks which ideally should not have to be repeated. Others, such as the task of renewing that domain name registration every 2 years prior to the date when it is scheduled to expire, could be described as "recurring" tasks. It should also be pointed out that many tasks are multilevel tasks. A task can be stated in such a way that it actually involves numerous microtasks. For example, if one described a recurring task as "get ready for work in the morning", it might involve recurring microtasks such as "take shower", "shave", "brush teeth", "make and eat breakfast", etc.
2. There should be a detailed summary of specific and measurable short-term and long-term objectives. For example, one of my first objectives could be described as follows: "Design and launch an attractive web site which will enable me to present my mission and my vision, raise funds and other forms of necessary support, provide various services and information resources to the community of artistically talented Christians, and forge alliances and partnerships with others who share my goals and values." I am still working on the pursuit of that particular objective even as I write these words. Since a web site needs to be frequently updated, and there is always room for improvement, it may well be that this will never be completely accomplished in the final sense. However, there should be a point where I am happy that this site design is ready for "launch day" (when I upload the entire site for the first time, and when I feel comfortable enough with the design of the site to invite folks to come take a look at the site). That's a measurable objective. I'm keeping track of my progress on the tasks and the little microtasks which are involved so that I can get some idea of how long it's likely to be before I've made enough progress to launch the site for the first time.
3. There should be an overall game plan which breaks things down into project stages so that it is easier to see some type of logic and order in one's overall plans, and so that one can more readily identify major milestones when they occur. It's helpful to organize long-term goals into distinct and chronologically logical groupings, so that it's easier to measure one's progress incrementally without having to engage in analysis so often that one has time for little else. The order in which things are done is often self-evident and nonnegotiable.

In the preceding list, I've listed items from the smallest category (the specific tasks and microtasks one needs to perform) to the largest (the achievement of major milestones). But that isn't necessarily the order in which one comes up with lists of each of these 3 components. Often, it isn't until one has already identified or defined one's objectives (which are strongly shaped and defined by the items in the Mission Statement) that it becomes clear what tasks and microtasks need to be performed in order to achieve those objectives.

I bring all of this up in order to provide detailed information to those who feel a need for such information before they can commit to offer their support. Of course, not everyone feels the need for such information. Some people (particularly those who are extremely busy) are what I'd describe as "cut to the chase" types of people. They don't care about or want the details, they just want a general sense of what it is they're contributing to. That is more properly the function of the Mission Statement. But I would be negligent if I did not also provide more detailed information for those who felt a need for such information.

I could keep such information to myself when making plans for this web site and this ministry. The advantage to such secrecy would be that my specific ideas could not easily be scrutinized. The drawbacks, however, would be that it would be difficult to inspire confidence in the legitimacy of my ideas and in my ability to implement those ideas. Consequently, it would be very difficult for me to raise the support and forge the alliances I need in order to succeed. Therefore, in spite of the scrutiny that such openness will invite, I am resolved to try as much as possible to be an "open book", and to answer any questions as honestly and thoroughly as I am able to do.

Some Mission Statements are more succinct than others, but as a general rule, they are almost always more succinct than Vision Statements, due to the fact that it takes less verbiage to express things in terms of generalities than it does to express things in terms of specific details.

Planning is a necessary component in any successful endeavor. However, it's helpful for Christians to remember, when seeking to achieve their visions by making plans and setting goals, that our ways are not God's ways. We are often fallible when it comes to hearing God's voice and discerning God's will. We need to remind ourselves that ultimately God is in control of the process. Things won't always work out the way we have planned or envisioned, but we are still responsible for keeping the faith and continuing to serve God to the best of our abilities. Should we make mistakes during the process of reaching for the stars, it's comforting to know that God's grace is more than sufficient to compensate for our failures. After all, God made the stars. They are not in control of one's destiny. God is in control of one's destiny.

As verbose as the above text may be, it should not be confused with the actual Vision Statement itself. It is merely an introduction designed to lay the proper groundwork. I have not yet written my Vision Statement for this web site, but when I have done so, clicking this link will enable you to read that statement (or download the PDF file containing that statement).

For more specific information about the mission of ArtisticChristians.com, read our Mission Statement.

... Mark W. Pettigrew
    Webmaster and Christian Renaissance Man