And the Lord answered me: “Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it”
Habakkuk 2:2 (ESV)
Your grand vision must be so clear that you can work on it every single day. There is a real risk that one is so impressed by the vision statement that writing down the vision statement becomes an achievement in itself. However, there is a clear difference between writing down a vision statement and actually implementing the vision. A vision that has not been “made plain” cannot become a reality over time. Until the grand vision is so defined that people can understand it enough to contribute their time and resources, nothing gets done.
The Watchman must avoid every false sense of accomplishment by maintaining the proper perspectives at all time. Writing down the vision is nothing more than the first step on a laundry list of things that must be done in order for us to see the change that we seek. The vision must be made plain, it must be explained and broken down into smaller chunks, down to daily tasks. There is a possibility for a vision to be specific and yet, vague at the same time. For example, if your vision is to ensure everyone in your society is literate, but no clear timeline or call to action.
It is incredibly vague. It may seem defined (literacy for everyone!), but it is actually vague without a breakdown of milestones, goals and daily tasks. This makes it incredibly hard for the vision runner to read the vision (penned down by the visionary) and run with it. You want people to be able to contribute their quota to the vision by simply taking a glance. When one fails to break down the vision into actionable, daily tasks, the vision becomes nothing more than an empty slogan and overtime, people see it for what it really is: a mirage.