Reflections

Where there is no Vision a People Perish

• By fannieb
• November 12, 2015
• No Comments

“Where there is no vision a people perish.” I first saw this quote atop City Hall in downtown Camden New Jersey in 1990 when I was working there. I don’t remember why I was looking up as I walked from the train station to my job one morning but I had been and saw this quote from Proverbs. I had remarked to myself, how ironic that this quotation be etched in stone high above this city that truly felt visionless.

Now today, 25 years later and 250 miles from Camden, I’m feeling annoyed at the apparent and admitted lack of vision and direction at my job. And I’m not simply annoyed at the fact that there is no vision, but that most people (even leadership) feel powerless to do anything about it. What a sad state of affairs my company is finding itself in.

And while I’m raising the question with my boss and with other leaders at even higher levels, I have not yet broached the subject with the person who has the ability to fix the situation. I don’t feel that I’m powerless to raise the subject with him, I just don’t know if it’s worth my effort. Is being slightly annoyed while having my own personal vision and mission (which I’m working toward every day) enough to upset the values which I hold dear? Is doing nothing in this instance going to sit right with me and with who I am?

And I can say fairly quickly, without hesitation, the answer is yes. Having had several conversations on this matter with others and knowing where I am headed, I feel that I am in a better position to have a conversation with the CEO around my wanting to know the vision and mission of our organization and how the work I’m doing there aligns with it, but I’m not going to seek out the opportunity to do so. For good or bad, right or wrong.

Photo Credit: Payton Chung