You often Forget This...What It Takes to Turn Your Vision to Reality

Every person has a great idea and a vision, but few are able to turn them into reality. Whether it’s internal fears or external circumstances that keep them stuck “talking about their ideas” instead of “running them,” the result is often the same — missed opportunities.

I always believe that you will regret more the things you do not do and found wanting rather than the things you tried and failed. Our journey of growth starts from a revelation. Take a look at this chart below:

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Here is what is required of the visionary:

1. Really BIG & BOLD Ideas

Make sure your idea has the foundation of being remarkable, not just average. Average requires a lot of money to execute and will be forgotten tomorrow. When building your dream, patience and longevity are key.

If you remember he story of David and Goliath, David was able to defeat Goliath the giant with just a sling and a few small stones — without armor or fantastic swords. David had zero experience in battle againts giants, but his ‘trick of the trait’ of his accurate slingshot ability won the war. Your idea can be your stones to bring down the giant. We can be discouraged when we look at our business competitors. Here we learn to look for these stones, not the traditional, conventional armor that always works. Your limited resources right now, can bring the most juice for you to craft your unconventional, out of the boxes idea to garner the initial eye ball to keep the snowball rolling.

2. COURAGE to Take “No” for An Answer

There will always be people who don’t believe in what you’re doing.

People might question or discredit your ability to innovate, but don’t let discouragement or criticism stop you from taking the next step forward if you believe deep down that it’s the right move. Some of the most disruptive and successful organizations in the world began with risky ideas. Always ask, “What if it works?” — even when everyone around you is asking, “What if it doesn’t?”

In the journey of me starting my social enterprise, I appeared in front of a television show, a ‘Shark Tank’ where prestigious investors listen to my business pitch. None invested and many question the scalability of our model. I could easily let their opinions and disinterest in pitching to think my model suck. Instead, up to today, we will very much are in business and rather proof them wrong that we can scale.

3. PREPARE for THE BEST (and the Worst)

You must prepare for the “what if it does work” scenario properly. If you achieve what you envision, how will your life and operations need to change?

Planning for success includes: - Scaling operations  - Building the right team - Managing finances and growth sustainability - Enhancing your product or service continuously

The aphorism is true: It’s not the big that eat the small; it’s the fast that eat the slow.

We prepare for when our company would close in the 300,000 USD grant from a multinational company and the manpower and operations we need to get across. We also prepare when our company does not have that budget and need to be very lean. In both, I grow to be a better leader who prepares and minimizes risks. Each time, I get better to be able to close the gap a bit more narrow of planning-to-reality.

Allow yourself to dream big and be resilient. Embrace failure as a learning experience rather than a destination. Trust your intuition. Act quickly and strategically, adapting as you go.

I’ll close with this story… Had I known I would close the 200,000 SGD grant from a grant competition, I would have not wasted my time as the CEO lounging around. I would do my best to prepare to run. I would joy every week and prepare for the marathon. 

For you, who God has gifted a revelation and a vision. Get in shape today. Focus on today and eternity. Move your energy from the anxiety of the past or the uncertainty of the future, to actually building your self & your company today as if what you’re building towards is a for sure thing. See how different you would move during the day.

The journey from idea to reality is often challenging, filled with uncertainties and hurdles. Those who approach it with bold creativity, unyielding courage, and meticulous preparation are far more likely to succeed. 

It takes discipline, perseverance and loyalty to the vision to turn it to reality.

Dream big. Work hard. Make it happen.