what is tour vision

Career Tips , Choosing a Job

What is Vision and Why is Having a Vision Important?

Updated: January 11, 2024

Published: July 23, 2021

Most of life is filled with uncertainty. This is especially true of the future. But if you can hold onto a vision of what’s yet to come, you can boost your chances at achieving your dreams and being successful. What is vision exactly? How does it help, and what does it mean to have a vision?

We’ll cover what it means to have a personal vision, as well as what it means for a business to have a clear vision.

What is Vision?

According to Merriam-Webster , vision is defined as, “the act of power of imagination.”  When you apply vision to the future, you can create a mental picture that can be used to direct your actions. Vision serves as a guide and can be used to provide a sense of purpose.

Why is Vision Important?

For both people and businesses, having a vision proves to be extremely important. Given the trials and tribulations that may come your way, when you have a clear vision of what you want to happen, you can make better decisions.

Here’s a look at a few reasons why having a vision is so vital to success and joy:

Overcome roadblocks and hurdles

Challenges are inevitable. When you run into a wall or a hurdle, you need to know which way to go. Vision provides you with something to look forward to and always work towards. It provides you with a reason to keep going, even when the times get tough.

Substantiate your goals

Having a vision places a purpose upon your goal-setting activities. Without an end goal or destination in mind, then you won’t have a clear or defined path. Vision provides this.

To achieve your vision or goal, you can start by setting small, attainable goals as stepping stones. Each relatively little bit of success will help to continue propelling you forward on your bigger journey.

Sets expectations

Setting goals comes along with defining measurements of success. If you set a goal, how do you know when you’ve reached it if you don’t have a way to define success? An overall life vision helps to set expectations accordingly.

Having a vision ensures that your life or business goals can remain focused. When you are faced with a decision or distraction, you can ask yourself if it will help or hurt you in attaining your vision. This can offer you the means to move forward with intention and alignment.

Delivers meaning and purpose

A vision is a way to answer your own “why” of life. It gives you the reason for your actions, choices, hopes, and desires. This fills your daily activities with meaning and purpose.

What is a Vision Statement?

Anyone can create their own vision statement. People can develop a personal vision statement, and so can a business.

When it comes to businesses and entities, it’s common for them to write and share a vision statement. A vision statement is a written expression of the purpose and meaning behind a business that’s intended for stakeholders, including employees and even customers.

Strong vision statements are written in the present tense, express an outcome that’s achievable, and evokes emotion.

Businesses: How to Write a Vision Statement

For entrepreneurs and business owners, knowing how to write a vision statement is a useful skill to hone.

Let’s take a look at what components you need to write a strong vision statement. This can be applied for personal vision statements, as well.

Project into the future

While a vision statement should be written in present tense, it needs to be forward-looking because that’s what vision is. In terms of a business’ vision statement, it’s recommended to look five or ten years into the future to understand what you hope to achieve by then.

You can ask questions like what you think the world will look like and/or the market you’re operating in.

Determine position

To know where you want to go, you should first assess where you are and the resources available. This can be done with an OAS statement, which is the company’s objective, advantage, and scope.

Outline success

Clearly define what success looks like and how it will be measured for your organization (or for yourself).

Conduct research

For a business’ value statement, it’s a good idea to look at your competition, or the companies which you hope to emulate. It can provide inspiration or a better understanding of how you can get to where you want to be.

Create a measurable goal

Create measurable goals that are in line with your vision and communicate them to internal and external stakeholders.

Learn More About Business

If the idea of vision statements and business goals excite you, then a career in business might be a part of your personal vision!

At the University of the People, our degrees (associate’s, bachelor’s, and master’s) in Business Administration prepare you to enter the world of business with all the skills you need to thrive.

What’s more is that these classes take place online, so you can earn your degree on your own schedule, no matter where you are. All you need is an internet connection and a device to get connected.

The Business Administration program, just like our other degree offerings (Health Science, Education, and Computer Science) are tuition-free . This makes them an affordable and accessible way to earn your higher education.

The Bottom Line

Whether you are running a business or an individual looking to accomplish their personal goals in life, having a vision is important.

The approach and answer to the question of, “What is a vision?” could be different from one person to the next. However, it will always entail a look into the future with a mental image of what’s to come. Clearly defining your vision and referring back to it when you make your decisions in life will help you to achieve your goals.

A vision can consist of personal goals, physical health, career goals, educational goals, and any other aspects of life. No matter what aspect you choose to focus on, you can define and attain your vision with effort, determination, and focus!

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What’s your vision?

Posted by: Team Tony

Do you tend to control the events in your life, or are events controlling you? The amount of stress you feel is directly related to how in control you feel about your life. As the stress piles up, your sense that you are in charge of your life can slip away even further. When you’re disconnected from your passions, you lose sight of your vision. You feel like you’re a spectator in your own life, helpless to do anything but watch as things happen to you.

What’s your vision? Gaining clarity

When you begin to feel adrift in life, get back to basics and focus on your vision: the life and career that would bring you lasting contentment. This isn’t about money – it’s about being true to yourself. Find honest answers to questions like: What does your ideal life look like? What do you most want to leave behind when all is said and done? What’s your vision, your dream? That’s what you need to fix at the forefront of your mind. When you focus on vision instead of everything going on around you, you’ll sharpen your ability to get what you want and make yourself more resilient against the bleak thoughts that can crowd your mind when you’re stressed out .

What we choose to focus on – and the way we talk to ourselves about that focus – has a massive effect on how we feel. If you focus on the things you can’t control, such as the past, all the things you’ve failed at or what’s missing from your life, it’s easy to lose your vision. We’ve all been there – life seems to crush something that you were excited about, or someone betrays you, or you betray yourself.

Giving focused vision meaning

What’s your vision able to accomplish? It can transform your life if you let it. It takes real courage to pursue your passions – settling for the status quo can feel safer, since there are fewer unknowns. When we talk about living aligned with your purpose, what we’re really talking about is giving focused vision meaning. When you’re true to your strengths, skills and aspirations, you’re focused on where you want to go and you begin to pursue meaningful goals to get there. You’re on the way to self-actualization and nothing can get in your way. 

Making your vision a reality

Leaders focus on what they can control, what they have and what they want. Once you learn to focus on vision, you’ll stop being a manager and become a creator once again.

Focus on your vision

Deciding to focus on vision means determining the way you want your life to go. To create a life where you’re thriving, not just surviving, you must focus on creating a compelling future . Pick anything – a goal, dream or desire – that you want so much, you’re going to find yourself compelled to make it happen. Don’t be modest or shy about what you want to do with your life. Dream big: What legacy do you want to leave behind? How do you want people to remember you? What would you have to accomplish in order to look back at your life and say, “I have no regrets”?

If you think about it, you’ve actually already done this before. Whether or not you’ve been keeping track of it along the way, there are things that you’ve wanted and have gotten for yourself. You are responsible for everything that you have in your life today. That means you’re also responsible for everything you’ll have in your life going forward. If you want to thrive, you must develop focused vision, meaning you focus on outcomes you can control, the difference you can make and what you’re grateful for.

Work out what you want to accomplish in your life and the legacy you’d like to leave . Maybe that’s starting your own business to leave your family financially independent . Maybe that’s traveling to every country in the world. Maybe that’s looking after all the hungry in a particular city. No vision is too large.

Set achievable goals

Nothing happens overnight, including your vision. All good things in life take time and effort, and even that can hang up those of us fully driven by vision. Accept that you will not change the world in a day. You’re starting with yourself – and changing yourself has a ripple effect that will change the world.

When you focus on vision, the key is setting achievable, intelligent goals for yourself . Each small milestone is one step closer to your vision and the life you want to live. Break your vision into smaller portions. If you want to help families put food on the table, your early goals might involve donating to charities that feed the hungry, then becoming involved in those charities by helping them distribute the food. From there you can build out the goals until they ladder up to where you want to be.

As you do this, keep your eye on the prize. Focus on vision and what you want, not on any setbacks you may encounter.

Manage your state

When you focus on vision, many elements in your life will fall into place on their own. Things that used to be massive stressors will seem minor in comparison. You understand that you aren’t just encountering one blow after another; no matter what happens, you’re still working toward your vision, toward what you want your life to be. And once you remember that all life is a work in progress and that changes and minor problems do not need to derail you, you’ll experience true breakthroughs .

The truth is our life is really the only thing in the world we can control. Focus on your vision and let the stress fall away – your life is waiting for you.

Make yourself a priority

When you’re working to give focused vision meaning, make yourself and your vision a priority. Your mindset is key , so do what you need to do to keep your outlook fresh and forward-thinking. Now is the time to build your confidence , nurture positive relationships and prioritize your mental health. Surround yourself with people who support you in pursuing your goals. And if an activity or pursuit detracts from your vision, set it aside or delegate it . 

Think about your vision holistically

To give focused vision meaning, the outcomes you seek must enhance your entire life. Don’t get stuck in a rut considering only one outcome, like your dream job. Think holistically about all areas of your life, along the lines of:

Strategize to get the body you want , create more energy and nourish yourself with a wholesome diet .

Learn to manage your time so you’re engaging in activities aligned with your vision.

Accomplishments

What legacy do you want to leave? What are the accomplishments, relationships and character you’ll be remembered for?

Make a plan to develop your professional and interpersonal skills.

Relationships

Commit to creating extraordinary relationships that enhance your life.

Understand what it takes to build wealth and financial independence and set goals accordingly.

Experiences

What experiences do you want to enjoy in life? Write them down, and commit to making them a reality.

Contentment

Decide what happiness means for you, and make it the bottom line of every decision you make. 

Get the support you need to focus on your vision by attending Unleash the Power Within . This 3 ½-day event with Tony Robbins will give you the strategies and confidence you need to create massive change in your life.

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Eye Anatomy: Parts of the Eye and How We See

To understand the diseases and conditions that can affect the eye, it helps to understand basic eye anatomy. Here is a tour of the eye starting from the outside, going in through the front and working to the back.

Eye Anatomy: Parts of the Eye Outside the Eyeball

The eye sits in a protective bony socket called the orbit. Six  extraocular muscles in the orbit are attached to the eye. These muscles move the eye up and down, side to side, and rotate the eye.

The extraocular muscles are attached to the white part of the eye called the sclera . This is a strong layer of tissue that covers nearly the entire surface of the eyeball.

The Surface of the Eye

The surface of the eye and the inner surface of the  eyelids are covered with a clear membrane called the conjunctiva .

Tears lubricate the eye  and are made up of three layers. These three layers together are called the tear film . The mucous layer is made by the conjunctiva. The watery part of the tears is made by the lacrimal gland . The eye’s lacrimal gland sits under the outside edge of the eyebrow (away from the nose) in the orbit. The meibomian gland makes the oil that becomes another part of the tear film. Tears drain from the eye through the tear duct .

The Front of the Eye

Light is focused into the eye through the clear, dome-shaped front portion of the eye called the cornea .

Behind the cornea is a fluid-filled space called the anterior chamber. The fluid is called aqueous humor . The eye is always producing aqueous humor. To maintain a constant eye pressure , aqueous humor also drains from the eye in an area called the drainage angle .

Behind the anterior chamber is the eye’s iris (the colored part of the eye) and the dark hole in the middle called the pupil . Muscles in the iris dilate (widen) or constrict (narrow) the pupil to control the amount of light reaching the back of the eye.

Directly behind the pupil sits the lens . The lens focuses light toward the back of the eye. The lens changes shape to help the eye focus on objects up close. Small fibers called zonules are attached to the capsule holding the lens, suspending it from the eye wall. The lens is surrounded by the lens capsule , which is left in place when the lens is removed during cataract surgery . Some types of replacement intraocular lenses go inside the capsule, where the natural lens was.

By helping to focus light as it enters the eye, the cornea and the lens both play important roles in giving us clear vision. In fact, 70% of the eye's focusing power comes from the cornea and 30% from the lens.

The Back of the Eye

The vitreous cavity lies between the lens and the back of the eye. A jellylike substance called vitreous humor fills the cavity.

Light that is focused into the eye by the cornea and lens passes through the vitreous onto the retina — the light-sensitive tissue lining the back of the eye.

A tiny but very specialized area of the retina called the macula is responsible for giving us our detailed, central vision. The other part of the retina, the peripheral retina , provides us with our peripheral (side) vision.

The retina has special cells called photoreceptors . These cells change light into energy that is transmitted to the brain. There are two types of photoreceptors:  rods and cones . Rods perceive black and white, and enable night vision . Cones perceive color , and provide central (detail) vision.

The retina sends light as electrical impulses through the optic nerve to the brain. The optic nerve is made up of millions of nerve fibers that transmit these impulses to the visual cortex — the part of the brain responsible for our sight.

Read an overview of general eye anatomy to learn how the parts of the eye work together .

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4 steps to create a personal vision statement and change your life

A vision statement can help clarify what motivates you and give you meaning and direction.

Our lives and careers are a complex mix of elements. Sometimes we feel as though we’re exactly where we are supposed to be. Other times, we feel like we should start over in life . A personal vision statement can help when we don’t have a sense of how our external and internal worlds are connected.

We often feel overwhelmed and lost when we aren't sure of our purpose. And though life is full of ups and downs, identifying your north star can help keep you moving in a direction that aligns with your values.

What is a personal vision statement?

“There is no favorable wind for the sailor who doesn’t know where to go.”   - Seneca, I sec. AD

Imagine finding a compass that tells you precisely where you have to go. You can easily choose between one thing and another, thanks to this extraordinary tool. This would be great, right? And this is exactly what a personal vision statement does.

A personal vision statement is a statement that describes your personal values , your strengths, and your goals.

It can be focused on life or professional goals, and it is intended to orient you toward your long-term dreams . It is a tool to help guide your actions when important decisions have to be made or in particular transition moments.

8 examples of personal vision statements

Defining your own personal vision statement takes a few steps. It is a personal process, and each person’s statement is unique to them. Here are eight examples of personal vision statements to spark your imagination as you create your own.

Please note that these are just samples to offer you a framework, but your statement should be something connected to your uniqueness.

• “My personal vision is to be a lifelong adventurer, traveling the world and exploring new cultures and experiences. I will work towards building a life that allows me to embrace my curiosity and take risks.”
• “I envision a future where I am a successful entrepreneur , using my creativity and innovation to make a positive impact on society. I will strive to build a business that aligns with my values and creates opportunities for others.”
• “My personal vision is to be a leader in my field, using my expertise to create positive change in the world. I will work towards developing my skills and building meaningful connections with others in my industry.”
• “I envision a life filled with purpose and meaning, where I can make a difference in the lives of others. I will prioritize my relationships with loved ones and dedicate my time and resources to helping those in need.”
• “My personal vision is to live a life of balance and harmony, where I am able to pursue my passions while also prioritizing my physical, emotional, and spiritual health . I will work towards creating a lifestyle that allows me to thrive in all areas of my life.”
• “I want to help infants grow in a comfortable and learning environment. This connects me to my empathy and sense of caring. I feel this is something important because infants of today are adults of tomorrow, and a happy baby becomes a happy adult.”
• “I want to do research in the legal field. I am driven by a love for knowledge and innate curiosity. What motivates me is knowing that thanks to my research, people will live a more justice-driven life as citizens.”
• “I want to help sensitive people overcome the fear of speaking through coaching. This is important to me because it makes me feel useful to other people, and it connects me to my sensitivity.”

Benefits of creating a personal vision statement

Research has shown that a personal vision statement can help people pass from a cycle of stress to one of more balance .

When you are in a state of stress, you can feel as though you do not have control over what is happening in your life or career and can fall into reaction-based behavior. In contrast, when you move into a more balanced state, you have a sense of inner control about what is happening in your life. We can also equate these to states of high or low locus of control .

In a state of balance, we sense we’re living a life and a career that are the consequence of decisions that we have made over time. This doesn’t mean we have control over the results. There are always external circumstances that impact our trajectories. However, this balance puts us in the driver’s seat as the owner of our responses. If these responses are aligned to who we are and to our values, we have a sense of joy and fulfillment.

Here are five specific benefits that come from having a personal vision statement and using it to find balance:

1.  It becomes easier to make decisions.

If you find yourself in a particular moment of your life or career in which important and complex decisions need to be made, having a personal vision statement can be a compass for you. It will remind you of your inner qualities, values, and purposes that will help you identify the best path for you.

2. It provides you with a sense of direction.

We, as humans, need to feel that what we are doing (in our lives and work) has meaning . To find motivation for actions, we need to know that what we are doing is worthy and that will drive us somewhere. A personal statement connected to your vision can bring clarity to where you are going and what you want to achieve.

3. It helps you determine your long-term and short-term goals.

This sense of direction can be broken down into long-term and short-term goals . After creating your personal statement, you will have a clear long-term goal that will help you set short-term goals and actionable steps to achieve them. The long-term goal will mostly remain stable throughout the years and will inform short-term goals that will change as time passes.

4. It will provide you with motivation during tough times.

When times become hard, it is difficult to maintain motivation and keep doing your job or investing in your personal life with passion. Having a written statement can help you remind yourself of your whys and bring you back on track.

5. It will help you live a balanced life.

A well-written statement contains different aspects of your life, both personal and professional, spiritual and day-by-day oriented. Reminding yourself of your statement will help you live a more balanced life.

What does an effective personal vision statement include?

A well-formed personal vision statement has to respond to these questions: 

• What do you want to do? 
• How will you do that? 

You may want to consider your values, strengths, and skills to form your goals. Considering these will offer valuable insight into your whys and how you do what other people do differently.

A personal vision statement should contain:

1. Your interests

What are you passionate about ? A vision statement should contain your interests and passions, what you enjoy doing in your free time , and what you would do all day long if money was not a factor.

2. Your skills

A well-formed statement should include what you are good at . It can include professional and personal skills based on your personal observations and on feedback received through years from family members, friends, and coworkers.

3. Your values

What are you driven by ? A powerful statement connects to your driving values. They are usually expressed in a general form (such as love, creativity, justice) and are those values without which life (for you) doesn’t make any sense.

5. What the world needs

What does the world need, in your opinion? The answer to this question should definitely be part of your personal statement because it tells something about what is important for you and what can make a difference for everyone.

6. Your ultimate goal

If you know who you are , what drives you, and what the world needs, you are ready to identify your goal. This is what Japanese philosophy addresses as ikigai , which is a long-term goal aligned to all the areas above. Your ikigai can provide you with a sense of purpose and direction. Some people call it life’s purpose .

Some questions to ask yourself before drafting your personal vision statement

Creating a personal vision statement can be quite an introspective work. Reserving 10 minutes of reflection before drafting it can help clarify your ideas and dive faster into the 4-step process outlined below. 

There, you’ll find some important questions to guide your reflection and preparation for the creation of the statement. If you are more action-oriented, you can jump into the 4-step process and use these questions as needed.

• What have you done since you were a child that still gives you a lot of satisfaction?
• In which activities do you feel fully energized?
• What are you good at?
• Without which values (min 3 – max 6) does life make no sense?
• What does the world need?
• How would you like to be remembered at the end of your days?
• According to your previous answers, what could be a life/career goal which makes total sense to you?

How to write a personal vision statement in 4 steps

This 4-step process is something I created after almost 10 years of experience with more than 100 highly talented employees in development centers aimed to help them define a goal and develop their potential. This is an evidence-based process based on well-known psychologists and researchers (above all: logical levels by Robert Dilts, appreciative inquiry by Positive Psychology, and Bob Proctor’s visioning process).

The entire process takes about 40 minutes of reflection. Ideally, all the steps are done together, but breaking reflection into phases won’t inhibit the process.

Step 1: Letter from the future (approximately 15 minutes)

This is a phase in which you can completely let your imagination go and your creativity flow.

Imagine yourself at 90 years old and having lived a dream life with a dream job.

Take a sheet of paper and a pen and write a letter to you of today from you of the future. Describe everything you have accomplished in your personal life and work, how these accomplishments make you feel, and what you are most proud of.

Step 2: List of successes (10 minutes)

What do you define as success? Take time to think of four successes in your life. They can be personal (get married, travel the world) or professional (get promoted, find a new job). Ideally, you’ll want to include both. Describe your successes, what you have done to make them real, and why they are meaningful to you.

Step 3: Collecting data (8 minutes)

In this step, we want to collect both elements from the letter from the future and the list of successes. Read both again and circle keywords related to the following fields: environment, skills, emotions, beliefs, values, and purpose.

• Environment: This refers to everything that has to do with the environment you envisioned (warm, supportive, etc.).
• Skills: They refer to competencies such as problem-solving, decision-making, creativity, and so on.
• Emotions: They relate to the emotional context. You can likely find some emotions described in your letter (joy, satisfaction, etc.).
• Beliefs: These are your thoughts expressed in a general way. For example, “When I work hard, I achieve what I want” or “When I ask people for help, they support me.”
• Values: They are universal driving values such as love, kindness, justice, and so on.

Step 4: Writing down your vision statement (6 minutes)

Now you have all the keywords to write down your personal vision statement. If you are a visual person, you can even create a drawing with these keywords, but it is recommended to have it in a written form too. In order for the vision statement to be effective, it should be as detailed as you can make it.

Put it into practice

This article's purpose has been to help orient you to your personal vision statement. After reading this, 3 things are important to keep in mind:

• Your personal vision statement can change through the years. Be sure to check it from time to time.
• It doesn’t have to be perfect. Begin with a statement that makes sense to you and you can always make changes if needed.
• Keep it in a close place and read it from time to time. It will help you stay on track with your goals.

If this reading made you curious, take time for yourself and begin the work of self-discovery and future visioning. Engaging in this work will help you live life with clarity and purpose!

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How are personal values formed? Discover the joy of a life aligned

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Create Your Vision

What a Vision Can Do for You

Describing what you currently do seems inherently advantageous. People want to know what you do. But why should you have a vision? Every individual or organization should have a vision for two reasons:

• First, a vision inspires you and gives you energy. It guides and eventually gives all of your efforts a purpose. Coming to terms with your “why” connects you with your core values and roots you. Your vision unlocks your deepest motivations. Making the connection between your deepest heartfelt values and your everyday work will make you unstoppable.
• Second, it provides guidance in a world of choices. It enables you to focus on what to do (and not do) for those achievements five, ten years or further in the future. When you are clear about your vision and goals, it is easier to say yes wholeheartedly or say no with an acceptable reason and no fear of rejection.

How to Find and Develop Your Very Own Vision

When searching for your vision, it is best to do so offsite somewhere you are inspired and not distracted. Rather than your office, think of someplace more inspiring like a small secluded cabin in the mountains or by the sea. A central question when building your vision will be, “What is my Why?” When you are thinking of this, what are dreams that you have just started work towards or that you should finally start? Simon Sinek addressed in his book Start with Why that every individual or company needs to know their why to get the remainder (the what and how) right and sorted out. That means if you know the Why, you will easily figure out the What and the How later. Zoom out and concentrate on the biggest, long-term version of your picture. When formulating your vision, respect the following criteria:

• Unique : Make sure it is unique to you and fits your passion and values. That also involves imagining yourself in the role. Three years from now, what do you look like in that role? How do you see yourself?
• Simple : Write it directly and succinctly so that it is quick to grasp and can be easily repeated by any employee at any given time.
• Focused : Narrow in so it is not too broad.
• Bold : Is it brave and big enough? Stretch yourself rather than staying inside the status quo.
• Beneficial : A good vision has a reason and strives to benefit not only you but also others at the same time. For example, an organization should first serve its customers, but also benefit you or your association at the same time. Profit is a result of excellent service, not a goal in itself.
• Aligned : Your vision and way towards it should be aligned, but most importantly should not contradict each other, for authenticity reasons. For instance, a company that tries to change the world positively also needs to have processes and rules that are positive on the inside.
• Inspiring : Write your vision in an inspirational manner. Think of a sci-fi movie trailer that pulls millions into the cinema; your vision should have a similar magnetic pull to it.
• Engaging : Creating your vision is like building a house: you might not know how to build the house yourself, but you have ideas and images in your mind that you pass onto an architect who helps you create sketches and plans from which to construct and achieve the final product, together.

Overall, a good vision is something you hear once and then never forget. Respecting these criteria will help you achieve that goal.

Applying Your Vision in Practice

Having a visual reminder of your vision is important which is why vividness is key. It is best to have that visualization somewhere near, like your personal vision could be kept close to your bed and your professional vision somewhere at the entrance of your office, or high above your desk. This way you can regularly look up and refer to it. Keeping it visible can help you stay on track by providing guidance when opportunities or distractions present themselves. Moreover, when you can consistently see your vision, you can always question if your current actions are contributing to that ultimate goal. With each new day, ask yourself: if this were my last day to work on my ultimate goal, my vision, would I spend it this way?

Personal Vision

Your personal vision guides you in your life when you set goals and need to make decisions every day. When creating your personal vision, reflect from different perspectives and think of what you desire to have, be, give and do. How could you contribute to this world, impact and help your inner circle, your community or even people on this planet? Thinking of this often reveals your real purpose in life. Your personal vision for your life might be best visualized in a vision board .

Organizational Vision

An organizational vision is the centerpiece and foundation of all corporate strategy, primarily its goals. The vision functions as the “north star” – it points the everyday work of employees as a contribution toward the ultimate long-term accomplishment. In companies or non-profit organizations, a vision usually expresses itself in a vision statement .

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What Is a Vision Statement? 25 Vision Statement Examples

Table of Contents

What is a vision statement, what is the purpose of a vision statement, vision statement vs. mission statement, vision statement vs. purpose statement, 25 vision statement examples, how to write a vision statement.

A vision statement almost sounds mystical. But it’s not supernatural, far from it. Rather, a vision statement is a foundational business document.

There’s a lot of paperwork that clutters the office of any organization, but the vision statement is unique from the rest. Often confused with a mission statement , the vision statement has a different purpose. A vision statement looks toward the future, but a mission statement talks about what the company is doing in the present.

A vision statement is a business document that states the current and future objectives of an organization. A company’s vision must align with its mission, business plan , strategic plan, and organizational culture. A vision statement isn’t only used in business; nonprofits and government offices also use them to set strategic goals.

Vision statements aren’t necessarily set in stone. They can be returned to, reviewed and revised as necessary. Any changes should be minimal, however, because a vision statement is a guideline for a company’s strategic plan , so it must be thoroughly reviewed.

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Vision Statement Template

Use this free Vision Statement Template for Word to manage your projects better.

The business vision of an organization might change over time, as companies adapt to their business environment and external factors that might affect their ability to achieve their mission. Using a SWOT analysis is a good way to gauge the internal and external factors that shape the business environment of a company.

A vision statement doesn’t have any particular length. However long it is, the vision statement is formally written and is used as a reference in company documents to serve as a guide for short and long-term strategic planning. The best way to learn about vision statements is to look at examples. We’ve gathered 25 vision statement examples from the best companies in the world to help you write your own.

As stated above, a vision statement is an integral part of an organization because it aligns with its mission, core values, and culture. It also guides the strategic plan because it sets future goals. Similar to a mission statement, a vision statement it’s a living document that’s referred to as a lodestar to lead a company to its next innovation and so, all the projects and programs executed by the project management office (PMO) should be aligned with it.

Related: Free Project & Tracking Templates for Excel

There are different approaches when it comes to writing a vision statement, as companies have unique core values. For example, a motivational vision statement will both motivate existing employees and also drive talent to the company. They’ll want to work at a place with a business vision that aligns with their personal values. A strong vision statement also works to help differentiate your company. All companies want to become profitable, but a company can create a unique vision statement that’s appealing to its customers and employees.

Free Vision Statement Template

Feel inspired? Ready to make your own vision statement? Download our free vision statement template for Word and start refining your vision. There’s even guiding questions to help you get started.

Why Is it Important to Have a Vision Statement?

Vision statements are one of the most important documents you can create for your business because they set a common goal for everyone in your organization. Once you get your employees on the same page, it will be easier to lead them toward success.

Types of Vision Statements

In addition to the traditional business vision statement, there are other types of vision statements, such as project, product and even personal vision statements.

Project Vision Statement

A project vision statement is used to guide a project, motivate the project team and further inspire those involved. Like any vision statement, it’s short but should be powerful to communicate the project’s aim. It’s not specific or directional but delivers the end goal of the project which must be aligned with the strategic goals of a company. In that sense, the project team can use the project vision statement as a guide to follow and help them make decisions that align with the overall project vision.

Product Vision Statement

A product vision statement is also a guide and a tool to motivate and inspire product development teams. It tends to look toward the future to expose where the product will be in a number of years. Therefore, a product vision statement goes beyond what the product is currently, but its vision shouldn’t be unrealistic. While there’s no standard length, like any vision statement, the product vision statement should be short and to the point.

Personal Vision Statement

A vision statement isn’t restricted to the realm of industry, you can make one for your own purposes. A personal vision statement simply focuses on your personal values, strengths and goals. While you can use a personal vision statement for your professional life, it’s also commonly focused on life-long goals. As with any vision statement, use it to keep you on track and make the right decisions to direct you to that transformational achievement. Then, you should make an action plan to make your personal vision come true.

The vision statement and mission statement are both equally important for a company as they complement each other and guide the direction of your company. The main difference between them is that the mission statement describes what your company does, while your vision statement explains what the company attempts to achieve in the future.

On the other hand, their main similarity is that they both need to align with your company’s core values and culture because all these elements make up your company’s identity and differentiation factors.

The vision statement comes before the purpose statement and it outlines where you want to be. First, you have to conjure it. You’re not there yet, but keeping the vision in sight allows you to get there in time.

A purpose statement is the why, it’s the reason you want to achieve the vision that’s your goal. You have to answer the question of why you want to achieve this vision. Therefore, the purpose statement is about the overall values.

There’s also a mission statement, which often joins these other two statements. The mission statement is about how you’ll achieve your goals. This allows you to make a plan, create steps to implement it and track your progress towards achieving that vision statement.

The best way to learn about vision statements is to look at real-life vision statement examples. We’ve gathered 25 vision statement examples from the best companies in the world to help you write your own. These examples prove that a vision statement isn’t a templated document that only differs from other organizations by the branded logo on top of it.

• IKEA: “Our vision is to create a better everyday life for many people.”
• Nike: “Bring inspiration and innovation to every athlete* in the world. (*If you have a body, you are an athlete.)”
• McDonald’s: “To be the best quick service restaurant experience. Being the best means providing outstanding quality, service, cleanliness and value, so that we make every customer in every restaurant smile.”
• Amazon: “We strive to offer our customers the lowest possible prices, the best available selection and the utmost convenience.”
• Walmart: “Be the destination for customers to save money, no matter how they want to shop.”
• Google: “To provide access to the world’s information in one click”
• Microsoft: “To help people and businesses throughout the world realize their full potential.”
• Facebook: “People use Facebook to stay connected with friends and family, to discover what’s going on in the world and to share and express what matters to them.”
• Coca-Cola: “Our vision is to craft the brands and choice of drinks that people love, to refresh them in body and spirit.”
• Starbucks: “Treat people like family, and they will be loyal and their all.”
• Tesla: “To create the most compelling car company of the 21st century by driving the world’s transition to electric vehicles.”
• Samsung: “Inspire the world with our innovative technologies, products and design that enrich people’s lives and contribute to social prosperity.”
• Netflix: “Becoming the best global entertainment distribution service.”
• Zoom: “Zoom is for you.”
• Patagonia: “We’re in business to save our home planet.”
• Oxfam: “A world without poverty.”
• Disney: “To be one of the world’s leading producers and providers of entertainment and information.”
• Instagram: “Capture and share the world’s moments.”
• LinkedIn: “Create economic opportunity for every member of the global workforce.”
• Meta: “Give people the power to build community and bring the world closer together.”
• Shopify: “To make commerce better for everyone.”
• Uber: “We ignite opportunity by setting the world in motion.”
• TED: “Spread ideas”
• American Express: “Become essential to our customers by providing differentiated products and services to help them achieve their aspirations.”
• Sony: “To be a company that inspires and fulfills your curiosity.”

Every company has a unique vision statement, but the process is similar for most of them. Here are some steps to help you write your own.

1. What Are the Core Values of Your Company?

The core values of your company define its identity and how it interacts with the communities and the environment. It’s important to understand them to define your company vision.

2. What’s Your Company Mission?

Understanding what your company does and how it operates is essential to planning for the future.

3. Understand Your Company Culture

A strong company culture is an essential part of the success of any business. That’s why your vision must be aligned with it, otherwise, your strategic planning won’t work.

4. Identify Current Strategic Goals

Before you think about future goals, you must understand where your organization currently stands. Your vision might be a long-term plan that sets goals for the next 5 to 10 years, but those goals need to be realistic. You can use a SWOT matrix to get a better idea of the competitive environment of your business.

5. Define Future Goals

Think about what you’d like your company to achieve in the next 5-10 years based on the current status of your business and create a strategic plan to achieve your goals.

6. Write Your Vision Statement

Now that you have an idea of the main elements that are involved in the process of writing your vision statement, you can create one that fits your organization.

Best Practices for Writing a Vision Statement

There’s no template for writing a vision statement, however, a common structure for successful ones includes these traits:

• Be concise: This isn’t the place to stuff a document with fluff statements. It should be simple, easy to read and cut to the essentials so that it can be set to memory and be repeated accurately.
• Be clear: A good rule of thumb for clarity is to focus on one primary goal, rather than trying to fill the document with many ideas. One clear objective is also easier to focus on and achieve.
• Have a time horizon: A time horizon is simply a fixed point in the future when you’ll achieve and evaluate your vision statement. Define that timeline .
• Make it future-oriented: Again, the vision statement isn’t what the company is presently engaged in but rather a future objective of where the company plans to be.
• Be stable: The vision statement is a long-term goal that should, ideally, not be affected by the market or technological changes.
• Be challenging: That said, you don’t want to be timid in setting your goals. Your objective shouldn’t be too easy to achieve, but also it shouldn’t be so unrealistic as to be discarded.
• Be abstract: The vision statement should be general enough to capture the organization’s interests and strategic direction.
• Be inspiring: Live up to the title of the document, and create something that will rally the troops and be desirable as a goal for all those involved in the organization.

Because the vision statement is a foundational business document that will guide the company’s strategic planning direction for years to come, consider using project planning tools and brainstorming techniques to get input from everyone on the team. That way, you’ll get greater buy-in from the company, and you’ll widen your net for collecting business vision ideas.

Using ProjectManager to Write a Vision Statement

Writing a vision statement is a project in itself, and one that should be treated with some weight. A vision statement informs the direction, morale and spirit of the organization: you need it to be inspiring.

To help you craft the ideal vision statement, try ProjectManager . Our subscription model gives you several entry points. Then you can create collaborative task lists, so you can brainstorm with other leaders in the organization regarding your direction. Create a task, and add subtasks, so you can take everything into account when making your vision statement. Plus, you can add comments and files to tasks, so collaboration can stay focused and localized.

Once you’ve crafted a vision statement that inspires your team, the real work begins. To achieve that vision, you’ll need the right tools. ProjectManager is online project management software with tools like online Gantt charts, task lists and kanban boards to help you complete projects and make a name for yourself. Take a free trial of our award-winning software and see how it can help you realize your vision .

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• How to write a vision statement: Steps ...

How to write a vision statement: Steps and examples

The vision statement is designed to inspire employees, compel investors, and engage the imaginations of your customers. It paints a picture of your company's future and the impact you want your business to have on the world.

It takes work and creativity to write an inspiring vision statement. Here, we'll break down the elements of a great vision statement, guide you through the process, and walk through a few examples of excellent vision statements and explain what makes them great.

What is a vision statement?

A vision statement is your company’s guiding beacon. It zooms out to give perspective on the overarching reasons for your company's mission. Rather than articulating the specifics of your business operations, the vision statement describes how your company seeks to impact and improve the world around it.

Vision statement vs. mission statement

While both statements help define your company's character and personality, there are some key differences between a vision statement and a mission statement.

The mission statement describes what your company does in the present. It's comprised of three parts: what you do, how you do it, and why you do it. 

A vision statement outlines the company's long-term goals and aspirations for the future in terms of its long-term growth and impact on the world. Your mission defines what your organization does and what you stand for, while your vision statement speaks to your goals and ideals for the future. 

Characteristics of a great vision statement

Vision statements are like snowflakes—each one is unique to its company in length, form, structure, and scope. Your vision statement should reflect your company's personality. However, there are a few traits that all great vision statements share. No matter how unique a statement is in terms of size, shape, or structure, a good vision statement should be:

The purpose of a vision statement is to inspire employees, investors, and customers to believe in your company's mission. Great vision statements are aspirational and ambitious. They convey a sense of passion for the ideal future toward which the company is working.

Though your vision needs to be ambitious in order to be inspiring, it shouldn't be so far out of reach that it feels impossible. You want to choose something that your company will have to strive for, but a completely unattainable goal isn't a vision—it's a fantasy.

A vision statement connects your company mission to your goals, but it isn’t a goal in and of itself. If your vision statement feels too finite or specifically achievable, try to zoom out and broaden the scope of your vision.

Don’t try to cram every detail of your vision into your vision statement—be strategic in selecting the ideas that feel the most relevant and compelling to your stakeholders . You might dream of someday having offices in every major city in the world, but your vision statement should focus on aspirations that speak to your company's mission and purpose.

Vision statement writing tips

Here are a few best practices to keep in mind as you start writing your vision statement:

Collaborate. The vision statement should reflect the character of your entire company, and there's no better way to accomplish this than to write the statement alongside key members of your team. Gather leaders from across the organization to participate in vision statement brainstorms, and run drafts by these same people to get buy-in on your final vision statement.

Write first, edit later. Don't try to write a succinct, well-crafted vision statement right out of the gate. Put everything you think of down on paper, no matter how small. You may not see the value in a particular idea when it crosses your mind, but if you write it down anyway, it may spark better ideas later on.

Keep your own vision statement separate. Many people have personal vision statements that reflect their individual goals, and if you're a business owner, our own vision statement may overlap strongly with the vision of your company. It's important to keep your personal aspirations and your company's vision separate, so that your company's vision statement is something that your entire company can relate to and feel represented by. 

Avoid buzzwords and jargon. Using "industry-speak" makes a brand feel aloof and inaccessible, even to people within the industry. Plain language is always more powerful than jargon, so if you find yourself falling back on buzzwords, isolate the phrase in question and picture a friend or family member asking, "What does this actually mean?" Write or record the explanation you would give to that person and use that language to replace the buzzwords in your vision statement.

Avoid ambiguity. Vision statements don't have to be concrete the way a mission statement should be, but you want to avoid using words that could potentially be interpreted in a way that changes the entire vision statement's meaning. You won't be there to clarify or offer context to everyone who reads your statement, so it needs to be able to stand on its own.

7 steps to write your company's vision statement

There's a lot more to crafting a great vision statement than just writing a few sentences. In order to create a statement that's truly aspirational and inspiring, you're going to need to do a little bit of work. Here's our seven-step process to write a great vision statement:

1. Identify important stakeholders

Your vision statement speaks on behalf of your entire company, so make a list of co-founders, fellow executives, and high-level employees who can help you craft and refine your statement so that it represents your organization as a whole. Getting buy-in from company leaders is also a smart strategic move—the more they believe in the vision statement, the better they'll model it in their daily work and communicate it to their own departments and teams.

Make a second list of stakeholders that represent your vision statement's audience. This list may consist of personas rather than actual people, and should include:

Board members

Partner organizations

Different customer personas

Shareholders

Depending on your industry, this list may be longer or shorter; the main point is to write down a basic overview of the group of people you're writing for. If you're only thinking about your customers, your vision statement may not feel as relatable to employees or might not inspire potential funders to invest. Check your drafts against this list to make sure it feels applicable to all of your key stakeholders.

2. Start with a list of keywords

Ultimately, you're aiming to craft a few concise sentences—and the process of crafting those sentences will be a lot easier if you have a "word bank" of sorts to draw from as you write. Hold an open brainstorming session with your internal stakeholders to come up with a keyword list. 

Make sure your keyword list is comprehensive by subdividing it into smaller categories and making sure you have a good list of keywords for each. At a minimum, you should collect keywords related to:

Your product or service

Your mission and values

Your company's goals and initiatives

Your company's long-term strategic plan

Adjectives that describe your company, product, teams, community, and ideal future (e.g. expert, innovative, affordable, inspiring)

Adverbs that describe the way in which your company operates (e.g. flexibly, sustainably, cooperatively, fearlessly)

Just like your list of stakeholders, the number and type of keyword lists you should generate will vary depending on your industry and company. The important thing is to create a document filled with keywords that you can draw from as your writing, if you get stuck trying to communicate an idea, or if you need to replace some jargon-y text.

3. Answer foundational company questions

In addition to your keywords document, take time during your brainstorm to answer the following questions:

What is our organization’s main purpose?

What are our company’s main strengths?

What are our company values?

Why does what we’re building matter?

How do we want to make a difference as a company?

What is our vision for our company culture ?

What are our most ambitious goals?

What impact do we want our company to have on the world?

What are our company wants? What about company needs?

If our company succeeded in everything it set out to do, how would the world be different?

4. Sort your answers by importance

By the time you're finished brainstorming, you should have a lot of stuff written down.Put all of this content aside for a few days, so that your mind is clear when you return for the next step: deciding what goes in your vision statement and what gets left on the cutting room floor.

Sit down with your vision statement tiger team and a highlighter and review everything you have written down. Highlight ideas and phrases that your group feels are the most important to your company, and cross out items that you're ready to eliminate from consideration (however, don't throw this content out entirely—everything you brainstormed can be helpful in creating other important documents, like your core values, roadmap, or business plan). 

5. Write your company's vision out longform

At the end of step four, you'll have a smaller "word bank" of your most important phrases, ideas, keywords, and answers to foundational company questions. Your next step will be to organize these ideas into sentences that flow logically and are ordered according to your company's priorities.

Right now, don't worry about length—focus instead on communicating your vision in a way that makes sense, touches all of the key points you want to include, and feels relatable to your stakeholders and your audience. It's much easier to edit a long but comprehensive statement than it is to bulk up a statement that's missing pieces.

6. Step back and evaluate

Before you go through the work of editing your vision down to size, take a step back and look at your vision paragraph from afar. This is another point where you may benefit from setting it aside for a few days and returning with fresh eyes.

As you review your vision paragraph, check for the following things:

Is it ambitious enough? Your paragraph should feel aspirational, not like a finite goal to be accomplished.

Is it too ambitious? Make sure you strike a balance between idealistic and unrealistic.

Does it accurately reflect your organization? Run your paragraph by internal stakeholders who weren’t involved in creating it, and as for their feedback on what may be missing, what parts may be unnecessary, or how certain ideas may be phrased more effectively.

Does it make sense? Have friends and family members read your paragraph to confirm that it makes sense to the average reader.

7. Write your final vision statement

Once you've adjusted your vision paragraph and made the changes you wanted to make, it's time to edit your vision paragraph down to a vision statement. In many cases, your paragraph may naturally shrink as you solicit and implement feedback from others, and you may even want to specifically ask for opinions on how your paragraph could be more concise.

Here are a few ways to shorten your vision paragraph:

Eliminate what's unnecessary. Now that you've stepped away from your paragraph a few times and gotten a few rounds of feedback, are there any phrases or ideas that don't feel as necessary as they did when you wrote it? Cut any parts that feel lackluster or less impactful than the rest of the paragraph.

Look for synonyms. Are there any areas where you used several words to say something that there's already a word for? For example, you might replace the phrase "give people the ability to," with "provide access."

Edit each concept individually. Chop your paragraph into sentences and chop your sentences into phrases. Pick up each small segment on its own and see if you can come up with a shorter way to phrase it. It helps if you evaluate the smaller segments out of order—hopping around or going backwards piece by piece will help you notice things that your brain smooths over when you're reading a full sentence.

When your vision statement is finished, bring it back around to your stakeholders to get final feedback and make any finishing tweaks. 

Vision statement examples

There's no way around it—writing a vision statement is hard, especially if it's your first time doing so. Before you get started, or if you get stuck and need to spark some new ideas, take a look at some of these example vision statements for inspiration. 

Note that not all companies have both a mission and a vision statement. Some companies combine the two into a single small paragraph that touches on tangible objectives (mission) as well as more long-reaching aspirations (vision). In some cases, companies won't label either statement, encasing them in a broader page dedicated to "purpose," "who we are," or another similar title.

Here, we've gathered mission and vision statements for a few companies that have publicly set both. 

Mission: To act in the public interest, BBC serves all audiences through the provision of impartial, high-quality and distinctive output and services which inform, educate and entertain.

Vision: To be the most creative company in the world.

Mission: IKEA offers a wide range of well-designed, functional home furnishing products at low and accessible prices.

Vision: To create a better everyday life for the many people.

Southwest Airlines

Mission: Southwest connects people to what’s important in their lives through friendly, reliable, and low-cost air travel.

Vision: To become the world’s most loved, most flown, and most profitable airline.

Mission: Hasbro creates the world's best play and entertainment experiences.

Vision: To make the world a better place for all children, fans and families.

Mission: To make things universally accessible and useful, Google organizes the world's information.

Vision: To significantly improve the lives of as many people as possible.

Mission: To harness the next wave of innovation and solve customers’ toughest challenges, VMware uses disruptive technologies like edge computing, AI, blockchain, machine learning, Kubernetes, and more.

Vision: To build a sustainable, equitable and more secure future for all.

Use your vision statement to help you grow

A company's vision statement is a living document—it should adapt and change as your company achieves its business goals and sets new ones, grows in size, expands its offerings, and updates its mission. Revisit your vision statement once every year or so to make sure it still accurately reflects your company's ideal future; if not, adjust it! 

But for now, enjoy the fact that your vision statement is written. Share it with your team, announce it to your customers, and use it to proudly guide your company forward.

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How to Write a Vision Statement (With Examples, Tips, and Formulas)

This comprehensive guide will take you through the entire process of writing a well-thought-out and compelling business vision statement. 

Here’s what you will discover inside: 

• Why is a vision statement important for company goals?

Vision Statement vs Mission Statement: What’s the difference?

• Bad Vision Statements Examples (And What Makes Them Bad)

Helpful Tips for Writing your Vision Statement

• Fail-proof formula: Write your vision statement in 4 simple steps 
• Great Vision Statement Examples For Inspiration
• How to effectively communicate the company vision?

What is a Vision Statement?

In short, a vision statement describes the desired future state of a business within a 5-10 year timeframe and guides the direction of the business's efforts. It is essentially the future objectives of a business. The vision statement is also one of the key elements in a highly-effective business strategic plan.

Why is a vision statement important for company goals? 

We explained the real purpose of the vision statement  in this article , but here’s a quick reminder of what we're trying to achieve with a company vision statement:

• Improve the decision-making process by setting a 'limiter' that helps us to rule out strategic initiatives and opportunities which aren’t aligned with business long-term goals. 
• Make a succinct statement about what our organization is trying to achieve to help third parties such as investors or the media better understand us.
• Create a strong North Star that can guide and motivate employees even during difficult times if it is taken seriously.
• Develop an engaging vision statement that’s  one of the key elements  of thriving company culture. 

The bottom line is that a vision statement isn't just a nice-to-have. It should be included in every business plan and strategy discussion, especially during the strategic planning process , to ensure the organization and its departments stay aligned with its vision and don’t get sidetracked.

The most common mistake we see across the internet and with our clients is that most people do not understand the difference between a company's vision and mission. 

While we covered this a bit more in-depth  in this article , here’s a short recap: 

• A vision statement  describes a long-term, idealistic  state  of the FUTURE. 
• A mission statement  is a roadmap to a specific destination (your VISION) that explains how will you achieve it. 

Mistaking one for another can prevent an organization from reaching its full potential. 

So, while keeping this in mind, let’s look at some “vision” statements examples and analyze where they fit so you can avoid doing the same mistake when crafting your own vision statement.

Bad Vision Statements Examples (and why)

Here are some real-life examples of vision statements that, in our opinion, could do with a little tweaking. For each, we will explain what could be done better.

"Provide maximum value for our shareholders whilst helping our customers to fulfill their dreams."

If this was your vision statement  → Well, let’s hope it isn’t. That’s a classic mission statement example that describes HOW the company will achieve its vision. 

"Our company vision is to make every brand more inspiring and the world more intelligent by 2023."

If this was your vision statement  → You would want to make it more specific and relatable. Is it realistic that 'every brand' will use the services of this company? How about 'making the world more intelligent.' Can you be more specific on which brands? What does it mean to make the world more intelligent? Not to be too harsh though - there are strong elements here; 'making brands more inspiring' makes a lot of sense and has some depth.

"We aspire to be the most admired and valuable company in the world."

If this was your vision statement  → We would suggest you rethink your decision. Can you even make it more empty than it is? Which company doesn’t want to be the most admired and most valuable? Your vision statement should be more specific than that. 

"We are committed to achieving new standards of excellence by providing superior human capital management services and maximizing the potential of all stakeholders - clients, candidates, and employees - through the delivery of the most reliable, responsive ..." [and it goes on, but that's probably enough]...

If this was your vision statement  → you’d want to make sure it is less tangible and subjective. 'New standards of excellence'. 'Superior human capital management. 'Maximizing the potential'. There are simply far too many buzzwords, intangibles, and vagueness here for this to be either memorable or inspiring.

We are, of course, being rather harsh. But hopefully, the above examples illustrate well some of the pitfalls to avoid when creating your own vision.

Keep in mind that vision creation doesn't begin with sitting behind a desk and writing black on white. Reach out to your stakeholders and team members who will play a role in realizing the company's vision. Organize a workshop, or more if necessary, to brainstorm ideas and gather their feedback.

This toolkit with a template and workbook can help you with brainstorming exercises and navigating the whole process.

As a result, including other stakeholders in the vision-creation process will not only yield ideas but also get buy-in from the beginning since it will be their vision too. 

Here are 8 tips to help you write a memorable vision statement: 

• Keep it  short  - max 2 sentences. Your vision statement should be punchy and easy to remember. 
• Make it  specific  to your business and describe a unique outcome that only you can provide.
• Write it in the present tense. 
• Do not use words that are open to interpretation. Saying that you will maximize shareholder return in 2022 doesn't mean anything unless you specify what that means.
• Simple is best . There is a tendency for people to overcomplicate things, but you should make your vision clear enough for both people within and outside your organization to understand. Stay away from jargon, metaphors, and business buzzwords. 
• It should be  ambitious  enough to get people excited, but not so ambitious that it seems impossible to achieve.
• A vision statement isn't a one-off thing and  should evolve  with your business. When brainstorming your vision for the future, stick to a five-year timeframe. It's an ambitious end goal that's far enough ahead to work towards, but not too far for the organization to lose focus and commitment. 
• Vision  should align  with your company's core values. We go deeper into company values in this article, but when you have created your company values, you should review your vision to see if it aligns.

If anything, you should memorize these 4 words before you go into crafting your own vision statement:  Short, Specific, Simple , and  Ambitious .

Fail-proof formula: Write your vision statement in 4 simple steps

There are literally hundreds of articles out there that give examples of good and bad vision statements. There's also plenty of articles that give a high-level overview of what to consider when creating your own.

However, what we noticed was lacking was a concrete process to go through to help you create one. As such, we've outlined a process that we have used with clients in Cascade that might work for you too.

There are plenty of great vision statements out there that will not conform to the process below. But if you're struggling or just need a place to start, then hopefully this will help.

Step 1: Define what you do as an outcome

Start by being exceptionally clear about what it is your organization actually does. Be careful to remain 'outcome focused' rather than 'output focused'. For example, Microsoft famously had a vision statement to Put a Microsoft powered computer on every desk in the world (slightly paraphrased).

Strictly speaking, what Microsoft 'do' is make computer software, but for the purposes of their Vision, they looked forward to the actual outcome of this process - i.e. computers on desks.

Let's look at some other hypothetical examples:

• A bakery makes bread. But the outcome is consumers enjoying that bread.
• A consulting company gives advice. But the outcome is the success of others based on that advice.
• A government department does...lots of things. But the outcome is better lives for the citizens they serve.

Whilst this process may seem obvious - you would be surprised by how rarely organizations actually go through this process in a formal, written way.

Doing so will take you a long way towards creating your vision statement - BUT it's not enough alone! If it was, all bakeries, for example, would have the same vision statement - which is hardly inspiring!

TIP: If you are not sure where your organization wants to be in the future, you can use different tools, like SWOT or SOAR analysis , that will help you formulate your vision and future-oriented goals.

Step 2: Define what unique twist your organization brings to the above outcome

Very few products or services these days are truly new - most are more like reinventions of something that exists already, but with a different approach, focus or spin.

At some point in your organization's lifespan - someone will have believed that the reason that THIS organization would be successful where others have failed, was because of.........something.

You need to define that something!

Let's take our bakery example. So far, our vision statement looks pretty generic, along the lines of customers enjoying our bread. But why will they enjoy our bread MORE than the bread from the place next door?

Is it because we use centuries-old traditions passed through generations of our family? Because we only use premium grade locally sourced ingredients? Whatever your unique selling point is - let it shine through in your vision statement.

Step 3: Apply some high-level quantification

Ironically, a common problem with a vision statement that isn't as good is that it's too visionary! With no possible end in sight (or a totally unrealistic one) - the initial inspiration derived from a solid vision statement can quickly turn to frustration or even cynicism among employees and customers.

That said - this doesn’t mean you should put numbers or any financial metrics to your vision statement. This will come later in your planning process.

However, you still want to add some high-level quantification to make it achievable.

Sticking with our bakery example, we might want to refine our target audience to 'every customer who walks through the door'. That's fine, or maybe we want to be bolder: 'every customer within walking distance of a store'.

The quantification we apply could also be industry specific. If you're a B2B - are you shooting for small businesses or multinationals, for example?

Step 4: Add relatable, human, 'real world' aspects

OK, your vision statement by this point should be getting pretty close to finished. But one final trick you can apply to help make it even more memorable is to add a real-life aspect.

This will allow people to conjure up a solid mental image to associate with your vision statement.

Let's look at an example - which of the following statements is likely to be more memorable:

a) To have every working person in the world using Microsoft product.

b) A Microsoft-powered computer on every desk.

I would argue that (b) is more memorable because as I read this, I'm actually visualizing a computer (in my case) sitting on a wooden desk in a room.

There's nothing wrong with (a) but it's highly conceptual and thus difficult to transform into a mental picture. Let's look at another example:

"Ensure that every customer who leaves our store, does so smiling." 

Here, using the word 'smiling' as opposed to 'happy' is powerful, because it conjures a mental image of a person smiling.

It won't always be possible to bring this level of tangibility to a vision statement - but if it is, I would strongly encourage doing so.

Final check

Our tip for creating a good vision statement is to use our formula, which we explain below, in conjunction with the CASCADE vision framework. 

Ask yourself the following questions to check if your vision statement checks all boxes of a good vision: 

• Is it  C lear? 
• Is it  A mbitious, but not seemingly unattainable? 
• Is it  S timulating? 
• Is it  C oncise
• Is it too  A bstract? 
• D uration: Is it limited to a specific time range? 

Does it  E ncourage you to take action?

Great Vision Statement Examples for inspiration

First, let’s look at the vision statement on an example of the bakery we used in the previous section.

Following our 4-step process, the final vision statement looks like this:

Producing and selling locally sourced cakes and pies that are so delicious and satisfying , that every customer who leaves our store does so with a smile.

If we deconstruct this into our various steps, we can see each at work as follows:

Step 1 - The output Step 2 - The twist Step 3 - The quantification Step 4 - The human connection

Even if yours doesn't look like this at the end, following the process above will help you to bring structure and purpose to your effort.

Of course - there are other ways to write a well-thought-out and effective vision statement. So let’s look at some other examples of great vision that don’t match our vision statement formula but still make an engaging and memorable company vision: 

Vision statement: To be Earth’s most customer-centric company, where customers can find and discover anything they might want to buy online. 

Vision statement: To establish Starbucks as the premier purveyor of the finest coffee in the world while maintaining our uncompromising principles while we grow.

Vision statement: A global force for Learning-through-Play. 

We love this one because it’s short, sweet and easy to remember. 

Vision statement: To create the most compelling car company of the 21st century by driving the world's transition to electric vehicles.

Note: If you look closely, you’ll see that their vision statement is a mix of vision and mission statement. Let’s remember the difference between these two: Vision shows your business desired future state, while the company’s mission describes how you will get there. 

Cascade tip:  If you’re in doubt about what is a vision statement and what is a mission statement, do this simple test with two questions: 

• What do they want to achieve?  To create the most compelling car company of the 21st century…  (vision statement)
• How?  … by driving the world's transition to electric vehicles.  (mission statement)

Want to see more examples of a great vision statement? Check  this article with 17 vision statement examples  from top companies, such as Patagonia, Ikea, LinkedIn, and Disney. 

How to effectively communicate the company vision? 

Let's say you've finally crafted the perfect vision statement that makes everyone in the C-suite proud. Marketing updated the website, ran a PR, and posted across all company social media channels. The new direction is making waves in the company, but as time passes, everyone forgets about it and gets on with their business-as-usual. 

If you have a vision but take no action - your organization has no future. In other words, you need to keep the company's vision top of mind 24/7/365 if you want to achieve it. Consistent communication is the key to success.

Keep your vision statement in a place where everyone can see it on a daily basis.

You can start by including your vision in every company-wide meeting. Here at Cascade, we make sure to run the all-hands meeting every week. Here’s what our agenda usually looks like: 

• Drive alignment around company vision and overall strategy 
• Communicate the strategy priorities 
• Share updates and progress toward key business goals
• Celebrate our accomplishment 
• Establish two-way communication between employees and executives 

Turn your vision into a strategic advantage 

We have entered a new normal - an environment where change is the norm. You may have a top-flight board and a great executive team, but the success of your organization depends on your leadership. Your vision for the future needs to be clear and strong so people can understand it and join forces behind it.

In short, unity and a laser-sharp focus are what separate winning businesses from losers these days.

Cascade has your back, offering speedy and agile  business transformation  to help you align teams behind a shared vision and drive business growth.  See Cascade in action  to discover how you can turn your vision into reality.

Editor’s note:

This article was originally part of our ‘How to Write a Strategy’ series:

• How To Write A Strategic Plan: The Cascade Model
• How to Write a Good Vision Statement (This Article)
• How To Create Company Values
• Creating Strategic Focus Areas
• How To Write Strategic Objectives
• How To Create Effective Projects
• How To Write KPIs

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• Using a Vision Board

How to Use a Vision Board to Achieve Your Goals

Kendra Cherry, MS, is a psychosocial rehabilitation specialist, psychology educator, and author of the "Everything Psychology Book."

Rachel Goldman, PhD FTOS, is a licensed psychologist, clinical assistant professor, speaker, wellness expert specializing in eating behaviors, stress management, and health behavior change.

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What Does a Vision Board Do?

Why vision boards work, types of vision boards, ideas for vision boards.

• How to Make One
• What to Include
• Next in The End of the Resolution Guide The End of the Resolution

A vision board is a collection of images that represent a person's goals, dreams, and aspirations . It serves as a visual reminder of a person's intentions and a source of inspiration and motivation. 

Vision boards are often collages that can include photographs, quotations, pictures from magazines, or other visuals that help convey your dreams and goals. They are also sometimes referred to as mood boards or action boards.

They are highly personalized and often focused on a specific theme or period of time. For example, you might create a vision board for your career goals. Or you might make one that centers on what you hope to accomplish over the next year.

You can use a vision board to help keep you focused on your goals. By creating a visual representation of what you hope to achieve, you may feel more motivated to take the steps you need to follow to make that vision a reality.

Vision boards can help accomplish a number of different things:

Boost Self-Reflection

Vision boards encourage you to think about the things that you really want to achieve in the future. This can not only clarify your goals but help you envision yourself achieving them. These visual reminders also encourage you to self-reflect by asking questions such as, "How much progress am I making toward my goals?" and "Do I still want the things that I've included in my vision board?"

Regularly asking yourself such questions can help you reflect on both your needs and your progress.

Increase Self-Awareness

A vision board can also be a powerful tool for increasing self-awareness . Because of the visual nature of this tool, it can help you think about your life, goals, and values in new ways. 

As you create your vision board, you'll select imagery and words that speak to your aspirations. As you reflect on your choices, you may find it easier to identify the values that are important to who you are.

A vision board can also help you see areas where you might struggle with self-limiting beliefs about yourself and about future success. As you become more aware of negative thoughts or destructive self-talk, you can look for ways to cultivate a more positive mindset .

Clarify Your Goals

Your vision board puts your hopes and dreams in a prominent, visible place so you are regularly reminded of what you are focused on achieving. This can help clarify your biggest goals in life and prioritize the things that are most important.

Motivate and Inspire

One reason why vision boards can be such a powerful tool is because of the constant motivation and inspiration they provide. In addition to offering positive reinforcement in the form of appealing imagery and affirming words, they can also help you to feel a greater sense of purpose .

When you look at your board, the curated selection of imagery and text that is meaningful to you specifically can help you to feel like you have a worthwhile goal to keep striving toward.

Reduce Stress

Working toward goals often requires learning new things, having new experiences, and stepping out of your comfort zone. It can be stressful and anxiety-provoking at times, which is why some people might never take the necessary steps to attain their dreams.

A vision board can help relieve some of the stress from this experience by familiarizing you with aspects of the process, helping you to feel more comfortable when you need to do things that are outside of your normal routine.

Gain Greater Perspective

Because a vision board distills what's important to you and what you hope to achieve into a selection of meaningful imagery, you may find it easier to gain some perspective on your life and goals. Sometimes seeing these things in a visual format allows you to step back and view your efforts and plans with greater clarity.

Research suggests that the brain tends to assign a higher value to visual imagery than to other types of stimuli. Visual representations tend to be more memorable than words, a phenomenon known as the picture superiority effect. Because of this, the information on your vision board may stick out in your mind more than a collection of goals written on a to-do list.

Not everyone believes in the value of vision boards, however. For example, some research has found that only visualizing positive outcomes (without also visualizing the hard work and effort that it takes to succeed) can actually hinder performance and achievement.

The problem with vision boards, critics suggest, is that they may stifle growth rather than fuel it. By envisioning your dream future, you might stop working toward it and instead wait for the universe to manifest it into existence.

There are many different types of theme boards that you can create, but they often fall into one of three main themes.

Goal Boards

This type of vision board is designed to focus on a clear, specific goal. For example, if your goal is to achieve a specific financial goal, such as paying off debt or saving money, your board would focus on this goal.

It might include pictures that offer inspiration, infographics that provide valuable information, quotes to keep you motivated, and even worksheets where you can keep track of your progress visually.

Theme Boards

Theme boards are less specific than goal boards, but they tend to focus on a specific theme in your life that you hope to bring to fruition. For example, your vision board might focus on your New Year's resolutions , your relationship goals, or your academic or professional aspirations. They tend to focus on goals that may be more long-term or on special interests that you want to focus on more in your life.

Reflection Boards

This type of vision board is centered around achieving goals related to inner growth and personal development. They can be a way to learn more about yourself, your goals, and what makes you happy. They can serve to lift your mood or help you to feel more inspired.

For example, if you've been struggling with feeling the Winter blues , you might create a reflection board full of uplifting imagery that helps you feel more joyful and hopeful about the future.

Your vision board will be highly individual, but some general themes or goals you might choose to focus on include:

• Professional/career goals
• School plans
• Learning goals
• Social activism goals
• Health/fitness
• Travel inspiration or vacations you want to take
• Friends/family/social goals
• Romance/love goals
• Money goals
• Happiness/contentment goals
• Hobby-related goals
• Reading goals or books you want to read
• Meditation/mindfulness goals
• Priorities you want to focus on
• Big life dreams (Write a book! Move to France! Start a business!)

Benefits of Using a Vision Board for Mental Health

Vision boards may also provide a number of mental health benefits that can potentially boost mood and well-being. There is not a great deal of research specifically on the potential value of vision boards in terms of their efficacy or impact on mental health. However, some evidence suggests that the goal-setting associated with vision boards can have a variety of positive effects.

• Goal-setting can improve well-being : Research has shown that engaging in goal-setting actions can play a role in improving wellness. In one study, participants who participated in a goal-setting activity reported higher levels of subjective well-being than participants who had not engaged in the intervention.
• Visualizing can increase success : Studies have also found that visualization can be a powerful tool for achievement and performance. For example, research has shown that athletes who visualize themselves performing a task experience real-world improvements in their athletic performance. Repeating the visualization can also improve both physical and psychological reactions in those specific situations.
• Foster greater mindfulness : Mindfulness is all about focusing on the present moment and paying attention to how you feel. Creating your vision board can help you become more mindful of the things that are important to you, both in the here and now and in the future. This can be a useful tool for helping you feel more focused and to combat feelings of stress and anxiety. 
• Greater self-efficacy : Because a vision board is all about what matters to you, you may find that it helps you feel better about yourself and your vision for the future. It can be a useful resource for boosting your faith in your own abilities. Known as self-efficacy , this belief in your capabilities can play an important role in how motivated you are and how hard your work toward achieving your goals.

How to Make Your Own Vision Board

In order to make your own vision board, start by deciding the type of board you want to create and how you want to present it. Some examples of different formats you might utilize for a vision board include:

• A cork pinboard
• A whiteboard
• A wire board
• A magnetic board

You might opt to purchase items to create your pinboard, but you can also just use things that you already have. An empty picture frame, a clipboard, posterboard, a large piece of cardboard, or even just a blank section of wall where you can hang visual items can serve as a vision board.

What to Include in a Vision Board

Next, gather materials that you want to include in your vision board. Some sources of imagery might include:

• Clippings from magazines, books, or catalogs
• Online images printed at home
• Old postcards
• Photographs
• Printed or handwritten quotes and affirmations
• Scrapbook paper, colorful construction paper, cardstock, fabric
• Doodles or original artwork
• Handwritten words or affirmations
• Printed words, sayings, or quotes
• Newspaper clippings

The goal is to select images and words that speak to you, offer inspiration, and help you envision the future you hope to have.

As you put together your vision board, you might find it helpful to create a relaxing, inspiring environment that allows you to focus on your mood and vision. Light some scented candles and play some inspirational music as you spend time creating.

Questions to Ask Yourself

As you work on creating your board, ask yourself some of the following questions:

• What are my values? 
• What gives my life meaning?
• How do I envision my future?
• How do I want to spend my time?
• What motivates me?
• What are my priorities?
• What do I hope to accomplish in the next year? In five years? In ten years?
• How do I plan to achieve my goals?
• What tools and resources do I need to achieve my goals?

Keeping these things in mind can help you select the visuals, graphics, photos, words, and other elements that are aligned with your hopes and dreams.

It’s important to remember that your vision board is just that—a vision of a future that hasn’t happened yet. In order to make that dream a reality, you need to commit to taking the steps and doing the work that it will take to make that vision a reality.

Instead of thinking of these boards as mere “visions,” it might be more useful to view them as action boards that detail not only what you want, but how you plan to go about achieving it.

Deniz F, Nunez-Elizalde AO, Huth AG, Gallant JL. The representation of semantic information across human cerebral cortex during listening versus reading is invariant to stimulus modality . J Neurosci . 2019;39(39):7722-7736. doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0675-19.2019

Pham LB, Taylor SE. From thought to action: effects of process-versus outcome-based mental simulations on performance . Pers Soc Psychol Bull . 1999;25(2):250-260. doi:10.1177/0146167299025002010

(MacLeod AK, Coates E, Hetherton J. Increasing well-being through teaching goal-setting and planning skills: results of a brief intervention . J Happiness Stud . 2008;9(2):185-196. doi:10.1007/s10902-007-9057-2

Di Corrado D, Guarnera M, Vitali F, Quartiroli A, Coco M. Imagery ability of elite level athletes from individual vs. team and contact vs. no-contact sports . PeerJ . 2019;7:e6940. doi:10.7717/peerj.6940

Blankert T, Hamstra MR. Imagining success: Multiple achievement goals and the effectiveness of imagery . Basic Appl Soc Psych . 2017;39(1):60-67. doi:10.1080/01973533.2016.1255947

By Kendra Cherry, MSEd Kendra Cherry, MS, is a psychosocial rehabilitation specialist, psychology educator, and author of the "Everything Psychology Book."

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• January 19, 2023

What Is a Vision Statement? 25 Powerful Examples to Inspire Your Own

• --> Written by Toni Hoy

One of the first steps in establishing a new organization is generating a vision statement that reflects the initial inspiration many founders feel when they decide to create their nonprofits. It’s purpose cannot be minimized, the vision statement speaks to the organization’s intention and why the organization needs to exist.

All organizations, including for-profit companies, nonprofits, charities and other groups, use vision statements to guide them with their essential work. They need to be clear on what role they will serve in the organization. Here, you’ll discover the following:

• Vision statement definition
• What is the purpose of a vision statement and why is it important?
• Vision vs. mission statement
• How to write a vision statement
• 25 vision statement examples

What Is a Vision Statement?

So what is the meaning of ‘vision statement’? A vision statement is a written document that describes where an organization is going and what it will look like when it gets there.

The length of a business vision statement is not generally a consideration. It can be short, long or anywhere in between. The important thing is to write it clearly and thoughtfully. Why? Because a it is a basis for everything a nonprofit does. For example, the board relies on the vision statement when making strategic plans and decisions. Moreover, the staff and volunteers also look to the vision statement for long-term direction, and donors will read your it when deciding whether to support your nonprofit.

Because your board will be referring to your business vision statement often, be sure to store it with your nonprofit’s mission statement in your  BoardEffect  board management system so board members can refer to it as needed.

Why Is a Vision Statement Important?

The board of directors needs to understand the importance of creating a thoughtful vision statement — it is at the heart of everything else they do.

A vision statement is meant to be shared and proud of. The vision communicates your organization’s value and commitment to achieving its goals.

Has your board considered the following reasons for taking sufficient time to create a meaningful vision statement?

• Provides a clear picture of the value your nonprofit gives to the community.
• Makes the contributions of your donors, staff, and volunteers more meaningful and inspires them.
• Helps attract and engage passionate, engaged people outside your regular networks.
• Clarifies the scope of your nonprofit’s work.
• Stands as a public commitment to following through on achieving your nonprofit’s goals.

A long-term approach to business means that the company desires to serve like-minded customers. A vision statement caters to the characteristics and lifestyle of the customers they serve as well as the market conditions.

Vision vs. Mission Statement: What’s the Difference?

While the two terms are closely related, there is a distinct difference between a vision and a  mission statement . Each statement has a reason for existing and should not get used interchangeably

The most notable difference between a vision and a mission statement is the timeframe — a vision statement reflects the hopes of the future, and the mission statement reflects what is happening now.

The mission statement defines the nonprofit’s  purpose , and it speaks to the original inspiration for the nonprofit. The length of mission statements varies from a short sentence to a few short sentences. A mission statement describes what the nonprofit is currently doing, who it serves and the benefits it provides.

Unlike a mission statement, which speaks to current programs and activities, a vision statement says where the nonprofit hopes to be once it fulfills its mission. Good vision statements are forward-thinking statements that sketch out what the nonprofit hopes to see in the future through its work.

How to Write a Vision Statement

Nonprofit board members should consider themselves visionary leaders who can communicate the nonprofit’s vision to others.

Writing a vision statement is a critical step in building a nonprofit. For that reason, nonprofit boards use their planning time wisely and give the process of writing sufficient time to create a statement that is clear and inspiring.

In forming your vision statement, your board may want to consider the following questions:

• What is our nonprofit’s true purpose?
• What do we hope our nonprofit can achieve?
• What are the core values that should be reflected in our vision statement?
• In what ways does the mission statement align with the core values of our nonprofit?
• How does the vision statement align with our nonprofit’s culture?
• Will our strategic goals for the next 5-10 years enable our statement to come to fruition?

As challenging as the process is, being part of a group that creates a nonprofit vision statement is rewarding. In creating a good statement, members of the group can give their nonprofit’s vision life by articulating it in words.

A quality vision statement has the following characteristics:

• Forward-thinking
• Aligned with the nonprofit’s mission, core values, and culture

When creating your vision statement, avoid using jargon and make it inspiring.

Creating a Compelling Vision Statement: Step-by-Step

• Assemble a Team  — Get input from outside the team. Ask for ideas from the founders, staff, volunteers, donors, and members of the community.
• Be Clear on the Nonprofit’s Purpose  — Keep the nonprofit’s purpose at the center of your work. Write it in large letters and display it in your team’s work area.
• Create a Backward Roadmap  — Start at your end goal of what you want to see and start working backward toward the present. Next, write out detailed steps that create a timeline that takes you from the current time to 5-10 years in the future.
• Make It Concise  — While it’s important to have an ambitious vision, the vision statement must be powerful, yet realistic. Narrow it down to a few sentences.
• Get Feedback and Revise — A vision statement typically sounds awesome to the work team, but the first draft does not always translate as proficiently to others. Get feedback from others, consider it carefully, and revise it as necessary.

We can learn a lot from current examples of vision and mission statements from existing nonprofits and corporations.

25 Examples of Vision Statements

We’ve compiled the following vision statement examples to inspire the creation of your own:

• Avon  — To be the company that best understands and satisfies the product, service and self-fulfillment needs of women—globally.
• Tesla  — To create the most compelling car company of the 21st century by driving the world’s transition to electric vehicles.
• Meta (Facebook)  — To bring the metaverse to life and help people connect, find communities, and grow businesses.
• Goodwill  — Our vision is to transform lives and communities through the power of work.
• Alzheimer’s Association  — A world without Alzheimer’s and all other dementia.
• Feed the Children  — To create a world where no child goes to bed hungry.
• Habitat for Humanity  — A world where everyone has a decent place to live.
• Mayo Clinic  — Transforming medicine to connect and cure as the global authority in the care of serious or complex disease.
• Cross International  — Christians united in overcoming physical and spiritual poverty.
• Oceana  — Oceana seeks to make our oceans as rich, healthy, and abundant as they once were.
• Ford  — To become the world’s most trusted company, designing smart vehicles for a smart world.
• IBM  — To be the world’s most successful and important information technology company.
• Google  — To provide access to the world’s information in one click.
• IKEA  — To create a better everyday life for the many people.
• LinkedIn  — To create economic opportunity for every member of the global workforce.
• Sony  — Using our unlimited passion for technology, content, and services to deliver groundbreaking new excitement and entertainment, as only Sony can.
• TED University  — TED University aims to be inspiring and unique in providing a transforming and liberating educational experience; and produce knowledge and create solutions through interaction with the town and society.
• Harvard College  — Harvard College sets the standard for residential liberal arts and sciences education. We have committed to creating and sustaining the conditions that enable all Harvard College students to experience an unparalleled educational journey that is intellectually, socially, and personally transformative.
• Southwest Airlines  — To be the world’s most loved, most efficient, and most profitable airline.
• NAMI  — NAMI envisions a world where all people affected by mental illness live healthy, fulfilling lives supported by a community that cares.
• Astellas  — Create innovative new drugs and medical solutions by leveraging our core capabilities.
• American Express  — Provide the world’s best customer experience every day.
• UHS  — UHS, the region’s leading integrated healthcare system, will demonstrate exceptional value in the delivery of coordinated, patient-centered care.
• Asana  — To help humanity thrive by enabling the world’s teams to work together effortlessly.
• Coca-Cola  — Our vision is to craft the brands and choice of drinks that people love, refresh them in body & spirit. And done in ways that create a more sustainable business and better shared future that makes a difference in people’s lives, communities, and our planet.

Key Takeaways on Leveraging Vision Statement Examples to Create One for Your Nonprofit

There are several key takeaways to consider as your nonprofit learns from the vision statement examples that we’ve listed here for existing corporations and nonprofits. Your nonprofit’s  mission statement  and vision statement serve different purposes and your team should understand the differences between them.

We have given you examples of good vision statements that are short and long for your review. Each of them is impactful in its own way.

Good vision statements should be a central part of strategic planning for nonprofits. Because it guides all aspects of a company, boards should take their time in developing it.

Once the vision statement is created, share it with the world and communicate it with a sense of pride.

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What Is a Vision Statement?

Table of Contents

Writing a vision statement for your business can be challenging because it must define your company, values and future goals. While many established companies focus on their mission statement , a vision statement is a valuable tool for inspiring your team and forging a corporate identity. 

We’ll explore vision statements and their importance, as well as offer tools and best practices for crafting an inspiring vision statement that powers your growth strategy. 

What is a vision statement?

A vision statement is a written declaration clarifying your business’s meaning and purpose for stakeholders, especially employees. It describes the desired long-term results of your company’s efforts. For example, an early Microsoft vision statement was “a computer on every desk and in every home.” 

“A company vision statement reveals, at the highest levels, what an organization most hopes to be and achieve in the long term,” said Katie Trauth Taylor, owner and CEO of Untold Content, a writing consultancy. “It serves a somewhat lofty purpose – to harness all the company’s foresight into one impactful statement.” 

A vision statement matters because it outlines the common goal of everyone in the company. Businesses that are working toward a higher aspiration are more appealing to current and future employees. 

A vision statement can affect a company’s long-term success, so take the time to craft one that synthesizes your ambition and mobilizes your staff.

A vision statement can increase employee engagement while making it easier to hire new employees for a cultural fit .

What’s the difference between a vision statement and a mission statement?

Mission statements are based in the present and convey to stakeholders and community members why a business exists and where it currently stands. Vision statements are future-based, and they are meant to inspire and give direction to employees. 

“The vision is about your goals for the future and how you will get there, whereas the mission is about where you are now and why you exist,” said Paige Arnof-Fenn, founder and CEO of Mavens & Moguls, a global strategic marketing consulting firm. “The vision should motivate the team to make a difference and be part of something bigger than themselves.” 

Mission statements and vision statements are both crucial for building a brand . “While a mission statement focuses on the purpose of the brand, the vision statement looks to the fulfillment of that purpose,” said Jessica Honard, co-CEO of North Star Messaging + Strategy, a copywriting and messaging firm that serves entrepreneurs. 

Although mission and vision statements should be core elements of your organization, a vision statement should serve as your company’s guiding light. 

“A vision is aspiration; a mission is actionable,” said Jamie Falkowski, chief creative officer at marketing and communications company Day One Agency.

Creating the perfect vision statement may seem overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. Follow these suggestions and best practices when crafting your vision statement. 

Determine who will shape your vision. 

The first step in writing a vision statement is determining who will craft it. In a small business, you may be able to ask everyone for their insight. In a larger operation, you may need to be more selective while still capturing a range of employee voices.

Evaluate your company’s published materials. 

Your company likely already has published goals and established values in its employee handbook , marketing materials and other publications. Use this information to guide your work, suggested Alison Brehme, an author and content, marketing and media strategist.

“A company’s mission, purpose, goals and values are all involved in the creation of a company vision,” Brehme said. “Weave these concepts and beliefs into your vision statement.”

Hold workshops to brainstorm your vision. 

Brandon Shockley, former vice president of market research at branding and marketing firm 160over90 and now head of investor research and insights at Vanguard, recommended hosting workshops with key stakeholders representing a cross-section of your organization. Then, he said, assemble teams and use collaboration tools to create alternate versions of the statement, and gather employee feedback about how each version resonates. 

Get individual input. 

Falkowski also suggested conducting interviews with individual stakeholders to encourage honest feedback. Employees can identify common themes, describe the organization’s future in words or use visual branding tools as a basis for the vision statement. 

Check out competitors’ vision statements. 

Look at your competitors’ vision statements to determine how you can differentiate your business from theirs. [Related article: How to Do a Competitive Analysis ]

Keep it short but meaningful. 

A vision statement should be concise – no longer than a sentence or two. You want your entire organization to be able to repeat it quickly and, more importantly, understand it. However, a vision statement must be more than a catchy tagline.

“[It] can be smart and memorable, but this is for your team and culture, not for selling a specific product,” Falkowski said. 

Create a longer version for leadership’s eyes only. 

Don’t fret if you feel that a short vision statement doesn’t fully express the intricacies of your vision. You can create a longer version, but it should not be the one you broadcast to the world.

“Let’s be honest – most business leaders, not to mention boards of directors, won’t be able to sum up their vision in a pithy sentence or two. That’s OK,” said Shannon DeJong, owner of brand agency House of Who. “Have a full-length version of your vision for the leadership’s eyes only. Think of the long version as your reference guide to why you’re in business in the first place.” 

Map out your business’s biggest goals. 

When you’re crafting your vision statement, start by mapping out your business’s most audacious goals, Taylor suggested. “Reviewing your long-term goals in a collaborative setting will help you then zoom out on what your organization and the world will look like if you achieve them. That zoomed-out view of your success is really the heart of your vision statement.”

Consider your company’s potential global impact. 

Ask questions that reflect your business’s eventual scale and impact, Honard advised. “Once you’ve answered these questions, you’ve created a roadmap between your present and your future.”

These are a few of the questions Honard uses in guiding clients to identify their vision statement:

• What ultimate impact do I want my brand to have on my community, my industry or the world?
• In what way will my brand ultimately interact with customers and clients?
• What will the culture of my business look like, and how will that play out in employees’ lives? 

Dream big. 

Don’t be afraid to dream big once you gather all the information and get down to writing. Don’t worry about practicality for now; what initially looks impossible may be achieved down the road with the right team and technologies. Work on shaping a vision statement that reflects the specific nature of your business and its aspirations. 

Be daring, not generic. 

Shockley said there’s nothing wrong with a vision statement that is daring, distinct or even disagreeable. “If a vision statement sets out a generic goal that anyone can agree with, it is likely to produce mediocre results. A goal like ‘delivering an exceptional experience’ applies equally to a hospital, bank or fitness club.” 

Consider creating a brand vision board. 

If you’re interested in taking your vision one step further, create a brand vision board, Taylor suggested. A vision board includes your company’s tagline, a “who we are” statement, a “what we do” section, a business vision statement, an overview of your ideal clients, client pain points, your content mission statement, advertising, products and SEO keywords.

“A vision board serves as a one-page business plan that anyone in a company can reference quickly to remember the key concepts that drive the work,” Taylor said.

Quick tips for your vision statement

Here’s a quick breakdown of what to do when formalizing your vision statement:

• Project five to 10 years into the future.
• Dream big, and focus on success.
• Use the present tense.
• Use clear, concise, jargon-free language.
• Infuse it with passion, and make it inspiring.
• Align it with your business values and goals.
• Create a plan to communicate your vision statement to your employees.
• Prepare to commit time and resources to the vision you establish. 

Your completed vision statement should offer a clear idea of your company’s path forward. Honard said many of her clients have used their vision statements to direct their overall plans for the future. For example, they’ve adopted new marketing initiatives to move them closer to their vision, pivoted their focus to clearly reflect their desired outcome, or doubled down on one particular aspect of their brand that is working to serve their vision.

When you’re setting business goals and taking actionable steps to achieve them, take time to visualize what your goal achievement will look like.

What to avoid when writing a vision statement

• Don’t mix up your mission statement and vision statement. Mission statements are generally easier to write because they reflect what you’re doing now. Remember, a mission statement is what you are working to accomplish today, while a vision statement is what you want to accomplish in the future.
• Don’t overthink your wording. One of the hardest parts of creating a vision statement is coming up with the right wording. You may find yourself endlessly rewriting and fretting about getting it right. Does this sentence or two define your values and shine a light on your corporate identity without sounding too vague? Don’t get lost in the pressure of perfect wording; a specific and unique vision statement is a good place to begin distinguishing your business from the rest of the industry. 

How to use your vision statement

Determine where your vision statement will appear and what role it will serve in your organization. This will make the process more than an intellectual exercise, Shockley said. It’s pointless to hang a vision statement in the lobby or promote it via your business’s social media channels if you never genuinely integrate it into your company culture . 

“The vision business statement should be thought of as part of your strategic plan,” Shockley said. “It is an internal communications tool that helps align and inspire your team to reach the company’s goals.” 

As such, you should view a vision statement as a living document that will be revisited and revised. Most importantly, it must speak directly to your employees. 

“If your employees don’t buy into the vision, you’ll never be able to carry it out,” said Keri Lindenmuth, director of marketing with the Kyle David Group, a web and tech solutions provider. “The vision statement should be something your employees believe in. Only then will they make decisions and take actions that reflect your business’s vision.”

Help employees take ownership of the vision by asking them to identify ways they could incorporate the vision statement into their daily jobs. Reward employees with cool job perks when you catch them exemplifying the vision.

20 examples of inspiring vision statements

Some memorable and distinct vision statements may be all the inspiration you need to write your own. Here are some of the best examples of inspiring vision statements: 

• Amazon: “Our vision is to be earth’s most customer-centric company; to build a place where people can come to find and discover anything they might want to buy online.”
• Ben & Jerry’s: “Making the best ice cream in the nicest possible way.”
• Caterpillar: “Our vision is a world in which all people’s basic needs – such as shelter, clean water, sanitation, food, and reliable power – are fulfilled in an environmentally sustainable way, and a company that improves the quality of the environment and the communities where we live and work.”
• Cradles to Crayons: “Provides children from birth through age 12, living in homeless or low-income situations, with the essential items they need to thrive – at home, at school, and at play.”
• Google: “To provide access to the world’s information in one click.”
• Habitat for Humanity: “A world where everyone has a decent place to live.”
• Hilton Hotels & Resorts: “To fill the earth with the light and warmth of hospitality by delivering exceptional experiences – every hotel, every guest, every time.”
• IKEA: “To create a better everyday life for the many people.”
• Intel: “If it’s smart and connected, it’s best with Intel.”
• LinkedIn: “Create economic opportunity for every member of the global workforce.”
• Oxfam: “To be a self-organized people actively creating a just democratic and sustainable world where power and resources are shared, everyone lives in dignity, and poverty and inequality are no more.”
• Patagonia: “Build the best product, cause no unnecessary harm, use business to inspire and implement solutions to the environmental crisis.”
• Prezi: “To reinvent how people share knowledge, tell stories, and inspire their audiences to act.”
• Samsung: “Shape the future with innovation and intelligence.”
• Southwest Airlines: “To become the world’s most loved, most flown and most profitable airline.”
• Sweetgreen: “To inspire healthier communities by connecting people to real food.”
• TED: “We believe passionately in the power of ideas to change attitudes, lives, and, ultimately, the world.”
• Walgreens: “To be America’s most-loved pharmacy-led health, well-being and beauty company.”
• Warby Parker: “We believe that buying glasses should be easy and fun.”
• Wyeth: “Our vision is to lead the way to a healthier world.”

Often, the hardest part of creating a vision statement is coming up with wording that truly defines your values and shines a light on your corporate identity without sounding too vague.

Can vision statements change?

Many companies benefit from having a vision statement from their inception, but it’s perfectly acceptable not to commit to one specific vision immediately. 

“Getting too tied into one master statement can really mess with the learning and creation process in the early stages,” said Sonia Elyss, president of marketing and communications collective Round Twelve. She encourages her clients to write a vision statement monthly, save the previous drafts, and see what sticks and what doesn’t over time. 

“After the first year, you can look back and see how much you have evolved,” Elyss said. “What parts or words within the statement stuck around, and what was dropped? Those key words tend to end up being major brand pillars you can always come back to and eventually become part of the brand ethos.” 

Tying yourself to a particular vision statement in the early days of your business may limit your opportunities for growth or blind you to the need for change. 

“At the end of the day, trust your gut; test and check; look at the analytics; invest in the feedback your customer is giving you,” Elyss said. “If you aren’t willing to step outside of your initial vision for your business, you might miss a huge opportunity!” 

Regardless of how many years you have been in business or how long you have had your vision statement, you’re not stuck with it. Don’t be afraid to change it – even if you spent time and money developing it – if it stops feeling right. 

The vision for your vision statement

A vision statement is a tool that can help your business grow and achieve brand success. Along the journey of growing your business, you’ll face good months, rough months, and every detour and roadblock imaginable. 

Above all, your vision statement should constantly remind you and your team of the end goal. This message is important to hold on to, especially on the most challenging days. 

Bassam Kaado and Paula Fernandes contributed to the writing and reporting in this article. Source interviews were conducted for a previous version of this article.

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How to Know if Your Eye Prescription is Bad

In this article

What Eye Prescription is Legally Blind?

The term “legally blind” actually comes from the government. The U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) uses this term to determine who is eligible for certain disability benefits, tax exemptions, and low-vision training.

In the United States, a person has legal blindness if:

• Their vision with glasses or contacts is 20/200 or worse
• Their visual field is 20 degrees or less in the better-seeing eye 11

This means that a legally blind person has to stand 20 feet away from an object to see it clearly. People with normal vision can stand 200 feet away from that same object and see it clearly.

A legally blind person’s vision is at least 10 times worse than someone with normal vision.

Visual Acuity and Eye Prescription

Some legally blind people have visual acuity better than 20/200. However, their peripheral vision is poor.

People with normal vision have a lateral field view of almost 180 degrees. This means they can simultaneously see objects located directly to their left or right.

If your visual field is only 20 degrees, your peripheral vision is reduced drastically. This is often called tunnel vision .

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How Bad Is My Eye Prescription?

No eye prescription should be considered ‘bad.’ Different prescriptions refer to different levels of correction needed to restore normal vision. 

The American Academy of Ophthalmology uses the following benchmarks to classify the severity of nearsightedness or farsightedness:

• Mild +/-0.25 to +/-2.00 
• Moderate +/-2.25 to +/- 5.00
• Severe +/- 5.00

What Does My Eye Prescription Mean?

An eye prescription is a written order for corrective lenses. An optometrist, ophthalmologist, or optician writes it.

An eye prescription includes:

• Patient’s name
• Date the prescription was issued
• Expiration date 
• Specifications for vision correction
• Prescriber’s name, contact number, and signature

Decoding Your Eye Prescription

An eye prescription may include any of the following abbreviations:

• OD: oculus dexter (right eye)
• OS: oculus sinister (left eye)
• OU: oculus uterque (both eyes)
• SPH: the strength of magnification in the lenses
• CYL: cylindrical correction, or the amount of lens power needed to correct astigmatism
• AXIS : indicates the angle of astigmatism correction
• ADD: addition , used for bifocal and multifocal lenses

Focusing Power and Diopters

The numbers listed on the prescription refer to the prescribed focusing power. 

Focusing power refers to the eye’s ability to focus on something at a given distance. Its unit of measurement is called a diopter. 

A positive number (indicated by a ‘+’ sign) refers to farsightedness or hyperopia. A negative number (indicated by a ‘-’ sign) refers to nearsightedness or myopia.

On an eye prescription, 0.00 represents vision that doesn’t need correction. The numbers indicate the level of severity of your nearsightedness or farsightedness. The further away from zero (+ or -), the worse the eyesight.

Common Causes of Legal Blindness

Many eye diseases can lead to legal blindness. The most common causes of blindness are: 10

Cataracts 

Cataracts cause clouding of the eye’s lenses. This happens when the proteins in the lens clump together, making it difficult to see clearly. It’s the leading cause of blindness worldwide.

Glaucoma is a disease that damages the optic nerve. Increased pressure inside the eye is the main cause of glaucoma. This condition has no cure, but early intervention can help slow its progression.

Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)

AMD is a disease affecting the retina’s macular region. The macular region is responsible for sharp central vision. It’s a leading cause of blindness in adults over age 65. When you have AMD, you may gradually lose your central vision.

Diabetic Retinopathy

Diabetic retinopathy is a condition that can affect people with diabetes. Diabetics are at risk of developing blood vessel damage that can lead to poor vision and even blindness.

Is It Bad if My Prescription Changes?

You shouldn’t worry about your eye prescription changing over time. Gradual changes to visual acuity are normal as the flexibility of the natural lens changes over time.

These changes can be caused by aging or other eye conditions, such as:

Astigmatism

Astigmatism is a refractive error, like farsightedness or nearsightedness. It causes blurry or distorted vision.

Astigmatism is indicated on a prescription as part of the cylindrical (CYL) correction. If there is no number under CYL, it means there is no astigmatism, or it is so slight that it doesn’t need correction.

Amblyopia is also called a lazy eye. One or both eyes don’t develop properly during childhood, which affects the eyes’ ability to focus.

Presbyopia 

Presbyopia is also called age-related farsightedness . The eyes gradually lose the ability to see objects up close. It typically develops in people over 40 years old.

Sudden vision changes may signify serious eye disease, which should be looked at immediately.

What is 20/20 Vision?

“Normal” vision is 20/20. Someone with 20/20 vision can stand 200 feet from an eye chart and see it as clearly as a legally blind person sees it from 20 feet.

In most states, drivers must have 20/40 vision or better for an unrestricted driver’s license. If you wear eyeglasses or contacts, your corrected vision must be at least 20/40.

Visual Impairment Categories

The World Health Organization uses the following benchmarks to categorize visual impairment:

• Normal: 20/10- 20/25
• Near Normal visual impairment: 20/30-20/60
• Moderate visual impairment: 20/70-20/160
• Severe visual impairment: 20/200-20/400, or 11-20 degrees on the visual field
• Profound visual impairment: 20/500-20/1000 visual acuity, or 6- 10 degrees on visual field
• Near-total visual impairment: Counting fingers, Hand motion, Light perception, or 5 degrees or less on visual field
• Total visual impairment: No light perception 

Treatment for Bad Eyesight

Treatments for bad eyesight include:

• Eyeglasses . Consists of lenses that are tailored to address specific refractive errors
• Contact lenses . Thin, prescription lenses placed directly on the eye’s surface and can serve as an alternative to eyeglasses
• LASIK Surgery . A refractive surgery that aims to reshape the cornea to correct vision problems
• PRK Surgery Another refractive surgery that reshapes the cornea, but doesn’t involve creating a corneal flap
• Orthokeratology . A non-surgical treatment that uses specially designed, gas-permeable contact lenses worn overnight

Medical professionals recommend an eye exam every two years for adults ages 19 to 40 with vision problems. Adults older than 40 should get their eyes checked once a year.

Other refractive surgeries are also available for those unsuitable for LASIK and PRK. Consult your ophthalmologist to know more about other treatment options.

Eye prescriptions change slowly over time. While there’s no “bad” eye prescription, you can be “legally blind” when your prescription is 20/200 or worse.

Different diseases can cause bad eyesight, and some treatments can help improve your vision. If you feel that your eyesight is starting to worsen, schedule an eye exam with an ophthalmologist immediately.

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Best on a Budget

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Best Places to Buy Contacts

Discount Contacts is our #1 recommendation to buy contacts online.

GlassesUSA has a huge selection of contacts, glasses, & sunglasses.

Related Articles

20/25 Vision: Understanding What It Means

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by AnnaMarie Houlis

• “ Astigmatism ,” MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine.
• “ Changing Vision? How to Make Sure Your Eyes Are Healthy ,” the University of Utah Health,.
• “ Comprehensive Eye Exams ,” American Optometric Association.
• “ How to Read Your Eyeglass Prescription ,” The Canadian Association of Optometrists, 2018.
• “ Low Vision and Vision Rehabilitation ,” American Optometric Association.
• “ Nearsightedness ,” MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2018.
• “ Nearsightedness: What Is Myopia? ” American Academy of Ophthalmology, 2021.
• “ What Does 20/20 Vision Mean? ” American Academy of Ophthalmology, 2022.
• “ Your Prescription Explained ,” Association of Optometrists.
• Lee, S.F., and Mesfin, F.B. “ Blindness ,” National Library of Medicine, 2021.
• “Code of Federal Regulations: Blindness.” U.S. Social Security Administration.

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Make Your Vision a Reality

It's time to create the future you've been dreaming about..

Posted December 18, 2019 | Reviewed by Ekua Hagan

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In my previous blog post, " Create a Compelling Future ," I focused on the importance of finding time to envision your new future. Creating a compelling vision is the first step in changing any aspect of your life, including your career .

If you haven’t had a chance to develop your vision, I recommend you stop reading this post and go to the previous one. But if you have your vision, then let’s look at the steps to bring it to fruition.

You can do this in four steps. I wish I could tell you these four steps are simple or easy, but they’re not. Each of these steps will require your time and attention . You can't phone it in—you will have to do the work. But that doesn't mean the process has to be hard. In fact, because you are reaching toward something you want, it will hopefully be more interesting and pleasurable for you.

Let’s take a look at these four basic steps to turn your vision into reality. Here's a diagram to help you think through the questions being asked in each of the four steps.

Step 1: Vision . Start with the vision you created. How concrete is it? Is it just an idea, or can you actually see the components of the vision? If you haven’t already, take the time to write out your vision for your future. What do you want your life to look like? One way to do this is to start with the three questions every investigator asks: Who , What , and Where?

As you think about the vision you developed, who is a part of that vision? Will they be your clients or customers? Or perhaps the “who” is who you will work with, your colleagues. Another “who” in your vision might be your family or friends. How are they part of your vision? And “who” can help you succeed with this vision? Are there experts you need to consult to make sure your vision can happen? Who are the people you need to have around you to make this vision succeed?

What are you doing? What activities are you engaged in? What is happening in the area where you are working or living? Are you working with people, data, things, or ideas? And in what way? Write out a typical day in your new life. What is happening?

And where is all this happening? Are you in your current location, at your current workplace? Or are you in a new location? Are you working from home? And where is your home? Describe your surroundings if you haven’t done that already.

Once you have answered these questions as well as you can, you can move to the next step.

Step 2: Decision . Now it’s time to make some decisions. You have this lovely vision for your future. You know who is involved, what you’re doing, and where you’re going to be. So stop for a moment. Notice how you feel. Is your vision exciting you? Is it something you genuinely want to move toward? Here’s where the fourth investigator’s question comes in handy: Why? What is compelling about your vision? Why do you want to do it? What will change as a result of this new vision? How is this vision connected to your thoughts about purpose or meaning in your life?

Once you have your “why,” it’s time to move into making it happen.

Step 3: Intention . This step moves you to the investigator’s fifth question: How? What are the steps needed to make this happen? Start by writing down every action you might need to take to bring this reality to life. Depending on how large a change you’re making, this could be a daunting task. But if you don’t break down the steps into achievable units, you are less likely to succeed. After you write down the steps you need to take to make this vision happen, try ordering them from first to last. You might want to use an app like Trello to organize your steps and set up a timeline.

Which brings us to the final stage and the investigator’s sixth question: When?

Step 4: Action . And now the final investigator's question. When do you want to move forward? Your success will be directly related to taking action. However, this doesn’t mean you have to do it all yourself.

• Sometimes just taking the first few steps will connect you with someone who might be able to help you.
• Or you take a few steps and discover a job posting for the very job you want.
• Or you see the perfect apartment in the city you’d like to move to.

Just starting to move forward in your vision process is often enough to start a chain of events that helps you get to your final goal. That's why putting a time stamp on the steps to your vision will make it more likely that you'll achieve it. Momentum can take over and you may be surprised at what comes forward when you just start.

If you’re not taking action, then it’s time to re-assess your situation. We often procrastinate around the things that are most important to us. That might be what you’re doing. If that's the case, you might need outside support to stay motivated and focused.

Or maybe you’re not taking action because you’ve looked at everything more closely and changed your mind. It’s no longer your vision. That’s a great thing to learn before you get too far in the process. Now you can adjust your vision as necessary based on what you have learned in the process.

Your vision will change throughout your life. It is likely that you will land in the vision of your future, only to have a new vision take over. That’s how it works. Now you know how to start the process all over again if needed.

© 2019 Katharine S. Brooks, All Rights Reserved.

Katharine Brooks, Ed.D., is an award-winning board-certified coach and counselor and the author of several career books and workbooks, including What Color is Your Parachute? for College.

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What is your vision (purpose) in life? Sample interview answers

It is much easier to deal with everyday struggles once you have a vision in life . Following some meaningful purpose –meaningful for you, because at the end of the day what others think about your vision doesn’t matter–you enjoy the process of overcoming challenges, and always getting one step closer to turning your vision into reality . And while we do not achieve all our goals, and may fail to materialize our dreams, it is still better living with some vision, seeing a purpose in what you do, simply because people with vision enjoy their life and jobs more… But what do the hiring managers (or people at school, should you apply for a place in a study program) want to hear from you, once inquiring about your vision in life? We will try to find the answers on the following lines.

First of all, they want to hear that you have some vision, some purpose . You do not go to school or job just because everyone does the same thing. On the contrary, you try to achieve something with your everyday activities, and it drives you forward, and helps you to overcome the obstacles. Secondly, the vision you present in the interviews should make sense in the context of your job/study program application . Let me explain. Applying for a job of a logistics manager, it makes little sense saying that your vision is to become the best veterinarian in LA. Such vision would make sense in a vet school interview, but not in a logistics interview.

Anyway, let’s have a look at 7 sample answers to this question. Read them for your inspiration, but do not copy any of them . Vision or purpose of life is a very personal thing , and not something you should simply copy from somewhere. The answers on my list should help you find the answers within you , while you try to discover your vision and purpose, one you can talk about in the interview but perhaps also pursue in your life. I tried to come up with some variety , and hope that once you are done with the answers, you will know what you want to say in your next interview. Enjoy!

7 sample answers to “What is your vision in life?” interview question

• My vision is to lead a balanced and successful life . I know it may seems a bit general, but my idea is to make a successful corporate career , and at the same time start a family, being a good husband and eventually a good father. I know it isn’t easy nowadays, with the pressure in the workplace and the distractions around us, not to speak about climate change, pandemics, and what not. But I believe that if I approach each day with the right mindset , and with a plan, and limit distractions to minimum, I can attain my vision, and enjoy my everyday life . I see the job in your corporation as the next step on my way, and hope you will give me a chance to prove my motivation and skills.
• My vision in life is to run my own veterinary clinic one day . It seems far-fetched, considering I’m just in my early twenties and applying for a place at vet school, but it is the final goal, and the image of the clinic in my head motivates me to try hard , to prepare for the interviews, to become the best student I can be, and to overcome the obstacles I will undoubtedly face. You know, I want to work primarily with horses, and have a specific idea of the place–where it will be, the building, the staff members, the marketing. I get goosebumps talking about it , and feel fortunate to be in a position to pursue such a vision.
• My biggest vision in life is to help to stop the climate catastrophe . Now I know it won’t be easy, and that my activity–whatever it may be, will be just a drop in the ocean. Having said that, even the biggest ocean consists of drops of water, and just to contribute to stopping the global warming is motivating for me enough to pursue my career in this field, and to apply for a job in your NGO . Because I believe you make an impact, and with the right people onboard the impact can be even bigger. Actually I feel that I am on my way towards the vision already, just interviewing for a job with you. There’s nothing better than to live with purpose , and you can be sure I do not find it hard getting up from bed in the morning!
• To be honest, I am till trying to formulate my vision , to find my calling in life. As a good student and intellectually gifted person, I know I have many options. And I definitely want to identify my purpose, since down the road it will help me make the right career decisions . At the time being, however, I do not have it yet, and it is one of the reasons why I want to study business management at your college. Any organization–private or public, needs good managers and leaders. Hence whatever I decide to do with my life in the future, whatever vision I will pursue, the education at your place will only help me on my way…
• More than anything else, my vision is to live every day with purpose, and play a positive role in the lives of people I interact with . In my opinion, it doesn’t matter that much what exactly you do–be it employment, business, traveling, or even just hanging around with people. Regardless of your activity or occupation, you always have interactions with other people , and with the environment. My vision is to play a positive role in these interactions , and simply have a positive impact in this great and complicated puzzle called life. And I believe that to some extend I am already living this vision, which is the reason why I am satisfied with myself and my life.
• My vision in life is to become financially independent by the age of 40 . It doesn’t mean that I do not want to work once I reach forty. I enjoy working, but I want to be financially independent and have a freedom of choice when it comes to my daily activities and occupation . Where else can one achieve such goals than on Wall Street? I know thousands try each year and just dozens make it, but I want to be the best account executive, and I am ready to sacrifice the next five years for my job , and for eventually attaining my vision.
• My vision is to become a professional tennis player one day . This is what I wake up for, a train for hours daily. But I also realize life is not simple, and one injury can put a dent to your dreams, regardless of how hard you try. That’s why I apply for a scholarship with your college , because I want to have a great education I can fall back on, instead of relying just on my sporting career. I also want to add that regardless of how hard I try and want to become a pro, I realize that there are many meaningful walks of life. If I do not become a professional tennis player, I can still imagine myself doing a lot of other things, contributing to the society, and living a happy family life…

Ready to answer this one? I hope so! Do not forget to check also 7 sample answers to other tricky interview questions:

• What is your dream in life?
• What are your career aspirations?
• What is the most challenging goal you’ve ever set for yourself?
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Vision: How does eyesight work?

By Adam Debrowski

Vision is the ability to use your eyes to see and interpret the world around you.

Vision is a two-part process. The eyes focus on and capture an image, but the image needs to be interpreted by the brain before you can make sense of what you’re seeing.

Our sense of sight is responsible for most of the information we absorb from our five combined senses. Many of the movements we perform, tasks we complete and personal interactions we make rely on vision in some way.

Even our sleep schedules are affected by the light we see during the day.

Humans in most modern cultures hold their eyesight above all other senses. In one study , 88% of participants ranked vision as their most valued sense. Even then, it's easy to take our vision for granted. The average person develops their eyesight as a newborn and uses it throughout their life, rarely giving it much thought.

But dive into the inner workings of vision, and you’ll find that eyesight — even with its limitations — is an amazing thing.

SEE RELATED: Does Losing Your Vision Make Your Other Senses Stronger?

How vision works

The human brain is responsible for every thought we have and sense we perceive — including vision. But without the eyes, the brain would have nothing to interpret.

Eyesight starts when light meets the eyes. After that, all kinds of things are set into motion.

Vision can be best simplified into the following steps:

Nerve signals from your eyes travel along the optic nerve toward the visual cortex in your brain.

Light from an outside source, such as the sun or an artificial light, either travels directly toward you or bounces off another object, and then travels toward you.

The light traveling toward your eye passes through the cornea (the clear, outer layer in the front of the eye) and enters through the pupil (the small, black opening in the middle of each eye).

Light then passes through the eye’s natural lens , a clear, disk-shaped structure behind the pupil. Tiny muscles work together to focus light by automatically adjusting the lens. The curved lens “flips” the light upside down.

The light passes through the eye’s vitreous fluid and lands on the retina , a thin layer of tissue in the back of the eye.

Along the retina, millions of light-sensitive cells called rods and cones react to the light. The rod cells activate mostly to low light and light in your peripheral (side) vision, while cones activate to color, bright light and small details.

Nerve impulses from the rods and cones “exit” each eye through the optic nerve , and some signals cross paths at the optic chiasm . Impulses relay through a gateway called the lateral geniculate nucleus and travel toward the back of the brain.

The impulses arrive at the visual cortex , where they’re registered right side up. The brain sends this raw information to other parts of the brain, allowing you to interpret the batch of light as a meaningful image.

This process seems complicated, but the eyes and brain make it look easy — and incredibly fast.

Researchers at MIT recently discovered that the brain may be able to fully process images in as little as 13 milliseconds (about one-eightieth of a second). That’s about 10 times faster than the amount of time it takes to blink.

SEE RELATED: How far can the human eye see?

The colors of eyesight

Think of “light,” and your mind probably jumps to the glow of a lamp or glare of the midday sun.

When this light strikes an object, part of it is absorbed and part of it is reflected. When the reflected light reaches our eyes, cone cells on the retina are activated.

Humans can see up to 10 million colors, but those make up a very small slice of the electromagnetic spectrum.

Cones react to light in the form of red, green and blue signals. The brain combines these signals into the colorful image you see in front of you.

All the light you’ve ever seen is known as visible light , the portion of the electromagnetic radiation spectrum human eyes can perceive.

A dense rainbow may look vibrant to our eyes, but its colors only represent a tiny fraction of the radiation soaring around us at all times.

This is why you can see the visible light coming from the sun, but not the ultraviolet radiation that can hurt your eyes and skin. You can use an X-ray machine without seeing X-ray radiation beaming out of it. You use a cell phone without seeing the flow of radio waves going in and out.

These are all types of “invisible light.”

(Image credit: NASA)

This phenomenon is on display in many of the photos we see of distant objects in outer space. Space agencies like NASA often combine visual light with invisible radiation to develop the striking photos we’re used to.

These NASA images of the Cigar Galaxy show the difference between the light we can and cannot see.

The top image only shows the light that would be visible to our eyes. It was taken from the Hubble Space Telescope over a long period of time and slightly colorized to imitate what the galaxy would look like in real life.

It’s a stunning image by itself, but one that seems dull when compared to the one below: Visible light blended together with colorized X-rays and infrared rays.

X-ray and infrared “light” would normally be invisible to our eyes. But when it’s captured and processed, it gives us an idea of how much lies beyond our greatly limited field of vision.

SEE RELATED : Space changes your eyes in some pretty unnatural ways

Low-light vision

Humans cannot see in total darkness, but they do have night vision .

The rod cells along the retina specialize in low-light settings. They’re responsible for most of what you see when you walk around a dimly lit room or stroll outdoors after dusk. But since they don’t respond to color, night vision is mostly colorless.

Night vision isn’t a fast process in humans. After the pupils open wider to allow more light inside, it takes rod cells between five and 10 minutes to kick in. It takes them almost half an hour to completely adjust to the dark.

A lot of animals don’t have this problem.

There’s a good chance you’ve seen a bright reflection in an animal’s eyes at night or in photos. You can see it in dogs, cats and horses, in addition to wild animals like deer and raccoons.

That colorful glare is their tapetum lucidum , an iridescent layer in the backs of their eyes. It’s a handy evolutionary feature that helps them see in the dark by reflecting more light onto the retina.

But nature has its trade-offs, and daytime vision in humans tends to be sharper and more colorful than that of our four-legged friends.

Common eyesight problems

The perfect human eye focuses light neatly onto the retina in the back of the eye. But humans aren’t perfect, and minor vision problems happen all the time.

Refractive errors are very common conditions that change the way light strikes the retina. They include:

Nearsightedness : Light focuses too far in front of the retina and causes distant objects to look blurry. This usually happens because the eyeball’s shape is too long.

Farsightedness : Light focuses too far past the retina and causes near objects to look blurry. This usually happens because the eyeball’s shape is too short.

Astigmatism : Light doesn’t focus on the retina correctly because the cornea or lens is misshapen. This can cause both near and far objects to look blurry.

Presbyopia : Less flexible lenses and weaker muscles around them cause farsightedness. This happens to everyone as they get older.

Glasses and contact lenses work by changing the way light enters the eye and making it focus properly on the retina. They’re usually an easy solution for most cases of refractive error.

The absence of vision

Partial or complete blindness can occur when something interrupts a step in the vision process. Eye-related problems cause most cases of vision loss, but brain conditions and injuries can lead to blindness too.

Vision loss that starts in or around the eyes is usually the result of a problem in one of these areas:

Optic nerve

Macula (the center of the retina)

Eyeball shape

When someone experiences blindness, their brain starts to form new connections to strengthen other senses. Over time, they learn to rely on these senses to compensate for their loss of vision.

The World Health Organization states that more than half the cases of blindness worldwide are caused by cataracts , a slow clouding of the eye’s clear lens. Without surgery to replace the cloudy lens, partial vision loss can eventually lead to blindness.

Caring for our vision

The Greek philosopher Aristotle once wrote that “we prefer seeing to everything else.” Taste, smell, hearing and touch are all important parts of human perception. But more than 2,000 years later, most of us would agree with Aristotle.

To keep our vision in the best condition, we need to take care of it.

That can mean reducing eye strain with fewer digital screens and more natural sunlight. Other times, it means taking an hour out of our day for a routine check-up with an eye doctor .

By staying on top of eye health, you’re giving your retinas, lenses, rods and cones the best shot at humming along for years to come.

READ NEXT: Cat Vision and Dog Vision (or read all about animal vision here )

Page published on Monday, February 8, 2021

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22 vision statement examples to help you write your own.

When launching a startup, founders typically have an idea of what they want to achieve — a vision of what success will look like. During the strategic planning process, it’s important to put this vision into concrete terms. Not only does a vision statement clarify your thoughts, but it helps employees and stakeholders understand what the business has set out to accomplish. No matter what the business, a good mission and vision statement can inspire and motivate employees to make that vision a reality.

Whether it’s your first or fifth business, writing a compelling vision statement can be challenging. Below, we'll share how to write a vision statement — one that inspires your employees and positively impacts your business — and we'll look at a few vision statement examples to help you get started. 

What is a vision statement? 

A personal mission statement and personal vision statement can be used to guide our decision-making and help us stay focused to meet our long-term goals. Company statements are no different. A company vision statement is one of your most important business documents, along with your mission statement and core values. Although it’s easy to confuse the three, each one is unique and serves its own purpose. 

Core values are the organization’s long-term beliefs and principles that guide employee behavior. A mission statement deals with “why” an organization exists, while a vision statement outlines “what” that existence will eventually look like. A mission statement has to do with what the organization is doing in the present, while a vision statement focuses on the future. Mission statement examples include L’Oreal’s “Offering all women and men worldwide the best of cosmetics innovation in terms of quality, efficacy, and safety.” Conversely, Disney’s vision for itself is “to be one of the world’s leading producers and providers of entertainment and information.”

Primarily intended for internal employees and shareholders, a vision statement describes what an organization aspires to be. It helps to think of a vision statement as part roadmap, part inspiration. By outlining a long-term vision, rather than just short-term goals, a vision statement helps give the organization shape and purpose. 

Why it’s important to have a vision statement.

Despite the importance of a vision statement, many companies choose to operate without one. Some simply combine their mission and vision into one general document. Others do away with the idea altogether, thinking that corporate visions are vague statements that serve no actual purpose. 

Furthermore, studies show that highly aligned organizations grow revenue 58% faster, and are 72% more profitable than ones that are unaligned. If an organization doesn’t have a vision or a clear idea of what it wants, it will greatly limit its opportunities and have a difficult time inspiring employees to stay committed.  

How to write a vision statement.

Writing a vision statement may seem like a daunting task. It’s read by every employee and shareholder, and greatly impacts the success of the organization. And a vision statement takes time and thought. When done well, a vision statement can provide the encouragement your company needs to achieve its goals. To streamline the process, keep the following steps in mind while crafting your vision statement:

1. Determine who will help write your vision statement.

When starting out, it’s likely you and your partners will be responsible for writing your company’s vision statement. Once you start hiring, you can ask managers and employees to contribute additional insights. Interviewing a range of individuals will help create a vision statement that integrates and speaks directly to the entire organization. 

2. Project your goals for the future.

Imagine your company five or ten years down the line. The outcome you envision — your dream for the future, your success as a company — should be captured in the vision statement. Keep in mind that the statement should only include the vision, not an actual step-by-step plan for implementing solutions. 

The following questions can help you clarify your vision: 

• Where do we want the organization to go? 
• What can we realistically achieve?
• What problem does the organization intend to solve?
• What are the changes we believe the organization can make for individuals? For the industry? 
• How will things be different if the vision is realized?
• What phrases or keywords describe the type of organization and outcome we want?

3. Stick to the specifics.

A generic vision statement — one that sounds like it could apply to any company — will not be enough to motivate your team. Vision works best when it’s specific and describes an end goal only your organization can provide. Don’t be afraid to dream big. A lukewarm vision will only yield lukewarm results. So it’s important to be bold, and even risky, when writing your vision statement. 

4. Keep it short and simple.

While it should be specific, a vision statement shouldn’t be overly detailed. It should be concise. Start by jotting down all of your ideas, and then pare those down to the essentials. Keeping just one or two key points helps create a clear vision that’s easy for everyone to focus on and fulfill. Stay away from technical terms and jargon, and use the present tense. Rather than trying to write something catchy, aim for clarity. A great vision statement works best when it’s simple, memorable, and inspirational. 

Revisit your vision often as your company evolves.

A vision statement sets an organization’s sights on the future. However, once that future is reached, the vision needs to continue moving forward. Your vision statement is a living document, not a set of static sentences. It plays an important part in your overall strategic plan for a certain time frame. It should therefore be regularly updated to reflect your organization’s current purpose. 

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Constantly communicate your vision.

Once you have a vision statement that articulates your end goal, make sure it’s clearly communicated. A vision is more effective when your entire organization takes it to heart. Commit the proper resources and time toward realizing the vision you’ve set. This can mean investing in seminars and training or launching a new product. It can also include offering the lowest possible prices, entering new markets, or exploring other areas of opportunity. A good way to help everyone align with a company's vision statement is by inviting them into the process. Ask for employees’ input, and suggest ways to incorporate the vision into their work. Then, make sure to recognize or reward individuals for their standout contributions.

Vision statement examples.

Sometimes, seeing what works for notable companies is just the inspiration you need to create your own vision statement. Below are some inspiring vision statements from today’s top companies:

Concept-based vision statements.

Some vision statements are based on concepts of what the company hopes to be or achieve in the future. This can be a general statement focused on customers, or a position the company wants to hold within the industry. Below are a few examples of concept-based vision statements:

• BBC: “To be the most creative organization in the world”
• Disney: “To make people happy.”
• Google: “To provide access to the world’s information in one click”
• IKEA: “To create a better everyday life for the many people”
• Instagram: “Capture and share the world’s moments”
• LinkedIn: "Create economic opportunity for every member of the global workforce”
• Microsoft: “To help people throughout the world realize their full potential”
• Nike: “To bring inspiration and innovation to every athlete in the world”
• Oxfam: “A just world without poverty”
• Shopify: “To make commerce better for everyone”
• Sony: "To be a company that inspires and fulfills your curiosity.”
• TED: “Spread ideas”
• Tesla: “To accelerate the world’s transition to sustainable energy”
• Uber: “We ignite opportunity by setting the world in motion”
• Whole Foods : “To nourish people and the planet.”

Quality-based vision statements.

Other common vision statements are focused on internal goals. These include the type of products and services the company hopes to provide as they grow. Quality-based vision statements can also relate to company culture and operations. The following are some examples from actual United States companies in different industries:

• Amazon: “Our vision is to be earth’s most customer-centric company, where customers can find and discover anything they might want to buy online.”
• Avon: “ To be the company that best understands and satisfies the product, service, and self-fulfillment needs of women—globally.”
• Ben & Jerry’s: “Making the best ice cream in the nicest possible way”
• Ford: “People working together as a lean, global enterprise to make people’s lives better through automotive and mobility leadership.” 
• IBM: “To be the world’s most successful and important information technology company. Successful in helping our customers apply technology to solve their problems. Successful in introducing this extraordinary technology to new customers. Important because we will continue to be the basic resource of much of what is invested in this industry.”
• McDonald’s: “To move with velocity to drive profitable growth and become an even better McDonald’s serving more customers delicious food each day around the world.”
• Nordstrom: “To serve our customers better, to always be relevant in their lives, and to form lifelong relationships”
• Starbucks: “To establish Starbucks as the premier purveyor of the finest coffee in the world while maintaining our uncompromising principles while we grow.” 
• Warby Parker: “We believe that buying glasses should be easy and fun. It should leave you happy and good-looking, with money in your pocket. We also believe that everyone has the right to see.”
• Zappos: “To provide the best customer service possible. Deliver 'WOW' through service”

Keep a clear vision.

Even if it’s just a few sentences, a vision statement provides a lot of value. Not only does it outline the company’s desired outcome, but it can communicate intentions and hopes for the future. The best part is that a vision statement changes with your organization. When a vision is reached or updated, it’s time to create a new vision statement. This encourages everyone toward greater goals, and opens your company to more possibilities.

Ready to bring your vision to life? Brex can help.

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• What a cataract looks like

A cataract occurs when the lens of your eye becomes cloudy. Eventually, a cataract can become like the one shown in this person's right eye.

• How a cataract affects your vision

Clear vision, like on the left, becomes blurred as a cataract forms, like on the right.

A cataract is a clouding of the lens of the eye, which is typically clear. For people who have cataracts, seeing through cloudy lenses is like looking through a frosty or fogged-up window. Clouded vision caused by cataracts can make it more difficult to read, drive a car at night or see the expression on a friend's face.

Most cataracts develop slowly and don't disturb eyesight early on. But with time, cataracts will eventually affect vision.

At first, stronger lighting and eyeglasses can help deal with cataracts. But if impaired vision affects usual activities, cataract surgery might be needed. Fortunately, cataract surgery is generally a safe, effective procedure.

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Symptoms of cataracts include:

• Clouded, blurred or dim vision.
• Trouble seeing at night.
• Sensitivity to light and glare.
• Need for brighter light for reading and other activities.
• Seeing "halos" around lights.
• Frequent changes in eyeglass or contact lens prescription.
• Fading or yellowing of colors.
• Double vision in one eye.

At first, the cloudiness in your vision caused by a cataract may affect only a small part of the eye's lens. You may not notice any vision loss. As the cataract grows larger, it clouds more of your lens. More clouding changes the light passing through the lens. This may lead to symptoms you notice more.

When to see a doctor

Make an appointment for an eye exam if you notice any changes in your vision. If you develop sudden vision changes, such as double vision or flashes of light, sudden eye pain, or a sudden headache, see a member of your health care team right away.

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Most cataracts develop when aging or injury changes the tissue that makes up the eye's lens. Proteins and fibers in the lens begin to break down. This causes vision to become hazy or cloudy.

Some disorders passed down from parents that cause other health problems can increase your risk of cataracts. Cataracts also can be caused by other eye conditions, past eye surgery or medical conditions such as diabetes. Long-term use of steroid medicines also may cause cataracts to develop.

How a cataract forms

A cataract is a cloudy lens. The lens sits behind the colored part of your eye, called the iris. The lens focuses light that passes into your eye. This produces clear, sharp images on the back part of the eye, called the retina.

As you age, the lenses in your eyes become less flexible, less clear and thicker. Aging and some medical conditions can cause proteins and fibers within the lenses to break down and clump together. This is what causes the clouding in the lenses.

As the cataract grows, the clouding becomes worse. A cataract scatters and blocks the light as it passes through the lens. This prevents a sharply defined image from reaching your retina. As a result, your vision becomes blurred.

Cataracts usually happen in both eyes, but not always at the same rate. The cataract in one eye may be worse than the other. This causes a difference in vision between eyes.

Types of cataracts

Cataract types include:

• Cataracts affecting the center of the lens, called nuclear cataracts. A nuclear cataract may at first cause objects far away to be blurry but objects up close to look clear. A nuclear cataract may even improve your reading vision for a short time. But with time, the lens slowly turns more yellow or brown and makes your vision worse. It may become difficult to tell colors apart.
• Cataracts that affect the edges of the lens, called cortical cataracts. A cortical cataract begins as white, wedge-shaped spots or streaks on the outer edge of the lens cortex. As the cataract slowly grows, the streaks spread to the center and affect light passing through the lens.
• Cataracts that affect the back of the lens, called posterior subcapsular cataracts. A posterior subcapsular cataract starts as a small spot that usually forms near the back of the lens, right in the path of light. A posterior subcapsular cataract often affects your reading vision. It also may reduce your vision in bright light and cause glare or halos around lights at night. These types of cataracts tend to grow faster than others.

Cataracts you're born with, called congenital cataracts. Some people are born with cataracts or develop them during childhood. These cataracts may be passed down from parents. They also may be associated with an infection or trauma while in the womb.

These cataracts also may be due to certain conditions. These may include myotonic dystrophy, galactosemia, neurofibromatosis type 2 or rubella. Congenital cataracts don't always affect vision. If they do, they're usually removed soon after they're found.

Risk factors

Factors that increase your risk of cataracts include:

• Increasing age.
• Getting too much sunlight.
• Family history of cataracts.
• Previous eye injury or inflammation.
• Previous eye surgery.
• Prolonged use of corticosteroid medicines.
• Drinking excessive amounts of alcohol.

No studies have proved how to prevent or slow the growth of cataracts. But health care professionals think several strategies may be helpful, including:

• Regular eye exams. Eye exams can help detect cataracts and other eye problems at their earliest stages. Ask your health care team how often you should have an eye examination.
• Do not smoke. Ask a member of your health care team how to stop smoking. Medicines, counseling and other strategies are available to help you.
• Manage other health problems. Follow your treatment plan if you have diabetes or other medical conditions that can increase your risk of cataracts.

Choose a healthy diet that includes plenty of fruits and vegetables. Adding fruits and vegetables to your diet ensures that you're getting many vitamins and nutrients. Fruits and vegetables have antioxidants. Antioxidants help maintain the health of your eyes.

Studies haven't proved that antioxidants in pill form can prevent cataracts. But a large population study recently showed that a healthy diet rich in vitamins and minerals reduced the risk of developing cataracts. Fruits and vegetables have many proven health benefits. Eating them is a safe way to get enough minerals and vitamins in your diet.

• Wear sunglasses. Ultraviolet light from the sun may cause cataracts. Wear sunglasses that block ultraviolet B rays when you're outdoors.
• Reduce alcohol use. Drinking too much alcohol can increase the risk of cataracts.
• Cataract. Merck Manual Professional Version. https://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/eye-disorders/cataract/cataract?query=cataract#. Accessed April 17, 2023.
• AskMayoExpert. Cataracts. Mayo Clinic; 2022.
• Cataract. American Optometric Association. https://www.aoa.org/healthy-eyes/eye-and-vision-conditions/cataract?sso=y. Accessed April 17, 2023.
• Jacobs DS. Cataract in adults. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed April 19, 2023.
• Cataracts. National Eye Institute. https://www.nei.nih.gov/learn-about-eye-health/eye-conditions-and-diseases/cataracts. Accessed April 19, 2023.
• Cataract in the adult eye PPP. American Academy of Ophthalmology. https://www.aao.org/education/preferred-practice-pattern/cataract-in-adult-eye-ppp-2021-in-press. Accessed April 19, 2023.
• Causes of cataracts. National Eye Institute. https://www.nei.nih.gov/learn-about-eye-health/eye-conditions-and-diseases/cataracts/causes-cataracts. Accessed April 19, 2023.

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Apple Vision Pro Customer Interest Dying Down at Some Retail Stores

Apple Vision Pro , Apple's $3,500 spatial computing device, appears to be following a pattern familiar to the AR/VR headset industry – initial enthusiasm giving way to a significant dip in sustained interest and usage.

Demand for demos is way down. People who do book appointments often don't show up, and sales — at least at some locations — have gone from a couple of units a day to just a handful in a whole week. Apple also has had to step up the marketing on its online homepage. There's a huge promo for the Vision Pro at the top of the website — the most aggressive pitch since the device went on sale in early February.

The trend that ‌Apple Vision Pro‌ appears to be following is less likely to be a retail anomaly, and more indicative of a broader issue that has plagued VR technology from its inception: Maintaining user engagement after the initial novelty wears off.

Gurman offers his personal experience of Apple's headset as a microcosm of what he suspects is a wider user trend. His own usage has decreased from daily interactions to just once or twice a week. A significant barrier to more frequent use, he says, is a setup that involves attaching batteries, booting up, and navigating a complex interface, which makes traditional devices like laptops and smartphones more appealing for regular tasks.

Gurman also blames the Vision Pro's lack of a "killer app" and compelling content for further diminishing the headset's appeal. He notes that it feels better suited to solitary activities – say, on a long flight or while working from home – rather than for use in social situations or around co-workers.

It seems Apple still has a considerable task ahead in evolving the Vision Pro into a device that redefines everyday technology use. In the meantime, several bugs that initially plagued visionOS have been resolved, although many of Apple's own apps are still not optimized for the device's operating system.

In the last ‌visionOS‌ update, Apple added Spatial Personas , which make it feel like you are in the same virtual room as another Vision Pro user. Spatial Personas can be used for watching movies and TV shows together, FaceTime and other video calls, using apps like Freeform, playing games, and more. However, the feature needs other Vision Pro owners to appreciate it, and as Gurman notes, they are still few and far between.

Apple is expected to produce fewer than 400,000 Vision Pro headsets in 2024 due to the complexity of manufacturing, according to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo . However, Apple is said to be already working on a new version of the ‌Apple Vision Pro‌ for 2025 that will be priced more affordably . Meanwhile, the first incarnation of the headset is expected to arrive in additional countries later this year.

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9th Annual JIT FORE Vision Charity Golf Tournament held

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - People from across the Coastal Empire and Lowcountry were out at the Landings Monday, lending their clubs to a special cause.

The 9th Annual JIT FORE Vision Charity Golf Tournament was held.

The competition was hosted by JIT Warehousing and Logistics and raises money to make a difference in the lives of people who are blind or visually impaired.

Organizers say it’s an event they are blessed to put together each year.

The money raised through this event will go to the Savannah Center for Blind and Low Vision, helping to give vision rehabilitation to people of all ages.

Copyright 2024 WTOC. All rights reserved.

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Restoring sight is possible now with optogenetics

People suffering from macular degeneration, along with other diseases that impair sight, may soon benefit from gene therapy

As a child, Max Hodak learned to develop film in a darkroom with his late grandfather who was almost blind.

Hodak’s grandfather had retinitis pigmentosa, a congenital disease that affects one out of every 5,000 people — more than 2 million worldwide. Most people with the condition are born with their sight intact. Over time they lose peripheral vision first, then central vision, and finally, their sight, sometimes as early as middle age.

“He clearly had this career and was a photographer, and I saw that,” Hodak said of his grandfather, who became an aerospace engineer and briefly worked on heat shields for spacecraft. “But most of my memories as a kid was that he was pretty profoundly blind.”

Possible solutions, though, are within reach. Science, a start-up company in Alameda, Calif., has designed a visual prosthesis called the Science Eye which could restore vision, albeit in a limited form, in people with retinitis pigmentosa. Hodak, its CEO, co-founded the startup after a stint at Elon Musk’s company Neuralink. Other companies such as Paris-based biotechnology company GenSight Biologics and Bionic Sight in New York are also experimenting with methods to restore sight.

All are basing their work on a research tool in neuroscience called optogenetics, a form of gene therapy that delivers proteins called opsins via injection into the eye to boost the light sensitivity of cells in the retina, the layer of tissue at the rear of the eyeball.

Therapeutic optogenetic therapy for vision restoration certainly has promise, according to Anand Swaroop, a senior investigator at the National Eye Institute in Bethesda, Md., who has worked on inherited retinal degeneration for close to four decades. But there’s still room for improvement.

“At least at this stage, it seems to be very good in cases where someone is completely blind,” Swaroop said. “You should be able to find your way around. You’re not going to bump into things, which is great. But you’re not going to be distinguishing many different features.”

How optogenetics work

In normal vision, light enters the eye through the lens and forms an image on the retina. The retina itself is composed of several different types of cells, mainly photoreceptors. Photoreceptors are light-sensing cells shaped like rods and cones that contain opsins. Normally, photoreceptors convert light into electrical signals that travel to the retina’s ganglion cells, which in turn transmit those electrical signals via the optic nerve into the brain. That’s how you’re reading the words on this page right now.

In retinitis pigmentosa, the rods and cones in the photoreceptors break down and ultimately die. First the peripheral vision goes, and people develop tunnel vision: They have to turn their whole head just to view the world around them. Many people with tunnel vision require a cane to assist in navigating the world (and to avoid bumping into things, like furniture.) Blindness follows not long after. The breakdown of the photoreceptors, however, doesn’t diminish the brain’s ability to process electrical signals — and, critically, the ganglion cells remain intact.

Optogenetics seeks to circumvent the usual choreography by delivering opsin proteins directly to the ganglion cells, meaning they can be stimulated by light in order to send signals to the brain.

The Science Eye contains two elements. The first is an implant composed of a wireless power coil and an ultrathin, flexible micro-LED array that’s applied directly over the retina — surgery that’s more extensive compared to other eye procedures like repairing cataracts. According to Hodak, the array — prototypes of which are being tested in rabbits — provides eight times the resolution of an iPhone screen.

The second element is a pair of frameless glasses, similar in size and shape to regular prescription glasses, that contain miniature infrared cameras and inductive power coils.

Put it all together and the process looks like this:

Inject opsins into the ganglion cells of the eye.

Install the implant.

The glasses activate the modified ganglion cells by wirelessly communicating information from the visual world; in turn, the new light-sensitive ganglion cells transmit that information through the optic nerve to the brain.

The eye isn’t receiving an image anymore, but rather digital information. And the results?

“You should be able to walk across town to buy a sandwich without being hit by a car,” Hodak said.

More research into retinitis pigmentosa

Other companies are already helping to bring back vision in people with retinitis pigmentosa.

GenSight Biologics uses an optogenetics-plus-glasses approach to amplify light that genetically edited ganglion cells can decode. According to clinical trial results published in 2021 in the journal Nature Medicine, GenSight’s method was able to help in locating objects on a table. That patient, a 58-year-old man, was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa at age 18.

Innovations

Bionic Sight has firsthand experience with patients beginning to make distinctions between features. Its method involves a gene-therapy vector that transfers an opsin called Chronos via injection into the eyes of their patients to boost the light sensitivity of intact ganglion cells. For those with tunnel vision, the injection of the opsin seems to be enough.

For patients with more impaired vision, Bionic Sight pairs the optogenetic therapy with a pair of goggles containing a camera and a neurocoding device: The camera takes in images and converts them to code, which is then sent out as light pulses to activate the opsin in the genetically modified ganglion cells. So far Bionic Sight has treated 13 people, ranging from the very blind to patients with tunnel vision.

“It’s really significantly helping,” said Sheila Nirenberg, founder of Bionic Sight as well as a professor of computational neuroscience at Weill Cornell Medical College.

Consider the large letter “E” on the eye chart you might examine during a visit to the doctor’s office. The visual acuity of a person who is nearly blind is 20/200: What someone with 20/20 vision is able to see at 200 feet away is only visible at 20 feet away to someone who is nearly blind.

Many of her patients with retinitis pigmentosa, Nirenberg said, can’t see a letter like the big “E” from just two feet away. But one patient whose visual acuity was 20/150 — he had to stand 20 feet away from the chart in order to see the letters, whereas a normally-sighted person could stand 150 feet away and see the same letters — is now down to 20/40. Another patient was unable to distinguish the suits on playing cards. After receiving the opsin, the patient was not only able to tell the difference between clubs and diamonds, for instance, but he was also able to notice the differences in color.

Another challenge had him trying to spot differences between plastic fruits arranged in front of him. He was able to spot the stem of the apple to tell it apart from oranges and peaches. Finally, he was asked to walk a maze with black squares on the bottom — and made it through successfully.

“I can’t explain to you how thrilling it is,” Nirenberg said. “It’s very hopeful.”

One form of gene therapy for treating blindness has been available for over five years. Luxturna, a prescription approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2017, is for children and adults with a rare genetic mutation that impacts the retinal pigment epithelium, the membrane at the back of the retina on which the photoreceptors sit. The prescription adds in a functional version of the gene to create an epithelium more favorable to the photoreceptors.

“It might slow the progression of the disease,” Hodak said. “But it does not regenerate any loss.”

That, ultimately, is the goal of Science Eye. Clinical trials should begin, Hodak said, sometime in the next 18 months. The company is also looking at ways to use Science Eye to help people with dry age-related macular degeneration, which unfolds slightly differently compared with retinitis pigmentosa: Patients lose central, high-resolution vision first, and then their peripheral vision.

There are milestones to cross for every company using optogenetics to help people improve their eyesight. More patients enrolled in clinical trials should help refine both opsin delivery and the ability to improve light sensitivity in retinal cells. But Hodak predicts that over the next five years, there will be products on the market for people like his grandfather.

“You always have to be really careful with what you say to patients because they’re holding on for any piece of hope,” Hodak said. “But there’s a lot of things on the horizon that are converging. It’s not at a point where any one thing will fail and derail the whole field. Real progress is coming.”

About this story

Bionic Eye illustrations by Washington Post; Science. Editing by Bronwen Latimer. Copy editing by Paola Ruano. Design and development by Audrey Valbuena. Design editing by Betty Chavarria. Photo editing by Haley Hamblin. Project development by Evan Bretos and Hope Corrigan. Project editing by Marian Chia-Ming Liu.

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Why Global Demand Is Soaring For Groundbreaking DJ-Producer Peggy Gou: ‘I Worked Hard To Have a Glamorous Life’

The self-possessed (and self-managed) South Korea-born, Berlin-based electronic artist is building a booming business with her uncompromising vision.

By Katie Bain

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On a hulking gray building on a wide boulevard once bisected by the Berlin Wall, a silver call button grants access to an expansive, shadowy, unfurnished foyer. Ascend a winding set of stairs and open the door at the top, and you’ll find the office of the CEO: South Korea-born Peggy Gou , who has swiftly become the world’s most in-demand female DJ-producer working in dance music today.

Peggy Gou: Photos From the Billboard Cover Shoot

Trending on billboard.

A Korean woman in a scene dominated by white men, Gou, 32, has orchestrated her own dizzying rise, immersing herself in Berlin’s electronic scene upon moving here 10 years ago, then ascending to white-hot producer/fashion tastemaker thanks to last summer’s viral single, and her first Billboard chart hit, “It Goes Like (Nanana).” This new ubiquity — ever-higher billing at the world’s major music festivals, a German Vogue cover, a 2024 BRIT Award nomination for international song of the year — has neatly teed up Gou’s debut album, I Hear You , coming June 7 through eminent indie label XL Recordings.

“I remember meeting managers who told me, ‘I can make your life easier,’ ” Gou recalls. “I was like, ‘How? Tell me.’ Even if you take care of all these emails, you still have to come back to me because no one can make decisions for me. Every decision has to come from me.”

These decisions have produced an expansive business that includes heavy touring; A-list brand deals; her label, Gudu Records; and a merchandise line, Peggy Goods. With strong fan bases across continents, Gou will next be raising her profile even more in the United States ahead of and beyond I Hear You ’s release.

“Because Peggy has such an incredible touring footprint globally,” XL Recordings head of U.S. campaigns Laura Lyons says, “in the U.S., we’re in a position where, because we haven’t historically had her in the market as much, we need to build on the moments when she’s here in person and also translate the excitement of an international, globe-­trotting DJ to the local market.”

One week and 6,000 miles later, the odds will look clearly in Gou’s favor.

The first time Gou played Coachella, in 2018, the line to get into her show wrapped around the at-capacity Yuma Tent where she was performing at three in the afternoon. “Even one person not being able to see my set, that upsets me,” she says. “So I was like, ‘Maybe next time, I play a bigger stage.’ ”

On the first night of the 2024 festival, that “maybe” has become a firm “for sure.” Gou presides over the Sahara Tent — Coachella’s biggest and most established dance music mecca — from atop a towering stage as an emoji version of herself smiles at the audience from massive LED screens. With the newly expanded Sahara Tent stretching 320 feet, not including spillover — almost a football field long — it’s likely Gou’s crowd is the largest ever assembled to see a female producer in Coachella history. (After the set, she shares Instagram Stories of herself backstage hanging with J Balvin, getting chummy with Will Smith and then getting a burger from an In-N-Out somewhere in the ­Coachella Valley.)

That might be anathema to some purists, particularly those steeped in the techno-as-religion culture of Berlin. But Gou has been able to maintain her underground cred even while blowing up. The early-April screening of the music video for I Hear You ’s third single, “1+1=11,” happened at a smoky Berlin club where the techno went until 3 a.m. on a Wednesday, and her friend group includes revered producers like Four Tet and Floating Points, whom she was recently hanging with in Mexico City. “I love those guys,” she says. “So nerdy. Like, ‘Guys, stop talking about how fat your drum is.’ ”

I suggest to Gou that her underground pedigree, paired with a forthcoming debut album that’s refreshingly accessible, might make her uniquely well-suited for the United States, where the so-called “underground” styles of house and techno have become the scene’s prevailing commercial forces in the live space. For her, that idea is beside the point. “Some people are like, ‘She’s really underground,’ or ‘She’s commercial,’ ” Gou says. “I don’t care. I’m just going to keep doing my thing and you can say what you want.”

Growing up in South Korea’s third-most populous city, Incheon — where she was born Kim Min-ji — Gou listened to “sh-t,” “good music” and “everything.” She lived in the shadow of her older brother, who’s “like super genius, one of the crazy Mensa IQ people.” Meanwhile, “Study wasn’t my thing. I was kind of rebel. So if you tell me to stay here, I will not stay there. If you tell me to go, I will stay. I didn’t like people telling me what to do even from when I was a kid.”

By 2016, she was making her own music, and by 2018, revered dance label Ninja Tune was releasing it. She started her own Gudu Records in 2019; that same year, she released the groovy house track “Starry Night,” which featured her singing in Korean and became a dance world hit.

All the while, she was touring. As her own manager, “I was the only person who was pushing me,” she says. “I didn’t need to be there. I didn’t have to do that. I think I got hyped. I got too excited about the shows and getting many shows.” In 2019, she played in 25 countries, including some, like Lebanon, Egypt and Saudi Arabia, that are far from the well-trod dance world circuit.

“Imagine a bullet train,” Gou says, speaking rapidly. “This was me in 2019. When it stopped, it didn’t stop slowly; it had to stop super fast.”

When the pandemic started, she returned to South Korea and spent three months at home — the longest amount of time she had been with her family since she was 14. She recharged even as life in South Korea — which introduced what many considered one of the world’s best COVID-19 control programs — continued without large-scale lockdowns. (“Asian culture is different because when you have a flu, you wear a mask,” she says, “so it was not that difficult for Asian people to keep the rules.”)

She kept working upon her return to Berlin in mid-2020, finding that the ’90s dance music she was listening to during the pandemic had “changed my taste.” While she had been making her debut album for a while, she decided to make ’90s dance the center of the project, evident in the interplay of the bass and chimes on a track like “Lobster Telephone,” which sounds like it’s sprinkled with powdered sugar. The “It Goes Like (Nanana)” bassline is pure Jock Jams — the 1995 compilation that introduced a generation of suburban adolescents to dance music — and has helped the song aggregate 72.2 million on-demand official U.S. streams and 565.3 million on-demand official global streams to date, according to Luminate. Altogether, the album, on which she sings in both Korean and English, is dance music distilled down to its most polished essentials — and you don’t have to be a hardcore fan of the genre to get into it.

The sonic opposite of EDM maximalism, I Hear You may very well represent the future of main-stage electronic music. “In my career, I never once thought, ‘I’m on the next level now,’ ” she says. “Only when ‘Nanana’ happened did I realize that people were recognizing my song before my face. That’s when I really realized, ‘F–k, this is different.’ ”

“For [“It Goes Like”] to become this global song of the summer and be Peggy’s first song to hit No. 1 on the U.S. dance radio charts was just such a fantastic tone-setter for this album,” Lyons adds, “and for what we believe she’s capable of achieving in the U.S.”

If you’re Peggy Gou, it’s entirely possible that the person seated across from you at Thanksgiving dinner may turn out to be Lenny Kravitz — which was exactly the case when, in 2022, she went to a friend’s house in Miami for the holiday.

“He had absolutely no idea who I was,” Gou recalls. “The only thing I could mention was that I did [two songs] for [his daughter] Zoë’s movie [ The Batman ].” It was a solid in. The pair talked over turkey, and her friend told Kravitz to check out Gou’s music. Not long after, Kravitz asked if she wanted to collaborate.

She sent Kravitz a track — a song that she had struggled to find a singer for after artists including The Weeknd and Giveon turned it down — and heard nothing back. “So I decided to go to the Bahamas,” where Kravitz lives, she says. “My friend was like, ‘You want to have Lenny Kravitz on your album? F–king book your flight, go there and get it.’ ” There was, Gou says, some “opinion clash” during the recording process, as “I’m a perfectionist and he’s perfectionist.” She adds with a smile, however, that Kravitz did ultimately tell her she was right about a part of the song they had disagreed on. Their slinky “I Believe in Love Again,” the second I Hear You single, arrived in November.

Gou’s single-minded professional chess moves manifested her deal with XL in the first place, years after she reached out to the label about an internship back when she was a student in London. XL didn’t respond then, but it got in touch after the success of her 2018 single “It Makes You Forget (Itgehane).” “I did make a joke,” she says of her first meeting with XL, “like, ‘Check your inbox.’ ”

XL also most likely enjoys working with a talent who’s changing the face of electronic music simply by being one of the most popular artists making it. “As incredible as it is to see a Korean woman occupy this space in dance music culture,” says Lyons, who herself is Asian American, “it’s not the reason why I’m excited by her.”

While a new level of streaming and chart success would be a nice outcome for I Hear You , to Gou, they’re “very 1D hopes.” She’ll consider the album a success if people listen to it and — she puts a hand over her heart — “get a feeling.”

The feelings are clearly being felt at Coachella, where people in the crowd — many of them, like Gou, also wearing sunglasses though the sun set long ago — are flailing around, arms in the air and dreamy smiles on their faces. A crew of six dancers pop and lock, vogue and gyrate onstage. Gou will take this show on the road this summer for a run that includes European festivals like Primavera Sound, Glastonbury and Creamfields. In August, she’s hosting and headlining her own one-day mini-fest at London’s Gunnersbury Park; the show’s 8,000 tickets sold out within days of going on sale.

Unlike her early years of touring alone, Gou now travels with her tour manager and a road assistant or two. She “doesn’t always fly private,” but says the primary appeal of a private jet is a preference for efficiency that she says is part of her heritage: “I’m someone who [doesn’t] like wasting my time. I’m very efficient. I think that’s from Korean culture. Efficiencies are very important in Korea.”

These days, Gou’s team also includes a security detail, as she has experienced stalkers and people “waiting at the hotel or waiting at the airport for 10 hours.” She “can’t go to Italy alone” and brings two security guards to Argentina where the crowd is “quite wild.” She recalls spending the entirety of a commercial flight to Ibiza facing the window after half the plane recognized her while boarding. “I was like, ‘My neck,’ ” she says with a laugh, feigning pain. “It’s nice, but sometimes it gets a lot for me.”

“She can see 100 meters ahead in the airport. She notices the colors of things, remembers what people are wearing and is just super, super sensitive,” her touring manager says, “especially when there’s a lot of people around.”

But her skin has gotten thicker as her career has grown. “In the beginning, I remember [people saying], ‘You will never be bigger than this person. No one’s going to buy your record. No one knows your name.’ I heard these things so many times.”

The criticisms “used to really affect me,” Gou continues. “I used to want to scream, like, ‘That’s not f–king true.’ ” But as time went on, she realized she was the reason her feelings were getting so hurt. “I was not happy,” she says of her pre-pandemic life. “I was so focused and tunnel-visioned. My relationship with boyfriend wasn’t doing well. Friends, workwise — nothing was happy. I learned a lot about myself during the pandemic.” Learning to listen first and react later has been huge for her. It’s why she’s wearing a mirrored headpiece that reflects her ears on her album cover and why she named the project I Hear You .

Dressing in brightly colored, flowing sets and racing gear helped her catch the attention of top fashion houses like Louis Vuitton, with which she has had two partnerships. She was good friends with late DJ-designer Virgil Abloh; after his 2021 death, she posted on Instagram that “I will forever be grateful that in the infancy of my career, Virgil showed support at a time when not many others would.” Her own Peggy Goods line creates custom merch for each of her shows; at the “1+1=11” music video screening party, more than one person wears a bomber jacket with the song’s title embroidered on the back.

Gou documents the fabulousness of it all on her Instagram, which has 4.1 million followers and which — yes — she runs herself. To her, the account is a natural evolution of her old Tumblr, where she would post photos of her outfits, meals and outings. She uses the same approach now on Instagram — except the outfits are by Ferragamo, the meals are on a beach in Ibiza and the outings are playing for tens of thousands of people screaming her name. Her glamorous aesthetic, and the size of her audience, has yielded deals with brands including Don Julio, Coca-Cola and Maybelline.

Like most anyone who has achieved major success and its attendant visibility, people still give Gou sh-t. But in a true boss move, she has come to enjoy it.

“Now when I hear criticism, it means I’m doing super well,” she says. “So go ahead: Say my name.”

This story will appear in the April 27, 2024, issue of Billboard.

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2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson odds: Our long-shot pick eyes his second PGA Tour win

C.T. Pan is our long-shot pick to win in Texas.

Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

The PGA Tour returns to Texas and to a traditional tournament format with this week’s 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson, and we’re picking a long shot who nearly took home the title last year. Here’s our long-shot pick, the CJ Cup Byron Nelson odds, betting favorites and everything else you need to know.

CJ Cup Byron Nelson odds: Long-shot bet

For this week’s newly named CJ Cup Byron Nelson, we’re picking PGA Tour veteran C.T. Pan to beat the odds and come out on top. Pan’s odds to win to start the week sit at +10000.

Pan is a former top-50 golfer in the world, capable of winning any time he tees it up. He proved that at the 2019 RBC Heritage , which he won to earn his only Tour victory.

Tour Confidential: U.S. Ryder Cup captain, PGA Tour payouts, Zurich format

So far this season, Pan has only managed one top 10, but it was a good one: a T3-finish at the Mexico Open. Most intriguingly for our purposes is the fact that Pan finished solo 4th at last year’s Byron Nelson, just two shots short of winner Jason Day’s 23-under total.

If you put $10 on Pan to win and he comes through, you’ll earn $1,000. For insurance, consider placing additional small bets on Pan to finish top 10 and top 20.

Looking for more long-shot bets for the CJ Cup Byron Nelson? This week’s honorable mentions are Adam Schenk (+5000) and Kevin Yu (+9000).

CJ Cup Byron Nelson odds: The favorites

Leading the Byron Nelson field as the pre-tournament betting favorite is three-time major champion Jordan Spieth , who comes into the week with +1400 odds.

He’s followed by Alex Noren at +1800, and three players are tied at +2000, including Adam Scott , Si Woo Kim and defending champion Jason Day .

You can see the top 15 in CJ Cup Byron Nelson betting odds as of Monday morning below or head over to BetMGM to see the full list of odds and bets for this week.

2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson betting odds (Top 15 and ties)

Jordan Spieth (+1400) Alex Noren (+1800) Adam Scott (+2000) Jason Day (+2000) Si Woo Kim (+2000) Will Zalatoris (+2200) Sungjae Im (+2500) Byeong Hun An (+2800) Tom Kim (+2800) Keith Mitchell (+3300) Min Woo Lee (+3300) Stephan Jaeger (+3300) Tom Hoge (+3300) Thomas Detry (+4000) K.H. Lee (+4500) Mackenzie Hughes (+4500)

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Meta Quest's OS is coming to other headsets, including one from Xbox

• Meta is aiming to be the Windows of virtual reality by licensing Meta Horizon OS to other headset makers.
• Horizon OS combines Meta's VR technologies and social software in one package.
• Asus ROG and Lenovo are developing hardware that uses the OS focused on gaming and productivity, respectively.

Meta is making a big play to become the Windows of virtual and mixed reality. The company announced that it's making the operating system that's powering the Quest 3 available for other headset makers to use, and any headset that uses the newly rebranded "Meta Horizon OS" will have access to the Quest's app store and Meta's VR social app, Meta Horizon Worlds . As part of its announcement, Meta also shared that Asus Republic of Gamers (ROG), Lenovo, and Xbox are working on headsets that will use Meta Horizon OS, targeting specific use-cases like high performance gaming or productivity.

Meta believes it offers a VR experience that's more flexible, affordable, and plays nice with open standards, in a way that Apple's $3,500 just doesn't.

The best VR headsets: Expert tested and reviewed

Meta has been positioning itself as the Windows to Apple's macOS basically since the Vision Pro headset was announced. Meta believes it offers a VR experience that's more flexible, affordable, and plays nice with open standards, in a way that Apple's $3,500 just doesn't. Making the Quest's underlying software available for other companies to use just makes the comparison even more apt. The details of what using Meta Horizon OS will entail and just what kind of headsets Asus, Lenovo, and Xbox are planning is where things get interesting, though.

"A computing platform built around people and connection"

Per Meta's blog post, Horizon OS combines the full stack of technologies Meta's developed over the last decade, like high-resolution video passthrough, inside-out tracking, spatial anchors, and eye, hand, face, and body tracking with "a suite of features that put social presence at the center of the platform."

Meta's taking care of both the bread and butter features you need in a standalone mixed reality headset and the connective tissue like it's virtual avatar system and Horizon Worlds to make everything more seamless. According to the company, Meta Horizon OS devices will even use the same companion app for managing apps as the Quest 3 uses.

Meta is also introducing 'a new spatial app framework' with the hopes of getting developers to convert their 2D apps into mixed reality apps to use in passthrough mode, not unlike the Vision Pro.

As part of this process of opening up Meta Horizon OS, it's also getting easier to get apps on the Meta Horizon Store (formerly the Quest Store). Meta is still curating its app marketplace, but the App Lab, a separate distribution platform for experimental or in-development apps, is being combined with the existing store, so as soon as a developer's app "meets basic technical and content requirements," it can be distributed.

Meta is also introducing "a new spatial app framework" with the hopes of getting developers to convert their 2D apps into mixed reality apps to use in passthrough mode, not unlike the Vision Pro.

7 wild OpenAI Sora results from early access testers

What are asus rog, lenovo, and xbox building.

To show that partners are already excited about using Meta Horizon OS, Meta also says that Asus ROG, Lenovo, and Xbox are working on hardware in one capacity or another. There's a serious lack of details, but the fact Meta notes that Horizon OS headsets will be able to take advantage of all the optimizations and "custom software enhancements" the company has made for Qualcomm's Snapdragon chips suggests some of them could use Qualcomm hardware.

Meta describes the upcoming headset from Asus's Republic of Gamers as a "performance gaming headset." Virtual and mixed reality gaming is often associated with being strapped to a gaming PC, but it seems likely Asus' device will also be great for games when it's not hooked up. Maybe the Asus headset will offer better internal displays, more powerful chips, or immersive controllers.

Meta says Lenovo is developing mixed reality hardware and experiences designed for "productivity, learning, and entertainment." That could be headsets specifically designed for wireless connecting to your laptop and showing virtual displays, teleconferencing, or any of the other use-cases being explored by current headset makers. It feels like a safe bet that Lenovo wants to create a virtual display experience that's as seamless as the Vision Pro's is with a MacBook.

Unfortunately, Xbox isn't creating its own hardware from scratch and instead collaborating with Meta on a "limited edition Meta Quest, inspired by Xbox." That could be as simple as a Quest 3 in a different color, but it doesn't seem out of the realm of possibility for Meta and Xbox to make bigger changes, like a shortcut to the Xbox Cloud Gaming app in Horizon OS or packing in an Xbox controller with the headset itself.

Apple Vision Pro vs. Meta Quest 3: What's the difference?

Apple, meta, and google, the big names stay at the top, competing in the vr and ar space.

It could take years for Meta Horizon OS to see the widespread adoption that Meta wants, but until Apple offers a cheaper alternative to the Vision Pro, more affordable and varied headsets with access to Meta's well-curated app store is by no means a bad thing. The real wild card is Google. Samsung and Google announced a partnership to develop mixed reality software and hardware last year and there's been basically no updates since then. With Google I/O happening in May , we could soon know a lot more about what the Android of mixed reality looks like. Ironic, given that Horizon OS started as a fork of Android and in many ways Meta's "open" approach is similar to how Google handles Android.

I watched Taylor Swift's Eras Tour on Disney+ with my Apple Vision Pro. Here's how it went

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