Discussions about achieving success are typically approached in one dimension. We talk about vision, breadth of experience and work/life balance in stovepipe segments as if one doesn’t influence the other. Much of the blogging and books on success I’ve read follow this track. They touch on the three dimensions, but only on that dimension. The truth is, however, that success we realize in any undertaking comes about only through our actions in three dimensions. A better approach to thinking about success takes into account our own vision, our vista (breadth of experience) and volume (depth we give to each undertaking).
Working on any one dimension is good but it leaves value on the table. We don’t get the benefit of identifying the interrelations, or lack of them, between, the dimensions. For example, let’s say your vision for success in life includes ‘providing guidance to others and using my engineering skills to help my community’. If your breadth of experience includes prior leadership roles and the knowledge of the engineering challenges and opportunities at the community level, then your vision and vista align. On the other hand, if you’ve never been in a leadership role and therefore lack experience on how to guide others, then your vision and vista are out of alignment. You’ll need to identify an opportunity where you can fill the gap on leadership to develop your skill in guiding others. [Read more…] about Vision, Vista, and Volume: A Better Approach to Thinking About Success
