YOUR VISION CANNOT TARRY! 40 years before fuel was discovered a GREAT American President* boasted that he will put the American flag in the moon. Phew! What a bold vision. Fast forwarded to today. The vision is already an accomplished mission. [Read again what I just wrote and imagine the mind that conceived that vision and his ability to market the vision to his entire nation]. Back home, in my humble origin, Nigeria, we have designed our own local variant of diverse visions: several, if you must know: VISION 2010, VISION 2020 and the 7 points agenda to mention just a few that I can recall now. But I consistently notice a lack of belief in the “midwives” ability to birth these. Originally a visual artist who also traverses the managerial and administrative genre, I continue to shudder how challenging just to “VISION” is to many. Let me summarise a short experience in the public sector that buttresses this. When we conceptualized the first Nigerian biennial for the visual art sub-sector with acronym: ARESUVA [African Regional Summit and Exhibition on the Visual Art], I received the most vicious resistance from my management team within the office. Now since we needed to collaborate with the mother ministry on this, it was another bout of schisms to still birth the idea. Someone even advised me “slow down brother, you are running too fast”. The National Assembly was another hurdle to cross, since they are supposed to appropriate the funds: the fight, arguments and documents to sail this noble idea through was a herculean task. The programme was scheduled for September 2008 and by July not a dime had been released. I was between the “d… & the deep blue sea”. In the interim, we successfully secured financial lead sponsorship from Bayelsa State and Oceanic Bank. A select group continued mischievously to constantly throw spanners in the whole idea. But we never gave up! To cut a long story short, about 60 international visiting artists attended and participated. The participating local Nigerian artists were over a hundred. In the face of failure we persistently believed the VISION. In the end the Vision materialized! And a good one it was. As I write this today [June 11, 2013] the state of China, just sent their astronauts to the moon. This is a clarion call on those in leadership in the public sector to go for just one over-riding vision that you know you will need infinite help to assist you. This vision like in the American president will subsume all other sub-visions. A leader does not need to do everything; ALL HE NEEDS TO DO IS JUST ONE THING! All you need do is to CONCEIVE THIS VISION and wrap this one thing with passion. My conclusion? Without vision, the people perish. So? Stand firm and stay focused. If you have to write that book just do it. If you must raise the bar in your sports goals get out and get it done. If you are in court and the system is fighting you, see the victory ahead. Shun distractions, stay resilient and believe in yourself. Do not expect to be praised or given a pat on the back. Your closest friends will wear you out by telling you that it cannot be done. Learn to shut these out: negative suggestions from friends, relatives and acquaintances. The VISION is for an appointed time. It will not tarry!
Posted on: Tue, 11 Jun 2013 20:34:30 +0000
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