Who owns your vision? Sounds like a rhetorical question. If it’s your vision… of course it’s you! But let me tell you that is not always the case. Three times in as many days I have worked with clients who have given up ownership of their own vision. How could that be you might ask? While getting input and feedback is very important it often has a derailing effect.

If you have created your strategy with good solid research, input and analysis… you’ve done your homework. You have listed the pros and cons. You have considered how it impacts others, etc. And now you have committed to it… really committed to it! Then you need to have faith that you are on the right track and know that others can’t see your vision, not yet anyway. Here are the pitfalls to look out for…

1. Unsolicited opinions. This kind of input has a very negative impact because it tends to make you feel that your direction is wrong. Remember that others don’t have the benefit of your research and analysis. Thank them for sharing and keep moving toward your vision.

2. Stop asking for input once you have made your decision. There comes a time when input no longer serves you. It only serves to confuse. Asking others is common to those who are striving for perfection… so don’t let perfection get in the way of progress!

3. Letting others hijack your vision. How could that be… it’s your vision? It’s simple. Your requests are not quite followed. Someone does something for you that doesn’t quit fit… and you accept. Then someone else does something that doesn’t quit fit and you accept that, so on and so on. Now your vision is so off course that it is virtually unrecognizable. Hold your vision to YOUR standards.

If you are starting a new practice area or building a network of referral sources you have a vision of how that will look. It’s hard for your friends, partners or your colleagues to see what you are visualizing at the moment. Take what they say with a grain of salt. And don’t let perfection get in the way of progress!