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b'Leadership is a container, which supports healthy growth for people like a garden supports healthy growth for plants. Planting the seeds is just the beginning. The health depends on constant feeding and care. - Hugh Ballou \\n\\nWe are leaders because we have a vision and act on that vision. Out of every 100 people who have an idea, only 3 will do something about it. Out of the 3 that act on their vision, less than 10% will succeed. If you are leading a functioning organization, then you are in a very small segment of those who dream. Many people dream and few succeed. \\n\\nInsuring success comes with a price - that is equipping yourself for success. Define the strategy and develop the skills for implementing that strategy. After all, your vision will not happen if you don\\u2019t make it happen. \\n\\nThe price, your investment, is risk mitigation, in the viewpoint of an investor. Your investment is creating clarity with careful, strategic, planning and implementation. Very few of us, if any, can do this alone. I teach strategy and leadership implementation. I can\\u2019t do those things for myself with either of my enterprises - a for-profit or nonprofit. I need specialists in those skills to assist me in gaining objective perspective, to identify my blind spots, and to fill in the gaps in my thinking and awareness. \\n\\nWhen I interview potential clients, I typically ask the following questions: \\n\\t1.\\tWhat is your vision?\\n\\t2.\\tIdentify your competition?\\n\\t3.\\tWhat makes you different from the competition?\\n\\t4.\\tWhat\\u2019s the gap between today and the realization of your vision?\\n\\t5.\\tDo you have a written strategic plan?\\n\\nOften, I get the following responses: \\n\\t1.\\tLots of unclear, rambling thoughts that are unclear and not specific.\\n\\t2.\\tLack of knowledge or denial of competition\\n\\t3.\\tA description that could apply to thousands of others.\\n\\t4.\\tUnsure of what\\u2019s next.\\n\\t5.\\tThere\\u2019s no written plan, but I know what I want. A written plan will limit my creativity. Also, I\\u2019m to busy to do this?\\n\\nHere\\u2019s how I reply: \\n\\t1.\\tUntil you can identify your vision and people can understand why they need you, there\\u2019s no reason to do anything further.\\n\\t2.\\tIf there\\u2019s no competition, then there might not be a need.\\n\\t3.\\tYou sound like a lot of others, why do you need to launch (or grow) you initiative?\\n\\t4.\\tIt\\u2019s what you don\\u2019t know that will compromise or even block your success.\\n\\t5.\\tThere\\u2019s no success without a strategy in writing and an integration of that plan with team performance.\\n\\nIf a leader is not willing to invest in the \\u201cupfront cost\\u201d of building a solid foundation for the enterprise, then why should they expect to succeed? You can\\u2019t build a house with no solid foundation and expect that it will last for long. You can\\u2019t, or shouldn\\u2019t attempt to fly a plane without taking flying lessons. And, certainly you can\\u2019t launch and grow a successful enterprise without preparation and hard work\\u2026much of which comes at the beginning. \\n\\nThe \\u201cUpfront Cost\\u201d is by far lower that the cost to replace or repair later on. The loss of time, money, and likely in relationships is far greater. \\n\\nWhy not invest in success? \\n\\nCheck out my Unbound Leader program to learn the process for success at http://TheUnboundLeader.com\\xa0\\nLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices'