What makes a visionary?

If there is one term that is overused in today's business world, I would say it is the word visionary. A lot of CEO's and start ups truly believe that they are visionary because they have just invented the ever lasting gobstopper or something along those lines. I looked the term up in the dictionary and you know it was so vague that the term could be applied to almost anyone.

I found the lead definition, "to have or possess a vision," to be completely silly. There is nothing in the definition that speaks about executing on your vision. I have an idea to make a fat-free and tasty snack bar. But that doesn't make me a visionary unless I have the means to take this product to market and turn my idea into something physical.

Now some can become visionaries because they inspire others. Certainly Gandhi and Dr. King were visionaries because they inspired others, but individuals who do that and whose vision survives their death are few and far between. By this same measure Hitler was a visionary because he inspired people to take action. Actions that were among the worst ever committed.

When it comes to real visionaries one person really stands out in my mind. That is Joseph Lister who is the man most responsible for antiseptic medical practices that we take for granted today. Prior to Dr. Lister, medicine was a breeding ground for germs and disease. More people died of sickness unrelated to their medical problems than anything else. Through patience, action, proof and most of all hard work, Dr. Lister was able to change the world through his vision of the need to eliminate filth from hospitals.

Today is also the 40th anniversary of the moon landing which is one of the great events in human history. I do laugh at the kooks who say it never took place. I do think it is sad that we've never done anything like it again. Again, vision is lacking at NASA and the idea we may not go back to space for 5 years after the launch space shuttle launch is unreal!

Lastly, keep in mind that everyone in their own way is a visionary. If you change you own little corner of the world then you qualify as a visionary there. Vision is saying, this needs change and I need to change it!