Vision figuratively speaking is usually juxtaposed with Mission and Statement of Purpose. But literally speaking, I have also compared Vision with vision

Vision vs vision

In business, Vision is discussed relative to Mission and Statement of Purpose, for that, read this.

In some of my presentations, I’ve alluded to Vision vs vision. In that context, when you lack vision (visibility), you can rely on your team, data, instincts, etc. but mainly your Vision (which in this context I include one’s principles, ethics, moral compass, guiding light) and generally will find your way.

The way this plays out in my day-to-day meetings and discussions hinges on four key tenets, which not surprisingly I used as the pillars of my first book Course to Success. Those are:

1) The optimal answer when problem-solving lies in balance (be it research or instinct, subjectivity or objectivity, producer or consumer) which is the concept of Yin Yang in Chinese philosophy.

2) We can achieve a result that serves the various stakeholders we have by focusing on our comparative advantage, which is a derivative of Plato’s Principle of Specialization.

3) When everyone focused on their comparative advantage, it’s most likely that the sum of the parts can be greater than the individual components, this is a tenet of Gestalt psychology.

4) Finally, to achieve all of this you have to understand the human equation – empathy, psychology, motivation, etc. – and that means understanding how the mind works, i.e. which takes me to Freud’s division of mind theory with the Id, Ego and Superego.

I covered this as a 23 year old in the early 2000s in Course To Success and it’s served as my beacon ever since. Now read more on Vision vs Mission here.