VISION MAP
Vision Map: Charting a Step-by-Step Course for Your Biggest Hopes and Dreams
Author: Joel Malm
How to develop a stewardship plan for every area of your life.
A Workbook
by Jol Malm
The Problem with Planning
If you want to make God laugh, just tell him your plans.
Im certain this is really bad theology, but Im pretty convinced God had a good
laugh when a few years ago he completely ruined my plans.
I was working as a worship pastor at a growing church. Things were going quite
well, I thought. Until one Sunday while I was on vacation the pastor offered my
job to the guy who was filling in for me from out of town. No warning. Bam! I
was out the door. Worst part was, he didnt even tell me. Another pastor on staff
slipped me the news.
A few months earlier that same pastor had offered me a pay raise so I could
purchase a house. We did. We had been in the house a whopping two months
when I got fired. Or, uhm let go and not told.
The great boxer/theologian Mike Tyson once
said, Everybodys got a plan, until they get
punched in the face.
I got punched in the face. Hard. I started
freaking out. I knew we couldnt afford the
mortgage. I started applying at tons of jobs.
I went from having a really solid ten year plan that including systematic steps I
had set out with pay-raises, savings plans, and ministry expansion, to making my
plans ten days at a time.
God provided a place for us to live rent-free for a few months while we got our
feet on the ground and I waited to hear back from some of the job opportunities
that were open. But we still had to move out of our dream house that we had
just poured blood, sweat, and tears into remodeling.
Ironically, or perhaps divinely, it was during the time of my life that Ive had the
least vision that I wrote a book about vision. While I was reeling, trying to figure
out what was next in my life, I managed to write a book about vision that I had
been trying to write for many years. I had about ten different versions. But this
time, I sat down and wrote the entire book straight through in about ten days.
Everybodys got
a plan until they
get punched in
the face.
Mike Tyson
That book was Vision Map: Charting a Step-by-Step Course for Your Biggest
Hopes and Dreams. In the book I write about a simple process God taught me
for mapping a plan when God gives you a specific task. I used the plan as I was
building the outdoor leadership organization I started.
The process is so simple that I feel a little silly when I go up in front of a crowd
to share it. I feel silly until I look out and see peoples faces light up when they
realize the simplicity of it.
Now, heres what I know about you. Theres a good chance that at some point in
your life you decided to start being all strategic and visionary and make a plan.
Maybe you wanted to get out of debt or start your own business. But Im
guessing that right in the middle of that you, like me, got punched in the face.
I also know that if you are reading this right now you fit into one of two
categories.
The Planner: You are the person who puts little
check boxes by your shopping list, which happens
to be organized by sections of the store. You also
make a checklist before you leave the house on
vacation. You probably also have a written plan for
every waking moment of that vacation. You are
probably asking how I know you so well. Well, I
know you because you and I are the same. We are
both planners.
But, on the other side of the aisle we have a whole other type of person.
The Not-So-Planner: You are the type that feels
like plans put you into a box too much. And you
dont like boxes. You are laid back, easy-going, and
its pretty hard to get you frazzled. Things usually
work out, so if you just chill, it will all pan out. My
wife is this person.
On a side note: Have you noticed how Not-So-Planners tend to be attracted to
Planners, and vice versa?
Its like God put us together. He knew the Planners needed someone to help
keep them from dying of a heart attack at age thirty-seven. While the Not-So-
Planners needed someone to help them remember things that they really need
to bring with them on vacation like underwear. True story, for another time
Whether you are a Planner or a Not-So-Planner Im certain some curveballs have
been thrown at you that shook up some hopes and expectations you had for life.
At that point its easy to throw up your hands and just say, What the point!
I know. Ive been there. But from personal experience Ive found you really
shouldnt give up on making some sort of written plan.
Thats why I believe the Vision Map concept is so powerful. Its simple and its
flexible. Plus, its about something bigger than just a plan. We are talking about
something with eternal implications
Stewardship
Lets make something really clear. A Vision Map isnt a schedule for how your life
is going to go down. That would be foolish (again, see Mike Tyson quite).
Instead a Vision Map is about stewardship.
I love Mark Battersons simple definition of stewardship: Doing the best you can
with what you have.
The goal of the Vision Map is to make sure we a doing our best and living with
purpose in every area of our lives. If you aim at nothing youll hit it every time.
Or as Andy Stanley says, Everyone ends up somewhere in life. Some people
get there on purpose. Those are the ones with vision.
The Parable of Talents (Matthew 25:14-30) makes it clear that breaking even isnt
enough for God. He wants you to do something with everything he has given
you. The Vision Map helps us keep our vision clear and focused so we make sure
we are doing our best. But we also remember to stay flexible, as life happens,
and God often has other plans. But you still need a clear vision to move toward.
Its All Connected
Have you ever noticed that all of life is connected?
Youve decided you need to dedicate more time to your family. So you start
pulling back from overtime at work. But then comes the trip to the emergency
room. The bill is ridiculous.
Now you have to work overtime to pay. That overtime means youll have to work
on Sunday, which means you have to back out of volunteering at church.
You begin resenting your job because you are there so much, all trying to take
care of the bill for the emergency room that is keeping you from being with your
family and is pulling you away from church.
Ugh.
Every area of our life bumps into other areas. We think we can
compartmentalize, but we really cant. One area of life gets thrown off and we
feel it in other areas.
One of the powerful functions of the Vision Map is it looks at every area of your
life. It helps you see the connection between where you are and where you want
to be in every area of your life. Its quite possible that the pain you are feeling in
one area is actually based on a problem in another area that you never would
have seen otherwise.
How to Make a Vision Map
In my Summit Leaders Coaching program I ask
participants to create a Vision Map for every
area of their lives: family, finances, career,
ministry, and personal goals. (If you are part of
the program youll actually get a pre-printed
one that youll work together on in your first
meeting with Jol.)
Our goal isnt to make a set-in-stone plan for the
future. The goal is to establish what our hopes and dreams are for the future. Its
also a great tool for clarifying exactly what you hope your future will look like.
The goal is to write out the challenges and hopes and dreams you have for each
of those areas.
On the left side of the Vision Map youll see it says NOW. These are steps you
can take right now. But youll quickly realize something as you write out those
hopes and dreams.
As you write out those hopes and dreams youll be able to place each item you
write into one of two categories:
1. Things I can do
2. Things that God will have to do
For example, I had a man join the Summit Life program who mentioned he
wanted to have a better relationship with his daughters. He acknowledged he
had not given them the attention they needed. This was something within him
power, so I told him to take a black marker and write down some practical
things he could do to spend more time with him family. I told him to write down
in black letters the things he could do right now to work on this. He wrote:
Stop watching so much TV. Use that time to spend with the girls.
Black Letters
Once youve established what steps you can take you need to give
yourself a realistic deadline. Most of us overestimate what we can do in
a few months, but underestimate what we can accomplish in a year or
two or five. The Vision Map you get in the Summit Life program will
have NOW and 1 printed on the left column. Then youll decide whether you
want to put 2,5 10, etc. years as your goal timeline. The key is to put a deadline
on the things you can do.
But, as your move toward your plan you will invariable arrive at something you
simply have no control over. The guy who wanted a better relationship with his
daughters had the power to change his actions but only God can turn a
persons heart.
I always tell people, when you get a to a place that requires Gods intervention
you are in a good spot. A God-sized vision will always require his intervention.
Iraneus said it this way: Work as if it depends on you. Pray as if it depends on
God. Both are true.
When you come to something only God can do you pull out a red marker.
Write those things only God can do in read. Those are now your prayer focus.
Red Letters
When Jesus was about to heal someone he did something intereting.
Even if the need was evident, like the blind man he healed, he
always asked them:
What do you want me to do for you? (Mark 10:51)
Its really important that we get specific about our needs.
We easily fall into the habit of praying lazy prayers like: God give me
favor. Or God bless this endeavor. God seems to want us to get really
honest and specific about what we need him to provide. So be specific.
Unfortunately, unlike the black letter items, its not wise to set a date for Gods
part. You can try, but I predict it will be an exercise in futility. God works on his
time schedule. Our job is just to stay alert to what he is doing. He may come
through in a way that you never could have expected or thought up on your
own. So stay alert and flexible to how he provides for your red letter items.
The Tension Point
When people come to my coaching program they often need a little help
identifying the obstacles they face.
Sometimes its fear. Sometimes its debt. Other times its a combination of a
bunch of things.
Again, all of life is connected.
Once we actually sit down and start filling in the Vision Map it becomes evident
fairly quickly where the tension point it. The tension point is the one area where
you are feeling the most pain in your life. It could be a family relationship, a
financial challenge, a career frustration, a ministry goal, or simply some life goals
that you just havent been able to pursue.
When you reach that tension point make sure you identify it for what it is. When
you find the tension point you might want to highlight or underline it.
This deserves some prayer and thought. Share the challenge you are facing with
some trusted advisors and get their feedback. Make sure you also spend lots of
time in prayer about that tension point. God wants to give you wisdom about
how to deal with it so just ask for his wisdom!
Get Started
So, youve got the basics now. If you are part of the Summit Life program youll
work directly with Jol to build out your Vision Map. If you are doing it alone, its
time to get started. Below are the five areas to be covered on your Vision Map.
Ive included some questions to think about. You can begin to write in your
thoughts in the blank spaces below, then transfer them to your Vision Map later.
Spend some serious time thinking and praying about each area of your life. Get
honest about where you are. Get honest about the challenges you face. Get
honest about the hopes and dreams in your heart even if they seem
impossible from where you are standing.
Write it all down.
Then start to watch for Gods divine intervention. He is working behind the
scenes. Stay alert!
Family
What do you want your family to be known for? Generosity? Fun? Stability?
There is no one right answer, but whatever you decide on you need to be
intentional about it.
Are you single? What are some hopes and dreams you have for the mate you
are looking for? Write them out. Then write out in black what standards are up
to you to keep. Write out in red what God will have to provide.
Are there any relationships that need to be restored? What steps can you take
right now to move toward that? Write a letter? Make a call? Send a gift? Drive
across town?
Are there any hopes and dreams you have for your kids? College? A spouse?
Write it down in red.
Finances
Saving goals? Is there a particular purchase you see on the horizon (a new car)
that you should begin saving for?
College savings?
Hoping to get out of debt? Whats the plan. What steps can you take right now?
Do you have a budget? Should you take Dave Ramseys financial peace class?
Career
Are you content and fulfilled in your career? If you were are the same place next
year, in five years, at your career would you be content?
Is there a dream youve always had for your career that has yet to be fulfilled?
What is it? Write it out. What steps can you take right now to move toward that
dream? More education? Apply for a position?
Ministry
Are you currently involved in any ministry? Is there an area youd like to being
serving?
Personal Goals
Do you have any travel goals? Places youd like to visit.
Any fitness goals?
Any thing youd like to accomplish? Write a book? Read a certain number of
books? Write it down! LEAD 122
Vision Map Instructions
***Please remember the most understanding and growth will come from a complete reading of the textbook. Mr. Joel Malm also created a customized video specifically to share with Liberty University leadership students. You will be able to understand the authors train of thought and the powerful message this simple-looking book delivers. ***
Please respond to EACH part of the following questions with at least 6 sentences:
A. What were your first thoughts as you became aware of this whole vision map thing which serves as the theme of this book? Why would this topic placed in the Eagle Scholars program?
B. In the video, Joel Malm presents a potential conflict of us directing our lives as opposed to God. Please discuss what about this conflict and the Malms discussion of stewardship means the most to you. Please present specific information from throughout the video presentation.
c. What would be your vision (p.16)? Do you have some specific message to deliver or problem to solve with your life? Does there seem to be a gap between your dreams and your current life?
D. Name and discuss the specific chapter or passage in this book that spoke the most truth into your life. What made this passage SO meaningful?
E. Quotations & Questions: At the conclusion of quite a few chapters, the author provides a concluding quotation. Select and name a chapter and add a quotable quotation that would enhance the message by being placed at the beginning of the chapterplease make sure to identify the author of your new quotation. Tell why you selected this quotation for this chapter.
F. Questions: Please list three specific questions you would love to ask the author if you could meet with him personally? Make sure you explain your reason for each question. Make sure to identify a specific chapter/page to which your question refers.
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G. As a result of reading this book and completing your own vision map, reveal what have you found out about yourself. Name and discuss three specifics aspects.
Utilizing the study guide provided by the author and available under Additional Resources, (make sure to scroll down on the first page), read the questions on the pages listed. Please write a paragraph (6 sentences) in response to the questions listed in each of the five main areas suggested for your map:
FAMILY (page 9):
FINANCES (page 10:
EDUCATION/PREPARATION:
CAREER/MINISTRY:
PERSONAL GOALS:
CREATE a VISION MAP of your own—-using the resource entitled, VISION MAP TEMPLATE, create your own VISION MAP for the five categories mentioned above. Make sure to include at least 4-5 black ink items, and the overarching RED INK item for which you are trusting God in each area. Please do not be concerned about confidentiality, these are not shared in any way with others and will be graded for completion only, and not evaluated for your goals. (Please see the helpful examples provided on VISION MAP book pages 93-96)
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