People love to claim “vision” or that they are “visionaries”. My experience is that they use this term to qualify themselves as having “good ideas” “I am an idea person.”
Statistically, three percent (3%) of all ideas are any good. Being an idea person doesn’t make you a visionary. My editor at Random House once said, “Michael, everyone I know has a book inside. The difference between them and an author is the author finishes the work.”
My friend Kemmer Andeson, prestigious poet and teacher, always said “Mike, finish.” He knew the difference between an idea person and a visionary. A visionary doesn’t just think of good ideas, visionaries “finish”.
To be a visionary one needs to capture the idea or vision and sustain the excitement to follow through and make something happen. Whether it is a book, a movement, a painting or a dance a visionary follows through.
A visionary must have the discipline to step forward and take action. A visionary has to share the idea and vision. A visionary has to network and sustain the vision.
A visionary sees obstacles as opportunities. A visionary hears criticism and learns. Sometimes the critics are right. Sometimes the critics are wrong. Either way, their critique gives the visionary insight and helps to challenge the ability to finish.
Good ideas do not equal vision. Vision is a meaningful relationship between the idea and the product. Have a good idea? Thinking about a book or a screenplay? Wanting to make a change in the world? Ask Pops. I am happy to be a catalyst in moving you from idea to vision.
Mike "Pops" Klumpp 
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