The five phases of a vision and how to recognise them

Summer weather in September. It was one of those bright, warm days. I had invited people on board for an open day to give my friends and acquaintances an impression of the current status of Vision Schiff.

I enjoyed the comments from the astonished guests:

"I didn't think it would be that big!"

"Wow, that's beautiful...."

Many people only knew about the project from Facebook or my blog and were amazed at what had happened since I bought the rusty GDR torpedo ship to turn it into a place where people can find inspiration and guidance.

After a few guided tours, I started to joke that as a visionary you can recognise the five phases of realising a vision from the comments of others...

Phase 1 - Start: "You're crazy!"

Some say it openly, others just think it. They confessed to me later "When you started it, I thought: now she's really gone mad!"  You usually only get feedback like this when you actually dare to realise an idea or dream. There are plenty of visionaries who dream of things that could be changed.

But only those who realise their vision take responsibility for their idea and dare to actually get things done. An idea without realisation is a nice thought. Not a powerful vision. If I had only dreamed of creating a place of inspiration on the water, most people would probably have thought that was okay.  Beautiful dream. Nice, original idea. It would be great if something like this worked.

But when I actually bought an old ship that was almost ready for the scrap heap, many people shook their heads in horror. Of course, there were a thousand reasons why I shouldn't embark on such an adventure. Firstly, there was my lack of manual experience. I only had a hammer, a saw and a pair of pliers - and only just the ability to use these three tools. That's not enough to build a ship. Then, of course, there was the lack of money. And actually - in addition to my other tasks - the lack of time...

And and and.

Fortunately, there were some people - not a bank - who had known me long enough to trust that the project - as crazy as it was - would have a solid foundation. And they expressed their trust in me and, in some cases, also showed it tangibly in the form of loans.

Phase 2 - Realisation: "I feel sorry for you!"

Of course there are crises in a project. The small ones, when you hit your thumb with a hammer. The big ones, when the supposedly good steel of the ship's outer wall suddenly has holes the size of your thumb. And you have to go to the shipyard to save the ship from sinking. And cut even bigger holes in the steel so that new, beautiful, expensive steel plates can be fitted later.

Borderline. Very borderline.

Yes, it is:

Only those who push their limits can expand them. - Martin Gaedt

And then just at the moment when there are holes in the hull, you are surprised by a flood, which penetrates unhindered through the holes into the interior of the ship, but can no longer drain away later. The lower rooms are knee-high with water. It couldn't get any worse. More than borderline. One of the worst moments.

Experienced shipbuilders told me: "It's extremely rare for something like this to happen in a shipyard. Once every few decades. Rarely unlucky that it should happen to me. And really thorough. Insurance companies hardly ever feel responsible for force majeure.

Lying on metal poles and skimming the water and mud upside down by hand (see picture) when the temperature outside and inside is ten degrees below zero - no, that's really no fun. In addition to the major crises, there were 250 minor ones of the kind that are part of every project, every vision. "I feel sorry for you!" became a constant comment during this phase. Occasionally I even felt sorry for myself. I think that's okay if it doesn't last too long.

Phase 3 - Progress: "I admire you!"

No matter what phase we were and still are in: The goal of having everything ready still seemed infinitely far away. But it got closer every week:

• The first room is completely derusted and fitted with insulation
• The ship has a wood-burning stove
• There is now a drinking water tank (a dream after 2 years of carrying water bottles!)
• We have a working toilet!
• The first guests are on board and receive coaching and orientation
• The first mini-seminar takes place - very improvised on a floor covering made from old cardboard boxes.
• The ceiling in the main room is finished. And the kitchen for guests.
• There is light - from your own solar system!
• ...

During this phase, I learnt not to focus so much on the goal, as important as that is. Instead, I learnt to draw my emotional energy from every intermediate step I took. With every step that my friends and I completed and documented on the boat, the amazement grew: she's staying on.

10 to 20 hours. Every week. Summer and winter. She actually manages it! And more and more people joined in and helped by giving me a bucket or two of paint, getting building materials for me or lending a hand themselves.

And when the ship was actually 70% finished, the first visitors began to say:

"I can imagine how this will turn out!"

In the morning - view of the water.

Smiling note: Notice the difference to the visionary: She already saw what it was going to be at 0%...

Ok. To be honest: I only saw the potential after 30 minutes of viewing the ship, which had been filled by the previous owners. But for many, less visionary people, it is actually an achievement to be able to visualise the end product at 70%, whereas for visionaries it is usually rather impossible to see the potential. not to discover in everything.

Phase 4 - Success "I envy you!"

The ship is not finished yet. If all goes well and I have enough help, the seminar room will be ready for use at the end of September.

And other areas such as the ventilation, the stairs downstairs, my office and other places will probably need work for another nine months. Nevertheless, I'm now hearing a lot of comments like

"Whenever I see the pictures you post on Facebook, I get a little envious!"

"You're living your dream - that's what I want too."

Phase 5 - New vision "What is your next dream?"

Next to my ship is the Edelweiss, an ancient, huge ship that is still noble, but no longer white. Many visitors, who know that for a visionary, the approaching completion of one idea only marks the beginning of the next, point to the old ship and ask: "Will that be your next project?" I smile and say: "I already have a ship!" Dreaming and realising the same dream twice would be kind of boring.

The ship is not quite finished yet. I think it will take another 6 months or so, depending on the support I get. And for now, I've swallowed enough rust and sawdust. I now want to repay the loans step by step - hopefully soon. And even more than before - to live out what I rebuilt the boat for:

• Life: A place where others and I can enjoy the wind, water and waves and meet each other.
• Orientation: To give people who need orientation the opportunity to live here for a shorter or longer period of time, to stare at the water and, if they wish, to receive support with sorting.
• Inspiration: Organising events or offering others the space to do so, which inspire, strengthen and advance people...

But of course I'm already dreaming about the next big project. I'm starting to think about the realisation and make plans... I won't reveal exactly what it is yet. Just this much: it has more to do with rust in the mind than corrosion on metal. And yes, it's a vision that makes me smile, stimulates my imagination. And in the end, hopefully brings good to many people.

Even if they might say in between at first:

"You're crazy!"

"I feel sorry for you."

"I admire you!"

and maybe one day „I envy you!"

 

 You can find detailed tips and help on how to formulate and achieve your own personal vision in the Quadro/training booklet Achieving goals. How personal change really works. from my coaching colleague Christoph Schalk.