Vision in the Valley

You may not know this about me, but when I'm down, I'm waaaay down.

Well-acquainted with valleys, I've learned to see them as places of vision. Just last week, I walked myself through a visioning exercise I developed as part of Creative Compass, and I was blown away how immensely helpful it was for me in seeing reality around me more clearly.

I imagine I'm not the only one who's been here, so I'd like to help offer a lifeline if you're feeling stuck. Valleys are real, but they don't have to be forever—and they don't have to be lonely.

Below is one of eight personalized visioning exercises, based around the Conductor, but I have one developed for each of the archetypes (including Craftsman, Producer, Mender and the rest), which you can access here:

Creative Compass Vision Exercises pdf.pdf

Download PDF • 215KB

Vision Renewal Guide: Conductor

“Move people. Mobilize vision. Make it real.”

Here are some tailored exercises to rediscover, reignite, and refine your vision as a Conductor:

1. Re-center the Why: “What Is Worth Moving?”

Prompt: “What truth or good do I still believe is worth building toward, even if no one notices?”

Exercise:

Grab a journal or voice memo.

Speak or write:

- What burdens me right now in the world, the Church, or people’s lives?

- What future would I gladly spend the next 10 years helping make real?

You don’t need a full strategy—just a soul ache with direction.

2. Rediscover the Pattern: “Where Have I Moved Vision Before?”

Prompt: “When was I most alive as a leader?”

Exercise: The Vision Backtrack Map

Draw a timeline of your last 10 years.

Mark the 3-5 moments where you:

- Moved people toward something new.

- Felt aligned, useful, and energized.

- Saw transformation or momentum spark.

Then ask:

- What was the vision behind each moment?

- What was true in all of them?

- What’s missing in my current world that those moments had?

That thread is still in you. You may just need to pick it back up.

3. Fuel, Not Force: “What Sparks Me Without Obligation?”

Prompt: “What would I build or lead if I wasn’t responsible for anyone else’s buy-in?”

Exercise: The Unfiltered Vision Jam

Set a timer for 15 minutes.

No audience. No budget. No logistics.

Just let yourself dream:

- Projects you’d start.

- Movements you’d ignite.

- Conversations you’d lead.

- Places you’d go.

Let the ideas pour. No editing. No guilt.

Then go back later and underline the ones that still give you a spark.

4. Design the Altar: “What Am I Willing to Sacrifice For?”

Prompt: “What would I gladly suffer to see come to life?”

Exercise:

Imagine your vision as a sacred cause. Ask:

- What kind of cost would I be willing to pay for this?

- What kind of team would I need beside me?

- If I started tomorrow with no praise, no certainty—would I still say yes?

Vision worth leading always comes with a price.

Conductors lead best when that price feels holy, not obligatory.

Bonus: Mini-Retreat Format (Solo or With a Trusted Mentor)

- 2-4 hours away from devices and noise.

- Bring a few reflective prompts (like the ones above).

- End with a question: “If this vision isn’t gone—just buried—what would it take to resurrect it?”

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If you haven't yet discovered your Creative Compass, begin by reading through the descriptions here or contact me directly to set up some one-on-one coaching.