Your Vision Is the Standard, Not the Suggestion
“Your vision isn’t optional. It’s the operating standard for your life, business, and leadership.”
“If your vision is from God, it doesn’t need permission to be honored—it needs structure to be protected.”
One of the biggest leadership mistakes I see today?
Treating your vision like a nice idea instead of a non-negotiable.
If you’ve ever found yourself saying:
“We’ll figure it out as we go…”
“Let’s just see what happens…”
“I don’t want to be too rigid with the plan…”
…then this post is your wake-up call.
The 10-80-10 Rule for Visionary Execution
Entrepreneur Dan Martell shared the 10-80-10 Rule, and it’s pure gold for leaders who want to scale a vision with clarity and confidence.
🔹 First 10%: Set the Vision
This is where you, the founder or CEO, cast the vision with clarity.
You define the “why,” paint the “what,” and shape the “how.” You frame the mission, direction, tone, and expectations. You’re not micromanaging—but you are setting the standard.
Think of this as gathering your team to build the best Ferris wheel in the world.
You bring photos, share the best models, describe the ride, the safety, and the view.
You speak as if it already exists—and you call that future into the present.
🔹 Middle 80%: Execute the Vision
Now your team builds it.
They prototype, create, problem-solve, and build in alignment with the vision you cast. You’re available for support—but not daily hand-holding.
This is where trust meets training.
🔹 Final 10%: Integrate the Vision
You return to review the results and protect the final product from drift.
You close gaps. You ask:
Does this match the vision?
Is the user experience aligned?
Are we delivering what we promised?
You don’t come in at the end to change it all—you refine and reinforce the standard you set from the beginning.
💡 Legacy Example: Madam C.J. Walker
Let’s talk about someone who didn’t just set a standard—she became the standard.
Madam C.J. Walker, America’s first self-made female millionaire, was a visionary who revolutionized the haircare industry for Black women. But more than that—she was an entreprenuerial genuis who created a movement.
She used the 10-80-10 rule before it had a name:
In the first 10%, she set the vision: economic independence and dignity for Black women through entrepreneurship.
The middle 80% was spent training thousands of sales agents (called "Walker Agents"), equipping them with systems, product knowledge, and empowerment.
In the final 10%, she reviewed performance, refined messaging, and presented her brand at conventions and public appearances—protecting the excellence her vision required.
She didn’t just build a company—she built a legacy that outlived her.
Like Madam Walker, your job is to see the future, build for the future, and protect the future.
Why This Matters
“Your vision is the measuring stick—not the afterthought.”
Too many founders get lost in the execution phase and forget they to set the standard for their team:
If you don’t set the standard, pressure and people will.
But when you anchor your business in a clear vision:
✅ You protect your team from confusion and burnout
✅ You filter every project and pivot through what matters
✅ You make decisions faster—with more peace and power
Vision Isn’t Just Strategy—It’s Stewardship
“Lead from the future—not from fear.”
Your job as the visionary is not to hustle harder, but to honor the vision with structure and stewardship.
So ask yourself:
“Where in my business am I lowering the standard instead of raising the vision?”
It’s time to revisit it. Reframe it. Realign with it.
📬 Ready to Set the Standard?
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Let’s root deep.
Let’s reach wide.
Let’s build what outlives us.
— Carolette, The Mindset Mechanic
