In this digital age when the business world is changing at warp speed, people often ask, “How can I have a vision of what’s going to happen five or ten years from now, when I don’t even know what’s going to happen next week?”

Venture capitalist Geoff Yang has taken risks on many new technology companies that are expected to move at a rapid pace.  What types of innovators is he willing to back?  “Men and women with great vision,” he says.  “They are able to recognize patterns when others see chaos in the marketplace.  That’s how they spot unexploited niche opportunities.  And they are passionate about their ideas, which are revolutionary ways to change the way people live their lives or the way businesses operate.  When they come to me they have conviction.”

Consider this…Imagine you’re driving east on I-80 toward Sacramento on a bright, sunny day.  You can see for miles and miles.  You’re cruising along at the speed limit, tunes blaring, top down, wind in your hair, and not a care in the world.  Suddenly without warning as you approach the bridge over the Sacramento River, you hit a dense blanket of fog as thick as you’ve ever seen it.  What do you do?

We’ve asked this question many, many times, and we get the same answers:

**I slow way down

**I turn my lights on

**I grab the steering wheel with both hands.

**I tense up

**I sit up straight or lean forward

**I turn the music off so I can hear better

Then you a couple miles later it is clear again.  What do you do?  Relax, speed up, turn the lights off, put the music back on, and enjoy the scenery.

This analogy illustrates the importance of clarity of vision, especially when you’re going fast.  Are you able to go faster when it’s foggy or when it’s clear?  How fast can you drive in the fog without risking your own or other people’s lives?  How comfortable are you riding in a car with someone else who drives fast in the fog?  The answers are obvious, aren’t they?  We’re better able to go fast when our vision is clear.  We’re better able to anticipate the danger when we can see ahead.  There are always going to be times when the sun hides behind the clouds or the fog makes it difficult to maneuver, but when it comes to traveling at Internet speed it’s definitely preferable to be able to see farther ahead.

The point is very simple…to become a leader you must be able to envision the future. You must be able to see patterns and exploit them through periods of chaotic change.  The speed of change doesn’t alter this fundamental truth about leadership.  People only want to follow those who can see beyond today’s problems and visualize a brighter tomorrow.  This is truly empowerment..do you have it?