The Vision Thing is the Most Important Thing

The University of Michigan Wolverines won the 2024 National Championship this week. The journey began with a colossal season failure and a dream.

There are so many inspiring lessons from the Michigan Wolverines’ historic, perfect 15-0 season and National Championship that I could probably start a whole other blog just writing about it. (JimHarbaughHelps?)

But as I was thinking about what could be relevant to you, I kept coming back to Coach Jim Harbaugh’s Vision for the team.

And the critical importance of having a Vision for any worthy endeavor.

In Michigan’s case, sure, the goal was clear: a Championship season.

But his Vision was about creating the ideal Michigan Wolverines team. Its components included: a stalwart offensive line, a dominating defensive line, a ferocious defense all around, a ground-raid (not air raid) offense and extreme ball and clock control.

Pure Michigan — football.

That was the Vision. It was hardly the reality four years ago.

At the height of Covid, Michigan was at rock bottom. 2 wins. 4 losses. A canceled season. A broken and demoralized team.

But when the season mercifully ended, Harbaugh took a pay-cut and a long look in the mirror. He knew he wasn’t playing football the way he knew how to win.

He wasn’t living out his Vision.

So he made dramatic personnel changes and thoroughly re-oriented the team.

The transformation of the Michigan Wolverines is an ESPN 30 for 30 waiting to happen.

The next season, 2021, the team went 11-1 and finally beat their eternal nemesis, Ohio State, for the first time in a long time with a cinematic finish, as 100,000 fans stormed the field to celebrate as confetti-like snow flakes glistening all around turned the Big House into a giant snow globe.

That same year the Wolverines won the B1G Conference title and made it to the semi-finals of the National Championship and lost — or should I say got thoroughly crushed by a much better Georgia team — in the first round.

The next year, Michigan’s Team 143, had nearly identical success. Almost perfect. Almost a Championship. Another loss in the semi-finals to TCU.

This year’s team, 144, is the champion. And while the team was magnificent, the circumstances of the season were anything but. This team endured a gauntlet: from allegations that kept their beloved coach on the sidelines for several games, including the Ohio State game, to injuries, to having a roster of mostly 3 and 4-star players going up against teams, in the final leg of the season, comprised of predominantly 5-star players, and more.

But alas, they achieved perfection winning 15 games and almost never trailing in any contest. And, of course winning the highest honor in the sport — the National Championship.

Make no mistake: None of this would be possible without Coach Harbaugh’s original Vision.

This is where you come in.

What’s your Vision?

What are you trying to to build?

If you’re stuck, ask yourself what does ideal look like?

In fact, try some “to be” statements.

I want to be_________.

I want this company to be_________.

I want our team to be___________.

Let it rip. Say your wildest most outrageous desire.

Get it on paper.

Then look at where you are now.

Ok, you may be far from this Vision.

But nothing happens without it.

So the next step is to ask what can you do today to get one step closer to making your Vision real?

That’s what Harbaugh and his Wolverines did. One day at a time. One step at a time. One play at a time. And look where it got them.

Go Blue. Go you.