The Power of the Picture
My friend Nick is gifted at painting pictures. Yet he’s not a painter, technically. Though I suppose some may call him an artist, just not in the traditional way.
Nick paints pictures in people’s minds.
One picture Nick has long painted in my mind is the allure and mystique of the Men’s College World Series (CWS), contested in Omaha, Nebraska. Nick has been to Omaha previously, and the passion with which he speaks about the event planted a desire in me to attend. However, I decided some time ago that I would not travel to Omaha until and unless my beloved Kentucky Wildcats earned their spot in the CWS.
Well, Kentucky did just that this June, becoming the last SEC baseball program to make its first trip to Omaha. So I joined them there, joyfully.
Back to Nick…several years ago, he assumed a new role that involved guiding, coaching, and leading a group of 18–24-year-old men on a specific journey. Now Nick, having made the journey himself, knew that the destination was worth the investment required to get there. He also knew the twists, turns, and travails along the difficult route.
Yet, how would he share this information with the men he was charged to lead?
Nick got to painting.
He first unveiled his picture to me back in the summer of 2016. And when my initial interpretation of his painting frustrated Nick, he quickly highlighted the hidden meanings I’d overlooked in my cursory scan. There was much to take in.
Where I saw balls and strikes, he saw behaviors to be “encouraged within” and “excluded from” the team. Where I saw a home plate, he saw a family’s house. This house included a firm foundation and even a strategy for winning. Perhaps most compelling was that the house pointed to the group’s destination. I can remember Nick looking at me with supreme confidence and proclaiming, “Everything points to our ultimate destination — Omaha. We’re going to the College World Series to win a national championship.”
And so, the journey began.
Every year the passenger manifest changed. There were always some repeat customers, sure, but there were also a significant number of first-time travelers. I had the privilege of being a member of Nick’s travel party for several years. I watched him recruit the right teammates for the arduous trek, always using his painting to highlight the team’s unifying goal. Once the group was assembled, Nick frequently referred to his roadmap, deliberately clarifying expectations, consistently reviewing the route, and holding us all accountable to the agreed upon standards.
Along the way there were always those who deviated from the path, ones who lost their way and decided to follow a different route. Some even abandoned the expedition all together. In addition, there were always outside observers who seemed to have an opinion. They questioned the destination, the route — or both. During such times, Nick would refer us all to the painting and our shared goal.
If you are a leader, let me encourage you to get to painting. You need to paint vision.
Vision is a portrait of the future that produces passion and purpose in people. Vision is a clear picture guides our decisions, aligns our efforts, and transforms chaos into coherence.
No leader ever disputes the need for a vision, but few take time to put pen to paper. Your team vision is an external document that creates alignment and clarity across the organization. Your team vision must be more than a catchy slogan that appears on a letterhead or an inspiring motto posted on a wall.
A compelling team vision clarifies not only the desired destination, but also provides the roadmap to get there. Such vision helps team members see where and how their individual roles fit into the greater whole. Writing your team vision down brings it to life and is the first step in moving the vision from your head to your team’s heart.
If you’re interested in learning to paint, you can read more here.
On June 12, 2024, Coach Nick Mingione and the Kentucky Wildcats baseball team played in Omaha, competing in the program’s first ever Men’s College World Series.
