Vision Possible: 4 Lenses That Change the Way You Lead

One of the best leaders I've ever had wasn’t a CEO, author, Instagram influencer, or big-name keynote speaker. 

He was my high school baseball coach.

See, I was the kid who wanted to obsess over the 'micro' things—my batting stance, the last strikeout, whether I tied my cleats tight enough. Meanwhile, my coach saw something in me I couldn’t see yet: my future. He had the ability to look further down the road and believe in the further out version of me.

Throughout my journey, I've thought a lot about how the way we see things...or which LENS we're looking through (keep reading to see what I'm talking about) is so vital in leadership.

Because it’s not just about what you see right now, right in front of you...but knowing which “lens” you need to look through at different times. 

This simple but profound idea inspired one of my signature keynote talks: Vision Possible. In it, I break down four lenses that can change how you lead, work, and live.

This talk has been a game-changer for groups of all kinds—from big corporate retreats to small, tight-knit team workshops.

The reality is, we all have a “default lens,” a go-to way of seeing the world. But here’s the kicker: when we learn to swap lenses at the right time, everything shifts. Our leadership sharpens, our connections deepen, and we become the kind of leaders people actually want to follow.

Now, you really have to experience the full talk to get the full impact—the stories, the laughs, the moments that hit home—but here’s a little peek (pun intended) at each of the lenses and how they apply:

🔭 The Telescope
Vision. We hear about it all the time, right? The big picture. Dreaming beyond what feels safe or easy. This one comes naturally to me, and I use the telescope lens when I’m setting goals for my company, thinking years down the road. Where are we going? What will success look like? The telescope helps you stretch your imagination and point yourself toward bold, exciting possibilities. 

🔬 The Microscope
As powerful as vision can be, sometimes you’ve got to zoom in. The microscope is about details—the “small stuff” that makes the big stuff possible. For me, that could be writing one thank-you note, sending a follow-up email, or running through slides one more time before I step on stage. It’s easy to get stuck here (and obsess over details), but without the microscope lens, the telescope goals never get done.

🐎 The Horse Blinders
This one’s about focus. Distractions are everywhere—emails, notifications, Netflix. Putting on the blinders means protecting your priorities, setting rhythms in your week, and caring about what you’re going to do before you do it. It’s how you make sure life doesn’t just “happen” to you… you happen to life.

👓 The Prescription Glasses
Finally, this lens is about clarity and adaptability. Have you ever worn a pair of glasses for too long, without getting an updated prescription? They still kind of work...you can still see better than wearing none at all, but it's not as crystal clear as it COULD be if you renewed your prescription. Sometimes we’re still looking at today’s problems through yesterday’s glasses, and frankly...that doesn’t work. Prescription glasses remind us to stay sharp, adjust when things change, and make sure our perspective matches the moment we’re currently in.

Here’s the bottom line: leadership isn’t about picking one lens and living there forever. It’s about knowing which one you need in the moment—and helping others see what they can’t see yet.

That’s what Vision Possible is all about. It’s practical, it’s fun, and it gives teams tools they can use the very next day.

So let me leave you with a question: which lens do you need to pick up today?

And hey...if your team is ready for a keynote that’s practical, high-energy, and (let’s be honest) way less boring than the average conference talk, let’s make it happen. Vision Possible isn’t just another keynote—it’s an experience your people will actually remember and use the next day.

Click here to shoot me a message, and let’s make it happen 🚀