Naked Visionary: Seize Your Sparks of Inspiration

From Vision to Tangible Results
Naked Visionary describes what drives those motivated forerunners who bring their visions to life. It puts a spotlight on creative change and the visionary process itself. But it also speaks to the creative capabilities lying fallow within us all—how each of us can blow on our own sparks of brilliance for the answers we desire.

Most of what’s been written about visionaries is about particular individuals or what they accomplished. But not much has been written about the process itself. There’s a rich vein of information about the visionary journey, and the non-conforming individuals embarked on it, that has never been mined very deeply.

The visionary journey is likely to be a long and convoluted process, only partly defined by the igniting vision or how the world responds to what the person does with it. Distinct stages and trials test anyone who walks that path. Those challenges arise without regard for the individual’s personal qualities or preparation.

Naked Visionary sheds light on the influences, rewards, and obstacles that characterize the visionary path and visionary thinking. It also describes the inner journey that is as crucial as solving the practical challenges.

While visionaries are Black Swans, rare, unpredictable, and improbable (as described in a book of that name by Nassim Taleb), this capacity is not only for the special few. All of us have the “visionary gene” hardwired into us, poised to support one’s individual sense of purpose. Not only is vision widespread, grounding it is a skill that can be cultivated by anyone to open a broader range of possibilities.

The World Needs Visionary Answers
Wherever we look—politics, economics, social institutions, values or within our close relationships—people are alarmed. What we’ve trusted is collapsing, and in most cases capable leadership is wanting. Given the chaos and dysfunction rampant in public and private life, the world badly needs farsighted and revolutionary answers. We need visionaries, with their determination to defy the odds and obstacles. We need their uncompromising commitment and resolve. And we need some of that unstoppable foolhardiness.

Visionaries function in the field of potential—what could be. They are change agents who must master their inner demons and doubts, while struggling to communicate a compelling message to an unreceptive world.

Naked Visionary is written on three parallel levels:
• The challenges and stages of the visionary path, and those who pursue it (a global view)
• How each person can recognize their own sparks of brilliance, and trust those insights enough to act on them (the personal view)
• How to encourage more visionary thinking so we upgrade the kinds of answers being applied to the world’s difficulties (the social view)

Naked Visionary is comprehensive and takes a 360º view of the process. It draws on more than 100 references and current research.

Section I describes the elements of the visionary journey: the person, the vision, the challenges, and the benefits that follow. Section II explains the practical concerns of bringing a vision to life. Section III explores specific arenas where visionaries ply their trade: business leadership, science (the mind), and the arts and spiritual matters (the heart).

Contents
Introduction—Bringing a Vision Down to Earth

Part I—The Visionary Process Goes Inward and Outward
Chapter 1 Treading New Ground
Chapter 2 Tracking the Visionary Process
Chapter 3 Stripping Down to Essentials
Chapter 4 Bridging Between Vision and the World
Chapter 5 Going to Extremes
Chapter 6 Finding a Paramount Vision
Chapter 7 Bringing a Vision to Life
Part II—Grounding Insight in Practical Ways
Chapter 8 Tackling the Challenges
Chapter 9 Identifying the Spectrum of Change
Chapter 10 Packaging a Vision that Resonates
Chapter 11 Engaging the Visionary Drive
Chapter 12 Seeing “Outside the Box”
Chapter 13 Developing Our Energetic Intelligence
Chapter 14 Practicing Visionary Leadership
Chapter 15 Building Supportive Environments
Part III—Spheres Where Vision and Practice Meet
Chapter 16 Opening to the Transformative Power of Art
Chapter 17 Following Science and the Route of the Mind
Chapter 18 Following the Spiritual Route of the Heart
Chapter 19 Shifting the Paradigm
Chapter 20 Creating an Incubator for Visionary Thinkers
Chapter 21 Taking the Next Step
Back
Appendix A 50 Ways to Get Naked
Notes
Glossary
References
Index