Imagination & Vision

I am deeply fascinated by humanity’s ability to turn imagination and vision into reality.

It happens all the time – we create something around us, or within us, that did not exist before. This is a uniquely human power, enabling us to shape our own world.

The other day, I heard a story from Jim Rohn that truly sparked my thinking. It’s best when told in his own voice, but here’s my version, in writing.

The story comes from the United States, from a time when people dreamed differently than we do today. Bear with it – the point is timeless.

Jim Rohn tells a story that beautifully illustrates how the human imagination can give birth to something that doesn’t yet exist. It’s about vision, and the belief in what’s possible – even before it takes physical form. It goes like this:

"Imagine standing on an empty plot of land – nothing but weeds and gravel. There is nothing to see yet, only open space, a place that might seem destined for nothing at all. And then, someone starts talking about the idea of a hotel.

Not just any hotel – a symbol of beauty and luxury. You hear the description: a grand lobby with crystal chandeliers, guest rooms where every detail has been considered, a swimming pool with light dancing on the water, and perhaps a rooftop restaurant overlooking the city, where you can watch the sun set the sky ablaze in gold.

But here’s the thing: there is still only dirt under your feet. No bricks, no trees, no foundation. Yet one person stands there and sees the entire hotel. They can picture it in their mind – created by their imagination, their vision, their dreams. Before it exists in the physical world, it has already taken shape inside them.

And then, belief turns into action. The first sketch is drawn. Plans are made. Materials arrive. The foundation is laid. Slowly but surely, what was once only a thought becomes real. A year or two later, the hotel stands exactly as it was imagined – and passers-by stop and say, ‘Look at that hotel! Where did it come from?’

The answer? It came from someone’s mind. From the ability to see something before it was something. From the vision of what could be possible before anyone else could see it.”

This story underlines a profound truth: we have the ability to imagine something that doesn’t exist – and that ability allows us to create. We can bring something out of nothing. Imagination can spark reality. We can change the world by envisioning something better, and then acting on it. Jim Rohn urges us to use this powerful gift – to dream big and to dare to pursue what we cannot yet see, but know is possible.

The powerful forces within human vision are often overlooked, yet they profoundly shape our lives and the world we live in. We’ve all had moments when we’ve pictured something for ourselves – an idea or a dream – that didn’t yet exist, yet felt within reach. This ability to visualise the future may be one of the most powerful tools we possess.

Humans are the only creatures who can create something that doesn’t exist, simply by imagining it. Our imagination lets us dream big and think beyond the physical limitations we face. We can create entire worlds in our minds – and sometimes these visions become so compelling that we feel an almost irresistible pull to make them real.

But it doesn’t stop with imagination. The true power of vision lies not only in seeing something, but in having the courage to act on it. When we see something that doesn’t yet exist and believe it can be real, we begin to take the steps that bring it to life. It’s a process where belief and action work hand in hand.

Many of history’s greatest inventions and achievements came from people who first saw something no one else could see. They dared to go beyond the known and began building the bridge between imagination and reality. This is the same power that drives all of us – the ability to create and shape the future, one thought at a time.

Ultimately, it is human vision that paves the way for innovation, growth, and change. When we dare to dream – when we dare to believe in the impossible – we help shape a world that once existed only in our minds. And it is this power that enables us to create what has never existed before.