Sometime in the mid-1990s, I was made aware of Joel Arthur Barker.  Barker was and is a “futurist” and he had several, very excellent, corporate, motivational videos.  I was hooked.  Over the years, I watched many of them over and over, purchased my favorites, and tried to use them in my personal and business lives.  I even found a way to meet him.  Elmhurst College, now Elmhurst University, has a lecture series named after a graduate and donor, Roland Quest.  The institution invited Joel Barker to be a Quest Lecturer and he accepted.  He presented in Hammerschmidt Chapel on September 19, 1999 and he was superb.

My most memorable quote from Barker is one that I have used often with many groups, leadership gatherings and discussions: “Vision without Action is merely a Dream; Action without Vision just passes the time; Vision in Action can change the World.”  Straightforward. Direct. Thought provoking.  Challenging. Life-changing.

“Vision”, beyond dreaming, requires action to be fulfilled.  That action calls for thinking, planning and implementation.  When that is done, “Vision” is no longer a dream and takes on an entirely different meaning.  It becomes a part of you, a part of your business or organization, a part of your life.  It helps to define who you are and what you intend to do with your future.

Thank you, Joel Arthur Barker…most sincerely.