Here are a few points about a successful vision taken from the research:

* The vision must be unique. Not uniqueness of product per se, but unique in the way your product serves the world;

* The vision must be simple and easy to grasp;

* Seeds of the vision typically exist in some form in other products or services; (Thank goodness we don't all have to be inventors or originals-only visionaries!)

The new vision may be of a thing for which there no market-yet. (This last bit is illuminating for any of us stuck in market research.)

And some important points regarding will:

* Reaching your vision may take a long time. Vision without will won't get you there. Only great commitment can;

* A misplaced belief in luck or other unseen forces hinders our ability to persist. We will find evidence that no such luck exists, and use that as an excuse to quit.

* And this great insight: persistence can manifest as a series of minor solutions, and contrarily, complacency in small successes can be a barrier to innovation that farsighted vision requires.

Some additional tips for long-term success:

* Maintain a continuous feedback loop and solicit others' opinions regarding your execution;

* Keep a sharp eye for market changes, and be willing to respond quickly;

* And as Andrew Grove suggests, paranoia drives innovation. A healthy fear of competitors sneaking up on you can keep your product or service fresh;

So how big is YOUR vision?

Is your vision big enough to drive the kind of success you seek? Is your vision large enough to sustain you? Is it important enough to mobilize the resources necessary for its realization? Is it sufficiently inspiring to partners and employees and customers and investors-and all the other people you need to be successful?

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