I stumbled on a pretty cool blog today. The good Matt Inman over at SEOmoz was talking about web design and how explaining how too many people’s opinions can really kills things. As a fellow web designer, I identify with his argument that:
“The more time that is spent dissecting, analyzing, and critiquing a design by the wrong kinds of people the worse that design gets. The same trend applies to the number of people involved in the design process.”
He’s got a great graphic here, too. This is his. Not mine:
I agree. And not just when it comes to web development. But specifically when it comes to missions, or church planting, or simply just our vision for what we feel God has shown us. I’ve noticed that the more people throw in their opinions, the muddier the water becomes. This isn’t to say that opinion is bad. Just that mediocre opinion – ideas that come from someone without special insight, like your friend Chris (~ sorry man, had to use someone as an example) – is a dangerous thing for an individuals vision. I tend to hold to what I heard Floyd McClung say way back on ’97:
Never, ever give your vision away. Don’t release it to others and hope they fulfill it. Hold on to it. Grow it. It’s the vision God has given you.
So, when it comes time to share your next big plan with others, do it. But beware of how the wrong opinion can skew your idea. For the love of all that is good and true in this world, we do not want to make the eyes of little kids hemorrhage.