I visited Paris for 3 weeks in May, 1976 with a group of other Houghton College students. As part of the trip, we visited a gorgeous home where a Houghton alum lived. He represented a large U.S. business in Europe.

I have never forgotten one piece of advice he gave us: “It’s all about people.”

This successful businessperson told us that some people think the key to business success is advanced technology. Some people think the key to business success is brilliant marketing. Some people think the key to business success is rigorous financial analysis.

The list goes on and on. People usually think that their area of expertise is the key to business success.

Such people end up very frustrated—even bitter. Because they don’t get promoted. And they feel that their importance to the business is not appreciated.

Our host explained that these frustrated people simply don’t understand that the key to success in business is people—not technology, marketing, financial analysis, or any other part of a successful business.

You can’t sell products to customers unless you are skilled at persuading people to want what you sell. You can’t get employees to work hard unless you are skilled at motivating people . You can’t get money invested in your business, unless you are skilled at convincing people to trust you.

I’ve repeated this “mentoring advice” many times over the years. It doesn’t apply only in business. It applies in all aspects of life.

That’s why my Vision of America is all about people.

I don’t envision America as an economic system.

I don’t envision America as a religious, ideological, or philosophical system.

I don’t envision America as a political system.

I don’t envision America as requiring any specific economic system; religious, ideological or philosophical system; or political system.

I don’t envision America as being limited to any specific culture, nation, geographic area, or planet.

I envision America as a commitment by ALL HUMANITY to bless ALL PEOPLE!

I envision America as a commitment by ALL HUMANITY to set ALL PEOPLE free!

I envision America as a commitment by ALL HUMANITY to help ALL PEOPLE who are hurting!

I envision America as a commitment by ALL HUMANITY to build a civilization that is good—that is very good!

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To read more about my Vision of America, please read my book, Visions of America (it is published with my book Visions of the Church) to discover America as first seen in the hearts of Abraham, Moses and Jesus—an ideal America where all people will be blessed, where all people will be set free, and where all hurting people will be helped.

To read more blogs about my Vision of America, click on the Category “America” at the top of this blog.

To read about “How Do We Build a Civilization That Is Good—That is Very Good”, please read my blog by that name as well as pages 19-25 of my book, The Promised Land.