Gordon scribbled some notes on a Whiteboard, then suggested they divide the day into three sessions.

In session one, he would help Jill and John develop a clear vision of what this restaurant business would look like and be like if it were very successful.

In the second session, they would focus on identifying and designing all the restaurant and business systems that would be needed to operate the business effectively.

In the third session they would establish key priorities and create practical action plans for the high priority items. 

Gordon summarised the three sessions as `Dream it, Design it and Deliver it.

Gordon produced a large sheet of paper and placed it landscape mode (horizontally) on the table.

He then drew a top box and added the words `Our Vision of a Successful Restaurant Business'.

With a marker pen, he then added a `squiggle' symbol into the box.

Gordon then gave some instructions to Jill and John. "Let this top box represent what you both would consider a `Successful' restaurant business". 

He then went on to explain that the `squiggle' was their licence to dream.

Next he said "use your imagination and think about what would make a major success contribution to your restaurant business"?

The first to speak was John.

"At the moment the premises are terrible. Better or great premises would certainly make a big contribution to our situation".

Gordon created major box number 1. And wrote in John's conceptual vision component `Great Premises'.

To indicate that it was just a dream or concept at this stage, Gordon added a squiggle symbol in front of `Great Premises'.

"What else would make a major contribution?" Asked Gordon.

"How about excellent food?" Said Jill. 

Gordon put Excellent Food into major box 2.0.

`Effective marketing', `Great Financial Situation' and `Competent Staff' were mentioned and duly put into boxes.

Two or three other major items were also identified and added to the chart.

For our simple overview we will just work with the first five items mentioned. Later examples will focus on completeness.

Having identified a number of major vision components, Gordon now asks Jill and John to break each of these major items down into smaller `attributes' or component parts.

But he asks them to do it by `what' and not by `how'.

In other words he is more interested in getting Jill and John to be clear on `what' Great Premises would look like and be like.

At this point they don't need to think about the `how'.

The `how' comes later, after they are very clear on the `what'.

Gordon asks them to identify attributes or parts or characteristics of what they called `Great Premises'.

Jill gets some images in her mind of what she would like the inside of the restaurant to look like. She then calls out `Smart interiors'.

Gordon creates a sub-box 1.1 and names it `Smart Interiors'.

John's imagination kicks in and he mentions `Good outside appearance' and then `excellent car parking'.

Jill said, "it would be nice if the restaurant could be seen right down the street". 

These ideas were captured in sub-boxes 1.2 to 1.4.

If they know what the `whole' is, what then are the `parts' that make up the 'whole'?

Gordon asks them to identify attributes or parts or characteristics of what they called `Great Premises'.

Jill gets some images in her mind of what she would like the inside of the restaurant to look like. She then calls out `Smart interiors'.

Gordon creates a sub-box 1.1 and names it `Smart Interiors'.

John's imagination kicks in and he mentions `Good outside appearance' and then `excellent car parking'.

Jill said, "it would be nice if the restaurant could be seen right down the street". 

These ideas were captured in sub-boxes 1.2 to 1.4.

Over the next hour or so,

Gordon, Jill and John talk about and do attribute breakdowns of all the other major boxes.

By focusing on the `what' rather than the `how', Jill and John have been able to develop a good understanding of what they would ideally like their business to be like.

They have developed a `common vision of success'.

At this point Gordon did a color print out of the Vision Chart. He then suggested they take  well-earned lunch break.