My wife and I recently watched the film King Richard, which tells the deeply moving story of how RIchard Williams, the father of tennis phenoms Venus and Serena Williams, piloted his daughters to astonishing success. As a parent and a leader, I was both inspired and convicted by his tenacious commitment to “raise champions.”

Among the many compelling aspects of his strategy to “raise champions,” there was one that struck me with particular force. The movie informs us that before Venus and Serena were born, Williams allegedly wrote a 78 page plan detailing how he was going to position them for success. I use the term “allegedly” because although this plan is repeatedly referred to throughout the film, we never get to see a copy of it. Of course after the film I scoured the internet searching for evidence of it, but to no avail. This plan that Williams allegedly wrote was first reported by Reeves Wiedeman in a May 2014 interview with New Yorker Magazine. However, many people are skeptical about whether any such document ever existed. It is a well known fact that Williams was prone to exaggeration, and enjoyed playing mental games with the media, especially with those who underestimated his drive and intelligence, and his daughters’ talent. In any event, I haven’t been able to find any evidence of this plan.

But so what? It is clear that Richard Williams had some kind of plan, whether it was written or not. The kind of success that his daughters have achieved is simply unthinkable without the foresight, creativity, and determination that careful planning requires. Far too many of us coast through life haphazardly, waiting for something to happen. And while it is true that we cannot predict the future and that our lives can change at any moment, I doubt very seriously if any of us will ever realize our full potential if we fail to plan. Williams had a plan.

But Williams did more than just plan. He planned for his daughters to be the best…EVER! His plans for his two daughters were HUGE! He told Venus she would win Wimbleton 5 times. And he told Serena that she would be the greatest player to ever play the sport. And my friends, his predictions (based on his plans) have come true.

Amazing.

Daniel Burhmam wrote these words:

Make no little plans. They have no magic to stir men’s blood and probably themselves will not be realized. Make big plans; aim high in hope and work, remembering that a noble, logical diagram once recorded will never die, but long after we are gone will be a living thing, asserting itself with ever-growing insistency. Remember that our sons and grandsons are going to do things that would stagger us. Let your watchword be order and your beacon beauty. Think big.

Here are a few questions:

1. What are your plans? For for future? your family? your finances?

2. How big are they?

3. Do the plans you are making scare you?

If the plans you are making don’t scare you, they probably aren’t big enough. Make your plans so big that when you share them with others, they immediately respond with amused skepticism.

The Bible introduces us to a man named Joseph who was betrayed by his brothers, lied on by his employer, and wound up in a prison cell. While there, he met someone who worked in the court of Pharaoh, the most powerful person of his era. After using his gifts as an interpreter of dreams to solve a problem for his fellow prisoner, Joseph made a stunning request. Genesis 40:14 says that Joseph asked his fellow inmate to do him a favor. He said “when you get out of this place, “tell Pharaoh about me.” While Joseph was in prison, he recruited his fellow inmate to become his agent—pro bono. “Tell Pharaoh about me.”

I have often wondered what the butler thought of Joseph’s request. Well, we know that when the butler was released he forgot about Joseph’s request for at least two years, which is an indicator of how little he valued it. But he eventually remembered, and told Pharaoh about Joseph—and Joseph’s life changed.

Joseph’s request suggests that he was thinking about how to get out of prison while he was still in prison. Instead of complaining about his fate, and surrendering his future and his responsibility for it, Joseph was actively engaged in pursuing a better tomorrow.. Although he was in prison, he wasn’t planning to stay there. “Tell Pharaoh about me!”

Make no small plans.

Small plans insult God.

Give God an opportunity to show you what he can do.