Vision

I was talking with a fellow designer they other day and something slammed me in the face, maintaining vision.  He commented that it was great that I have the time to plan and plot what sectors I am looking for new clients.  So the question  presented itself; How do I maintain this point of vision when I am deep in the work? 

I know it's not an impossibility, many of the design firms I consider "successful" clearly keep this vision.  Though I have seen many a designer/firms new business growth suffer due to being buried in work.  What separates the two?  Is it staff, is it personality, or is it something else?  

Most businesses start off under staffed,and most problems can be solved with more resources aka. people, but that takes time and money to acquire. So that rules out the first option.  I believe personality may be a large factor.  Personality drives the culture of a firm, if the culture is one of curiosity and development, they will most likely search for new challenges.  

But what is the X factor?  Website, mailers, brochures, business lunches, seminars, call lists?  These are all even sum items, they offer no unique advantage to competitors, save various content.  I feel it is what we do with these things that make the difference.  It is how we get our message out there that drives the clients toward us.  Referrals, word of mouth, press and awards.  These things are the great return on our investment in our own brand.  They allow the proper growth to happen to allow us the ability to maintain that vision.  I really hope that the foundation I am laying will offer that to me in return.