Vision is the act or power of seeing, or the special sense by which the qualities of an object constituting its appearance are perceived through a process in which light rays entering the eye are transformed by the retina into electrical signals that are transmitted to the brain via the optic nerve. However, the term "vision" can also refer to a mental picture of the future that can be used to direct actions and provide a sense of purpose. In the context of a company or organization, a vision statement is a high-level, inspirational statement of an idealistic emotional future that describes the basic human emotion that a founder intends to be experienced by the people the organization interacts with. A vision statement can serve as a foundation for a broader strategic plan, motivate employees, attract potential employees, focus company efforts, facilitate the creation of core competencies, and help companies differentiate from competitors.