“A dream is in the mind of the believer, and in the hands of the doer. You are not given a dream without being given the power to make it come true.” Anonymous.

Think about what you’ve been dreaming of. Is it to film a documentary? Get an advanced degree? Write and publish a novel? Whatever your dream may be, YOU have the power to make it happen. But how?

STEP ONE: Determine your dream. Close your eyes and take a few minutes to think about what you want to get from your life.  What is it that you really want to achieve? Don’t let things like time or money cloud your thoughts—just think about what it is that you want. Take time to do this now before you continue to step two. TIPS: 1. A good goal is desirable and attainable. 2. A good goal has a price. Decide what you want and then weigh the cost. Are you willing to sacrifice your bowling league to attend classes in the evenings? 3. A goal must get you FIRED UP! If you aren’t excited about it, it might not be big enough!

STEP TWO: Find your “why.” WHY do you want to film a documentary? It is because you want to be a world-renowned videographer? Bring to light a certain socioeconomic issue?  Promote your garage band? Whatever your reason may be, make sure that it has meaning for you.  Your “why” is what is going to keep you going if things get tough.

STEP THREE: Break it down. Envision a ladder that leads to your ultimate goal or dream. Each rung will bring you one step closer to that dream. So you want to get an advanced degree. What do you need to do first? 1. Find a school with the program you are interested in… 2. Complete your application… 3. Register for classes. 

“Inch by inch, it’s a cinch. Yard by yard, it’s hard.” Mary Kay Ash.

STEP FOUR: Make a plan. It’s time to get specific. How and when are you going to reach each rung of your ladder? What do you need to do this month? This week? What about today? Set small daily goals to keep you moving toward your dream.

STEP FIVE: Find Support. Is there someone that has a similar goal or dream? If so, you’ve found a potential Power Partner. If you are having a challenging week as you struggle with writers’ block and incessant interruptions, a phone call from your power partner can be just what you need to keep on typing.

Also, be aware of roadblocks. Do you find your attention drifting to the television/kids/spouse when you are writing? Find a new location for the computer where you can focus on writing. If you can, invest in a laptop and enjoy writing outdoors or anywhere you find inspiration. No roadblock can keep you from your goal unless you allow it to.

STEP SIX: Have courage. It doesn’t take courage to say that you are going to accomplish something a year from now. It does take courage to say what you are going to do today to make it happen. Try to do one thing each day to bring you closer to your dream.

“All our dreams can come true—if we have the courage to pursue them.” Walt Disney.

This entry was posted on Thursday, September 6th, 2007 at 9:28 am and is filed under General Communications. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.