Do you have a dream, but are afraid to move forward? Are you carrying around baggage from a previous disappointment and hesitant to go through that experience again? The ‘F’ word – fear and it’s partner, doubt, are real and need to be faced head on.
What if my dream doesn’t come true? There’s an old saying: you’ve only failed when you stop trying. Your dream may not come true exactly the way you envision it today. Adjust and adapt. Perhaps you’ll identify a new opportunity or a new niche that interests you. Go for it! You may need to implement in phases due to financial considerations or time constraints. That’s OK. Just don’t dumb your dream down or reduce it because of those factors. Keep an eye on the destination and allow zig zags and stepping stones to be part of the journey.
What if I don’t have what it takes to make my dream come true? Actually, you may not, especially if your dream is really big. Do you want to open a high-end restaurant because you love to cook, but your current job is in accounting? You’ll need to go back to school. Do you want to be an entrepreneur but you’ve never even owned a lemonade stand? The transition from corporate employee to business owner can be rocky and full of ‘learning’ experiences. Trust me – I’m on that road right now. Be open to learning and summon up the confidence to stumble. Acknowledge where and who you are today, and look at who you need to be. Then take action to fill the gap. Even small steps build momentum.
What if it turns out I don’t really want what I’m dreaming about? What if I’m disappointed once my dream comes true? There are some people who aren’t satisfied with anything. They hide in dreams or say, my life would be great if only…. Others are driven by ego and ‘shoulds’ imposed by their younger self or parents. Start with acknowledging who you are today. Be grateful for today. Truly look at your life and find the good things now. Make a commitment and implement daily practices to stay conscious of those nuggets and figure out how create more of them in your life. Once you stop hiding in fantasies or clinging to ideas that aren’t true for you anymore and start living your life today – now – your true dreamer will emerge.
What if it’s harder than I think it’s going to be? No surprise here - it will be. The bigger your dream the harder it’s likely to be. What an adventure! It will require you to learn and demonstrate persistence, courage, and strategic thinking, You’ll need to let go of the myth that you can do it all on your own. You’ll need to build a team of people to help and support you. Your precious ego is going to take a beating. Think how different you’ll be two years from now.
What if it’s easier than I think it’s going to be? Lucky you – everyone will be green with envy. Next step – dream bigger.
What if everyone tells me I’m nuts for wanting to pursue my dream? A lot of people will. Listen to their concerns and incorporate their advice and feedback into your plans. If their feedback is to abandon your dream, smile, say thank you and move forward. Your heart and gut is the best judge of what’s right for you.
What if I run out of money while pursuing my dream? Part of your planning needs to include financial resources. Part of the zig-zagging may mean staying in your current job for awhile longer, or getting a part-time or contract job while you build your dream. Perhaps you’ll need investors, which means you’ll need help learning how to swim in the shark tank. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t pursue your dream. It just means you’ll need a very detailed plan.
If you have a dream, I’d love to be your dream coach. I have a proven 10 step process which has helped thousands of dreams come true. It will teach you key skills and techniques you can use over and over for making any dream a reality. Contact me, and let’s get started on making 2012 the year your dream comes true.
