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| Business Development |
 Dare to Dream - Unlocking Our Hidden PotentialBy Doug Jones of Powerline Communications The important things in life are goals. The REALLY important things are DREAMS. It has been widely touted that first a goal, then a dream. But my experience has been just the opposite. When I think back to the day I made the decision to go into the music business, I started to live my dream. My dream was powered by passion, and the passion unlocked vast amounts of creative energy. Music became my life. I ate, slept, and breathed music. For twenty years, from the heights of hysteria to the depths of despair, every goal I achieved (and some that I failed to achieve) allowed me to experience the awesome power of living a dream come true. We may wonder, what’s the difference between dreams and goals? These two terms - dreams and goals - are often used interchanged. But they do not mean the same thing. The dreams are our vision of heaven, and the goals are the ladder or staircase that get us to heaven. Dreams come from our souls. They are part of our essence. In our dreams we find six powerful components: •Desire - Desire is the impetus that sets each of us on the ladder or staircase to our dream. It is the part of the dream that makes us feel happy; helps us to see the journey as exciting and fulfilling (rather than as a long, hard climb). Dreams are the desires of our hearts. •Risk - What dream would be complete with out risk and intrigue? These are the challenges that enable us to jump out of our comfort zones. Risking something to achieve something, means success and excitement. •Excitement - The excitement that envelops and buoys us after achieving a goal or a dream is contagious and self-perpetuating. While excitement can be maintained for short periods of time, excitement’s long-term results are enthusiasm and joy, which are sustainable over longer periods. •Acknowledgement - To keep our spirits up, we need to acknowledge those who helped and are helping us to keep the spirit of our dreams alive. We need to acknowledge ourselves for being ourselves, and for striving to reach our dreams. •Mission - The mission is our journey. Businesses develop mission statements to direct their goals. Self-help books, such as Stephen Covey’s, “Seven Habits of Highly Effective People”, suggest that we develop personal mission statements to guide our lives. The mission is the roadmap that keeps the spirit from wondering off course, and is the anchor that brings our lost spirits back to our dreams. •Self - Self-esteem, image, and confidence - our internal strengths that support us on our mission, and that other people are attracted to and trust. To reach and live a dream, passion and persistence are the key ingredients. Passion is contagious and motivational. It inspires leadership and dedication and is both a precursor and a result of our dreams. If we’re not passionate about our careers, we’re probably in the wrong line of work. Persistence requires determination, tenacity, and a willing-ness to hang on to our dreams regardless of external circumstances. As Malcolm Forbes said: “Diamonds are nothing more than chunks of coal that stuck to their jobs.” Dreams are the diamonds in our lives, our reasons for living. Goals remind me of rungs on a ladder; they help us reach our dreams (while the passion and persistence give us the will to keep climbing). Goals help us achieve the little successes (and sometimes big successes) that lead to our dreams. A goal might be to lose twenty pounds, make a new friend, or to meet a new business contact. There are many books and articles on goal setting, but I prefer using ‘goals’ as an acronym that stands for: •Gumption - a word rarely used in today’s vocabulary. It means taking the initiative to get things going. •Objective - the target (where is it, what is it, and how long will it take to reach it). •Action - the plan for or process of completing the goal. •Labor - the hardest part of a goal because it requires physical or mental work and a great deal of energy. Paul Bauer said it best when he said, “goals are like band-aids, and dreams are like miracles.” So the next time you sit down to write out your goals, you might ask yourself: “Does the traditional way work for me, or should I try Doug’s way - dreams first (with passion and persistence to carry me along), and goals to help me achieve my dreams.” Doug Jones is a Keynote Speaker, Seminar Leader & President of Powerline Communications. He is an expert in one-on-one communications skills. For info on Doug's seminars, call 403.870.4609. www.powerlinecom.com |