6 THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT PURSUING YOUR DREAMS
- Pascale Yav
- Oct 19, 2020
- 5 min read
I used to think discovering my purpose or finding new dreams would translate into “and she lived happily ever after”, ah what a lie! Between all the Disney movies and social media we are exposed
to, there is an illusion that finding your dreams is the be all and end all, and you can finally sit back and relax. There are hardly any publicized examples of steps taken to maintain and achieve dreams. But much like potential however, dreams add up to nothing unless the dreamer rises to acts on it. I am sorry, but I’m about to burst some Cinderella-sugar-coated bubbles with 6 basics truths about what it takes to pursue your dreams and step into purpose. Here we go:
1. NOTHING MOVES UNLESS YOU DO
Newton’s law of motion states that an object will not change its motion unless a force acts on it. Your dream is that object, and you are that force. Dreams don’t move unless you act on them. As a force, your power is the sum of your vision (or lack thereof), attitude, resources and abilities. To be an effective force, you must embrace hard work and a willingness to work for your dreams before it begins to work for you.
No driver gets into a car, sets the GPS on, only to sits back and look pretty. He has a plan to get moving by turning on the engine and actually driving to his destination! You don’t always need a 5-year plan to get moving, but you need a plan. And if the thought of planning for 365 days overwhelms you, then break your yearly goals into quarterly goals. What do you need to do in the next 3 months to achieve your goals? Maybe its time you took up that course, attended that conference, or drew up that business plan. Remember, small movement is better than no movement.
2. BE RIGHTFULLY POSITIONED
Have you ever met a brilliant person who is just constantly overlooked? Along with movement comes positioning. Nature gives us a perfect example: flowers grow towards the sun on purpose. I once worked as an estate agent for about a year. And while I enjoyed working with different clients, I was bored and not intellectually stimulated, and I eventually became frustrated about the lack of career progression. One would think being able to pay the bills and socialize would serve as enough incentive to stay. When you’re not rightfully positioned, you run the risk of overexerting yourself and ultimately underestimating your own potential. Positioning has more to do with direction than immediate reward. Beyoncé knew she wanted a career in music, so she married the music producer – just saying! Your friends may be great, but are you growing with them around you? Do your research to establish your key places, resources, times, and people, by asking yourself this question: “For where I’m headed, what do I need to do when, and with whom?”
"Positioning has more to do with direction than immediate reward"
3. RECOGNIZE SPECIALLY PACKAGED OPPORTUNITIES
Specially packaged opportunities are those rare “buy one get one free” promotions, whose prices eventually return to normal at a certain hour. Buying into it could grow your network and set you apart sooner, but at midnight, this special offer expires, darling!
A rare opportunity could be found in a life partner who may not have it all figured but could be the catalyst for progress in your life due to their ability to see your vision, help, and motivate you. Once you recognize that opportunity, step up and take it.
If you’re into motivational speaking and there’s an opportunity to speak to 10-year-old learners at a school, take it! You may not receive a cheque after that event, but the payment is in the learning experience and opportunity to practice for a bigger platform. An athlete would never start racing with the big guns without months of preparation and stretching way in advance. Injuries happen when greatness is given to people who haven’t stretched. Stretching helps us discover new capabilities, prevent injuries and ready us to compete in bigger spaces. Are you grabbing hold of those seasonal opportunities? Are you preparing and practicing for what’s ahead of you?
4. DREAMS REQUIRE MAINTENANCE
And maintenance costs. Nobody moves into a new mansion that stays clean all the time without any effort. You may be great at business, but maybe you need to brush up on your negotiation skills or take up that social media marketing course. Be aware of what your dream requires from you based on the season during which you’re building. Financial capital may be necessary to take on a new venture, but human capital and management skills are what will sustain the venture in the long run. The key is to keep reinventing yourself with time. Don’t be too pleased with past success that you become too comfortable or continue using old methods to solve new problems. Whether you’re learning through networking or skills development, you must be prepared for the costs (finances, time, energy) associated with maintaining your dream.
"Be aware of what your dream requires from you based on the season during which you’re building"
5. COLLABORATION IS A MUST
No man is an island, and football matches with their many sponsors are proof of that. And may I remind you that some of the most powerful companies were built with co-founders. These individuals harnessed the power of what author Napoleon Hill refers to as the ‘collective brain’ in his book “Think and Grow Rich”. Because nobody knows it all, it makes sense to associate with other knowledgeable minds to help you grow.
Look, I get it: you’ve finally gotten to a place where YOU get the picture and you’re ready to go solo for the sake of protecting your dream. But allow people to step in and act as enablers of your dreams by providing guidance, perspective, and opportunities. That football match is impossible without sponsors. So learn from your competitors and strengthen your network by collaborating with others, remembering that “alone you can go fast, but together we can go further”. It is also important to acknowledge those who have helped you. And while you’re at it, support a buddy’s dream of becoming an influencer by subscribing to their Youtube channel already!
6. WATCH OUT FOR YOUR RESPONSE TO FAILURE
"Humans respond to failure with 3 main emotions: anger, regret and embarrassment"
The Japanese proverb of “fall down 7 times, get up 8” has never been more applicable when building towards a dream. Listen, you will fail sometimes, and it is okay. In failure lies the key to success. To avoid giving up at the point of a first obstacle, make sure you are both passionate about and committed to what you are pursuing – especially when you are past the phase of exploration. Not only will this desire to succeed soften the blow of failure, but it will ensure you stay the course irrespective of obstacles that come your way. Humans respond to failure with 3 main emotions: regret (“I should have, but didn’t”), embarrassment (“what will people say about me”), and anger (…you can fill in this blank). Learning how to deal with these emotions prevents stress and one’s ability to better manage situations involving failure. One way to do this is by getting rid of ideas tied to the permanency of failure. Failure is not permanent.
Dreams are possible and there are countless success stories to prove that. However, be sure that you are placing yourself in the best possible position to succeed at what you are embarking on. Take some time to evaluate your progress and position, and decide what you need to do this week, this month, or this quarter. Establish your key places, resources, times, and people. Be proactive. Get up if you’ve fallen. And give your dream a chance to be. And if you’re tempted to give up before you’ve started, be Wise About That Feeling!
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