Online Newsletter
March 2009 - After the Dream, Now What?
This article is based on a workshop we did recently called "After the Dream, Now What?"
Many people have dreams. Most of those dreams are just that — dreams and they never become anything more. People who are successful find ways to turn their dream into reality.
How to do that? Well, it’s just a matter of going step-by-step. In this article, we cover the basic steps. Our book, Income Without a Job, goes much more into the details of the process.
Start by clearly defining your dream and what you think, feel and know that it will be when it is complete.
As we found in our workshop, it helps to have others work with you through the steps. We have noticed that in a room of creative people, something magical happens when we put up a flip-chart and start asking questions. People come up with wonderfully creative ideas. Try it with you friends and you too might be pleasantly surprised how much you can learn and how much you can create with a group working together.
Step 1: What do you have already?
This step is where you look at your assets: who you are, what you have already, what you feel about yourself and your life.
You may be surprised that in doing an in-depth analysis of what you have already, you may find that you have a lot more than you thought. That’s a very good place to start!
Step 2: What do you need?
Next, look at what you need to achieve your dream. Most people think all they need is money. In fact, often what they need most is other people who are willing to help work on the idea of the dream and help get it to a place where it can be a viable dream.
They often need planning — either a business plan or someone who can help them create one. They often need people to help with organizing the business or helping to organize your life so you have the time and energy to devote to the idea.
Step 3: What stands in the way of the dream?
In step 3, identify the things that you think are keeping you from achieving your dream. Go into detail about the various aspects of your life. (We have a detailed series of questions and worksheets to use in the book).
Step 4: Identify how to overcome those barriers.
For each barrier identified in Step 3, identify ways to get past them. Many people find that the barrier they "think" are holding them back are really just imaginary blocks. A group of supportive friends or colleagues can help you to see those as the imaginary blocks they are.
Step 5: Identify who will be impacted by the changes you made?
When you start to work on achieving your dream, you will be changing. Your life will be changing. Who will be impacted by those changes — in a positive way and in a not so positive way?
Step 6: What are the rewards and benefits from achieving your dream?
Who will benefit from your dream? Will the world be a better place when you achieve your dream? Will people have better products or services? Will you have a better, more productive life?
Step 7: What needs to happen next?
At step 7, you create a list of the things that you will do next toward achieving your dream. Often, the next step is creating a more detailed plan of approaching your dream, finding ways to use the resources you already have and making clear plans for overcoming the barriers that seem to be holding you back.
Whatever your dream, make a commitment to yourself today to take at least one step every single day toward achieving your dream.
"Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence.
Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent.
Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb.
Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts.
Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.
The slogan "press on" has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race"
— Calvin Coolidge
If you are thinking about creating sources of income, new business ideas or exploring expansion of a existing business, our book Income Without a Job has some great exercises to assist with that.
This page is http://www.income-without-a-job.com/news/mar2009.htm
