Build Your Own Dream

Build Your Own Dream

You can start to dream with a vision statement-a phrase or sentence that tells what you are about. Here's an example of a vision statement: "I live a life that will bring encouragement, optimism and hope to all I meet." Note that the statement is in the first person, present tense indicating that the future begins now.
As you consider your vision statement, be certain you're using your own measuring stick-not your mother's, or father's, or your wife's, or your husband's, or your friend's. What do you want out of life? What's important to you? What are you about?
Here are some questions to help define your vision statement. As you answer these questions you'll be able to understand what motivates you:
What three activities are most important to you?
What three activities give you the most enjoyment?
What three things do you want written on your tombstone?
What three things do you want to do for others?
What three things would you change about your life?
What three qualities would you most like to see associated with your reputation?

Expand Your Financial Dreams.
What ten things do you want in life? Would you like to get out of debt? What kind of house do you want? What kind of cars do you want to drive? If you had all the money you wanted, where would you go on a vaca¬tion? Where do you want your children to go to college? How much money would you like to give to your church or to charities? When do you want to retire? (Retirement depends on money, not age.) What net worth do you want to accumulate?

Make a dream list here:


Now study everything you have written so far. Sum up, in one or two sentences, a concise description of who you want to be. Write your vision statement in the first person, present tense.
I am a person who:
Formulating a vision statement and writing down those things you desire helps you focus on your plea¬sures, your talents, and your bliss. Once you've expand¬ed your vision, your expectations will direct you toward fulfilling your dreams.
It helps to put your dream statement on the refrig¬erator. Read it regularly. Cut out pictures of the things you want to enjoy. Look at the pictures several times a day. See yourself becoming your dream and living the life you want to live.
When you dream extraordinary dreams, some peo¬ple - perhaps a family member, friend, co-worker, or even your boss - may try to take your vision from you. When they see pictures of your dreams on the refrigerator or the bathroom mirror, they will think you have flipped. When they see a first person, present tense, vision statement they will know you have gone over the edge. When they see you joyful and smiling, positive and optimistic, they'll wonder what drug you are taking.
They will worry about you. They will try to steal your dream: "Don't get so excited, this might not work out." "You've got a good job; why do you want to change to something so uncertain?" "I know someone who tried that and they failed miserably."
Unfulfilled people are like crabs. Put crabs in a bucket and watch. If one crab attempts to crawl out of a bucket, the others pull the adventurer back down. People are like that. If you get a dream, they'll try to destroy it.

Go for excellence and you'll be laughed at, criti¬cized, and gossiped about. Who cares? It's your life. Trade acceptance for excellence.
When someone or some event in your life begins to steal your dream, don't despair. Stand tall and straight, face the cold and penetrating wind of dissension and press on toward your dream.