How To Get To Your Dream

Step 1 - Define the dream.

Examples of good definitions:

• Save 500 lives by donating blood.
• Fully fund a non-profit in my area for the year.
• Reach $x in revenue by 2025.

Examples of bad definitions:

• Change education.
• Start a non-profit.
• Disrupt the industry.

Hint: If you can't "check the box," then it's bad definition. You can't check the box on "learning Spanish," because you can always improve. You CAN check the box that reads "have a 30-minute conversation in Spanish with a native speaker."

Step 2 - Validate the dream's feasibility.

Example of good sources of validation:

• Experts in the field.

Example of bad sources of validation:

• Friends and family.

Step 3 - Start.

Examples of bad starts:

• Designing a logo.
• Filing for an LLC.
• Building software.

Examples of good starts:

• Making a sales call.
• Emailing your list with an offer.
• Any work you are currently avoiding.

Other tips:

• You have to start before you can see the ending.
• Gather the tools you need as you need them, or you might get caught up by how fun it is to buy all the gear instead of spending your energy on your mission.
• Be clear about WHY you have this dream, and whose dream it actually is.

2 Minute Action:

What's a goal you've had? When would you be able to check the box?Have you talked to any experts about how possible it is?Take a look at who you know in the industry (LinkedIn is great for this), and reach out to them, right now.

What To Do With Giant Goals

What do you do when your dreams are so incapacitatingly huge?What do you do when you have a BHAG (Big Hairy, Audacious, Goal)?This one, I learned from LEGO as a kid.The picture on the box can be so incredible, but so intimidating.The trick is taking it one step at a time.Simple, but not easy.It turns out that big, hairy, complicated things are actually made up of lots of small, achievable, actionable things.By breaking the big goal down small enough, you enable yourself to see a starting point, mico-missions, and tasks that are manageable.So what to do when you're feeling stuck?Make it smaller.Practice the habit of asking "can it be smaller?" and you will start developing the confidence you need for even bigger, hairier goals.

2 Minute Action

What's something you've been meaning to do but haven't gotten to?What's something you'd like to have finished in the next 10 years?Why can't you start?How would you start if you knew you could never get around that obstacle?What's a step you can take right now? (send an email, make a phone call)Can it be smaller?Breaking big things down into smaller things will help you score a lot of small wins.Small wins will develop the trust in yourself to take on bigger challenges.Don't think you're going to bench press 500lbs on your first day.Get practical.

Are You An Entitled Snowflake?

Let's be clear about snowflakes:

You can't have the job you want, just because you want it.You won't get a trophy just for being at the race.It's interesting to see on the news how the idea of being a "snowflake," a unique, special person, is synonymous with entitlement.You are not entitled to anything . . . well, except for one thing.That's love and empathy from other human beings.Your existence doesn't grant you the right to anything you want.That would be, of course, ridiculous.What's also ridiculous is the idea that you're born with NO rights.And on America's independence day, we have a chance to evaluate our inalienable rights and who is entitled to them.Personally, I'd like to live in a world where we think about others before we form a belief about who we think they are.I'd like to live in a world where everyone has an equal shot at the life of their dreams.

2 Minute Action

This is your chance to take 2 minutes and ask yourself:

• What are you free from?
• What are you not?
• What are you going to do about it?