7 Ways to
Turn Your Dreams Into Reality
Dreams without action is a world of make believe.
Consider the following.
- 96 percent of college professors believe they have above average teaching skills.
- 50 percent of high school students believe they will attend law school, medical school or grad school.
- Time magazine asked in a survey, “Are you in the top 1% of wage earners?” Nineteen percent said yes! And 36 percent expected to be.
Really?!!!
A dream without a plan is soon exposed.
“When the tide goes out, you discover who’s been swimming naked.” —Warren Buffet
John Kotter has said there are two kinds of
people in the world: those who accept their life, and those
who lead their life. Some people just get up, look at their life and hope
something good will happen. The successful person says:
- I’m going to make something happen.
- I’m going to build on trust.
- Make that relationship work.
- Take control over the things I have influence over.
- Lead my life.
- Create a personal learning agenda that will help fulfill my dreams.
The obvious lesson? The key to transforming
dreams into reality is to set goals that can be broken down into doable steps.
“The secret to change is one step at a time.” —Mark Twain
Is there a gap between what you know or the
skills you have, and the information or the skills you need to actualize your
dream? These seven steps will help.
Related: 7 Steps to
Achieve Your Dream
1. Start with the end in mind.
Determine
your goals and ask yourself: Where do I want to be next year? What do
I need to do to accomplish these goals? Your answers instantly
become your learning agenda.
2. Assess the skills or knowledge you’ll need.
Some goals won’t require new skills or knowledge,
but others will. What specific skills are needed to make
your dream(s) come true? What skill that you already possess would you like
to improve by 25 percent within the next year?
3. Explore the best sources.
Is it going back to school? Enrolling in a
training course offered by your employer? Developing
a relationship with mentors and/or co-workers who can teach you skills or
give you insights? Look for that optimal source for every skill you decide you
need to learn.
4. Create your learning agenda.
You now have the information, so start creating your
learning plan. It should lay out the skills and knowledge you need to
acquire. It should include a timeline of where and when you will go about it.
And it should be in writing, on no more than
one page. It’s too easy to lose your “ball” in the weeds.
5. Begin with the most important.
Don’t start with the hardest or the easiest. What
is the most important thing you can do right now? Evaluate and then rank them
according to value. Enroll your action plan into M.I.T. (Most Important Thing).
6. Get moving.
Execute. What is your W.O.W. (Within One Week)?
What step will you commit to this next week?
And of the utmost importance….
7. Identify your limiting beliefs.
We all have them. When you identify them, they
begin to lose their power. Don’t
doubt your dream.
- I’m too young.
- I’m too old.
- I don’t have the time.
- I don’t have the money.
- I never follow through.
- Someday I’ll…
Every time you do something you didn’t think you
could do, your confidence is built. Action
leads to confidence more than confidence
leads to action.
Confidence = Positive Self-Regard + Competence
One without the other will not equate to
confidence. You need to build on both. And it’s not an overnighter. It’s day in
and day out—building one day at a time.
You can choose what you will believe, and it will
shift
your mindset to be clear on the action you will take. I am not talking about
clicking your heels together, like Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz,
saying I believe… I believe. I’m talking about putting a
stake in the ground and making claim to your life.
These steps will become part of your Doubt-Removal
System. This will shift your mindset, and this action will deal
with your limiting beliefs.
wow that's a nice one
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