WHEN YOU DARE TO DREAM…

Many people talk about and use the word dream without really knowing what it is. It is important to know what a dream is before we delve into the action of dreaming. A dream is a wish or fantasy to have something or be something or somebody. Normally when we talk about a dream we refer to something that is not so easy to achieve or attain.

Now, having seen what a dream is, my question to you is, do you dream? Maybe I should ask, do you have a dream? How often do you dream and how clear are your dreams? Since I still have the privilege of answering these questions here, I will just go ahead and deal with them. I believe every man dreams and that is translated to mean that every man has a dream or many dreams. I also believe strongly that some people dream more than others and also that some see and understand their dreams more than others.

Dreaming is the stock in trade of the highly successful people and great achievers. They practice dreaming as if it were an event in the Olympic Games. Unsuccessful people dream too. The difference is they dream only when they are opportune to and so hardly ever practice it. They do not attach any importance to dreams and dreaming.

The major difference however between the successful and unsuccessful dreamers is this: the successful ones wake up and make their dreams come through or become real while their opposite number do not but at best continue dreaming, hoping to just wake up and have the dream become real. That’s the point; they only hope or wish for it to become real. That is the very unfortunate part because as the saying goes, ‘If wishes were horses, then beggars could ride’, shows that wishes only become real in fairy tales.

Successful people make their dreams become real. How do they make their dreams come true? They keep it in view and under focus by attaching to it an accompanying fruition date. This automatically transforms the dream into a goal. What is a goal then and how important is it to have one? A goal is a dream with a deadline or completion date attached to it. Dreams give birth to goals and from there, they are inseparable. What are you dreams like? What do they consist of? Do you have the talents, abilities and aspirations to achieve your dreams? Are you dreams realistic or unachievable?

The reason for this line of questions is this: your dreams, as earlier stated will give birth to your goals and your goals will bring forth the results in your life. It is therefore pertinent to note that small and insignificant dreams will birth small and insignificant goals which will in turn produce small and insignificant results in your life. There are no short cuts to this truth.
Small dreams = Small goals + Small effort = Small achievement in life

So when you dare to dream, dream big dreams. Dream dreams that are out of this world but do well to remain in reality because only then can you measure and appreciate your progress in life. Dream big dreams and set great goals. When you dare to dream, let your imagination run wild, like a Tornado, destroying every thought of impossibility about the project or your life’s endeavour.

Too many people are dream- shy. They fear to dream as if they will have to pay for it. What an irony because the only thing they will have to pay for is, not being able to dream. It cost nothing but your mind and you imagination to be able to dream but it will cost you even your life’s happiness if you do not dream at all. This is because without dreams there will be no goals and without goals, there will be nothing to achieve. You will go through this life like a passer- by and will be remembered to have done or achieve nothing in particular. In fact, you will not be remembered at all. What a wasted life!

The greater percentage of people on earth have a one- way traffic dream: grow up, go to higher school, graduate, pick up a monthly- salary- paying job, get married and have children, retire and die receiving pension. Nothing more, nothing less! This type of dream is devoid of adventure. There is no fun, no spark, and no challenge and so this way they never impact lives meaningfully. They violate the essence or purpose of life which is to live a life of purpose because of the lack of a worthy dream. One Horace Mann said, ‘Be ashamed to die until you have won a victory for humanity.’ What dreams do you have about affecting lives and making a lasting impact? If you do not have one, then you should not die just yet because there are still plenty of things for you to do.

Having said all these, when you dare to dream consider this:
If your dream does not cause you to stay awake at night
If your dream does not cause you to sleep in the day time even while crossing the road
If your dream does not choke you to the point of suffocation even in a well ventilated room
If your dream does not try to drown you on dry land
If your dream does not make you lost in your effort to find a way
If your dream does not make you rich even without a dime to your name
If your dream does not make you poor in knowledge despite your academic qualifications
If your dream does not make you sick trying to fulfill it despite your great physical health
If your dream does not make you a wanderer despite your present physical address
If your dream does not take you into solitude despite being surrounded by a great multitude
If your dream does not make you reach out to people who can make it come true despite being but your dream
Then think again …
It may not be a dream after all but mere wishes and fantasies!

How to Stay Motivated and Achieve Your Goals

Getting the fact together when achieving personal goals is relatively easy. To stay motivated is not that easy to do. Motivation is the key for success. When you are playing sport, there is something drives you about your sport. Like exercise, competition, team work. There is always going to be something.

In goal achievement it is the same. How do you stay motivated? Do you have that drive which makes you feel unstoppable?

Before you take a index card and pen to write down your goals, you need to think about your goal and answer one question. Why is this goal so important for you? You need to answer this question for yourself.

On the index card write your goal in very detail, it has to be very detailed. Remember, the more you write and more reasons you will have for making your goal become reality, more motivation you will have for completing your goal.

When you have your goal ready written down, reread it over and over. Make sure, twice a day to read your goal, read everything you had put down. The way I do it is I read my goals in the morning and before I go to bed.

The process of rereading is helping me to concentrate on my goal. I am focused all the time, I am thinking about my goal. And I think as if I already achieved my goal. The motivation is great. When you loose your focus on your goal, and you don't want to do anything about completing your goal, start writing again.

Writing will help you bring the feeling of success back. Remember that you have to stay motivated all the time. The motivation is the motor for you that will help you achieve your goal.

Set reminders around you. If you took an index card set it in front of your computer, or in front of your working space. Let the reminder be around at all times. One more thing you can do is to have your goal typed in your cell phone. Each time you open you cell phone, you will see your goal. This will also help you stay motivated.

Personal Growth and Improvement Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jonn_Smith

How to Fearlessly Face a Transition

Man is so made that when anything fires his soul, impossibilities vanish.
- - Jean De La Fontaine

We're in the season of some of the greatest transitions of our time. Some good: a new year, a new and historic government (in the US), low interest rates. Some not so good feeling...layoffs, resource actions, mortgage and money challenges. Then there are the goal setters, the resolution makers and those who are fed up and had enough with where they are in their jobs, career and lives. It's the "ripe" time to look at the power of transitions to re-create joy, passion and excitement in your life and career.

More and more people are becoming open to the idea of change. They ask, "How could I make it work for me?" Well, certainly gaining a new perspective, experiencing more personal growth and the chance to have something different, is a good start. In a place of stagnation, just the mere thought of what could be can command worlds of energy and forces to line up to give you more of what you want. Why not take even one step toward what you're thinking about and just see what happens? Imagine...

John has toyed with the idea of writing a book for a long time. He questions whether he has the energy; commitment and concentration he needs to create what he most wants. Working with John, we explored how he could get a "taste" of what this could mean. John was willing to begin with blogging on his topic to get his creative juices flowing and test his commitment to sustaining his writing project. Using a free blogging service to contain his costs and feel more comfortable about the investment, he started slowly. Blogging proved to be challenging at first because of the time investment and need for fresh ideas to talk about. He realized that this was a good test of his commitment and also helped to sharpen his writing. As John continued and found his rhythm, he realized this was truly his calling and now had the evidence that this transition to his dream was now a reality. He is now actively building his plan and outline for his soon-to-be bestseller!

Are you willing to take one step, no matter how small, toward you greatest desire? Can you see and feel the action that will increase your energy, renew your passion and pump up your excitement?

In this season of transitions, take that one step and test the waters. You will find your path brighten and light up right before your eyes - I guarantee it!

What is that dream, that deepest held desire that you want to move to? Is it a new career, a new life, a new talent you want to develop, a hobby you want to make money with, a new way of being with friends, family, co-workers? Whatever it may be, identify just one step that can help you move towards it. See how it feels and what next steps "show up" as a result. Then lay out your path, create your roadmap and to transition successfully to all that you desire. (and deserve!)

Chris Makell is The Career Transitions Strategist if you've been laid off, recently promoted or ready to leave corporate. To learn what your next steps must be in this new economy, claim your free special report available at => http://www.HighCaliberLeadership.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chris_Makell

Develop A Prosperity Consciousness

The starting point of all riches is the development of a prosperity consciousness. You must become a financial success in your thinking long before you achieve it in your reality. Both poverty and riches are the result of a state of mind, and the most important single step you ever take on the road to wealth and financial independence is the decision to change your thinking, to impress into your mind an unshakable belief that you can and will achieve your financial goals. This must happen before anything else happens.

Think And Grow Rich
When I was growing up, I was fascinated by stories of successful men and women and how they made and lost their fortunes, and then made them over again. I read about the importance of a prosperity consciousness in the book, Think And Grow Rich, by Napoleon Hill, several times. But I never fully understood what it meant until about five years ago. Then it hit me and I've never been quite the same since. Every aspect of my life has improved dramatically, especially in the area of accumulating wealth, since I finally understood what is meant by a prosperity consciousness.

Two Great Discoveries
Here are two of the most exciting principles ever discovered in the long search by mankind for the secrets of health, happiness and great personal wealth.

All Causation is Mental
The first principle is this. All causation is mental. That means that everything that you are or ever will be will be a result of how you use your mind. You are merely a mind with a body to carry it around with. The entire man made world that you see is simply an expression of thought. Your entire life is an expression of your own thinking. And since the quality of your thinking determines the quality of your life, if you improve the quality of your thinking, you must, you will, inevitably improve the quality of your life.

The Law of Expectations
The second principle is what we call the law of expectations. This law says that whatever you expect with confidence, positive or negative, becomes your reality. If you confidently expect to succeed, if you confidently expect to learn something from every experience, if you confidently expect to become wealthy as a result of applying your talents and abilities to your opportunities and you maintain that attitude of confident expectations long enough, it will become your reality. It will give you a positive optimistic cheerful attitude that will cause people to want to help you, and will cause things to happen the way you want them to happen.

Action Exercises
Here are two things you can do immediately to practice these principles in your day to day life:

First, start thinking today in a positive, optimistic, confident way about personal and financial success. Continually imagine what differences it would make in your life if you were financially independent. This is the starting point of developing a prosperity consciousness.

Second, develop your own attitude of positive expectations. Look for the good in every situation. Look for the valuable lesson in every setback or difficulty. Be positive and cheerful about everything that happens and you will be amazed at the difference it makes in your life.

My Mentor,

Brian Tracy

What Constitutes a Good Life?

The ultimate expression of life is not a paycheck. The ultimate expression of life is not a Mercedes. The ultimate expression of life is not a million dollars or a bank account or a home. Here's the ultimate expression of life in my opinion, and that is living the good life. Here's what we must ask constantly, "What for me would be a good life?" And you have to keep going over and over the list. A list including areas such as spirituality, economics, health, relationships and recreation. What would constitute a good life? I've got a short list.

1) Number one, productivity. You won't be happy if you don't produce. The game of life is not rest. We must rest, but only long enough to gather strength to get back to productivity. What's the reason for the seasons and the seeds, the soil and the sunshine, the rain and the miracle of life? It's to see what you can do with it. To try your hand, other people have tried their hand; here's what they did. You try your hand to see what you can do. So part of life is productivity.

2) Next are good friends. Friendship is probably the greatest support system in the world. Don't deny yourself the time to develop this support system. Nothing can match it. It's extraordinary in its benefit. Friends are those wonderful people who know all about you and still like you. A few years ago I lost one of my dearest friends. He died at age 53 - heart attack. David is gone, but he was one of my very special friends. I used to say of David that if I was stuck in a foreign jail somewhere accused unduly and if they would allow me one phone call, I would call David. Why? He would come and get me. That's a friend. Somebody who would come and get you. Now we've all got casual friends. And if you called them they would say, "Hey, if you get back, call me we'll have a party." So you've got to have both, real friends and casual friends.

3) Next on the list of a good life is your culture. Your language, your music, the ceremonies, the traditions, the dress. All of that is so vitally important that you must keep it alive. In fact it is the uniqueness of all of us that when blended together brings vitality, energy, power, influence, uniqueness and rightness to the world.

4) Next is your spirituality. It helps to form the foundation of the family that builds the nation. And make sure you study, practice and teach. Don't be careless about the spiritual part of your nature, it's what makes us who we are, different from animal, dogs, cats, birds and mice. Spirituality.

5) Next - here's what my parents taught me. Don't miss anything. Don't miss the game. Don't miss the performance, don't miss the movie, don't miss the show, don't miss the dance. Go to everything you possibly can. Buy a ticket to everything you possibly can. Go see everything and experience all you possibly can. This has served me so well to this day. Just before my father died at age 93 if you were to call him at 10:30 or 11:00 at night, he wouldn't be home. He was at the rodeo, he was watching the kids play softball, he was listening to the concert, he was at church, he was somewhere every night.

Live a vital life. Here's one of the reasons why. If you live well, you will earn well. If you live well it will show in your face, it will show in the texture of your voice. There will be something unique and magical about you if you live well. It will infuse not only your personal life but also your business life. And it will give you a vitality nothing else can give.

6) Next are your family and the inner circle. Invest in them and they'll invest in you. Inspire them and they'll inspire you. With your inner circle take care of the details. When my father was still alive, I used to call him when I traveled. He'd have breakfast most every morning with the farmers. Little place called The Decoy Inn out in the country where we lived in Southwest Idaho.

So Papa would go there and have breakfast and I'd call him just to give him a special day. Now if I was in Israel, I'd have to get up in the middle of the night, but it only took five minutes, ten minutes. So I'd call Papa and they'd bring him the phone. I'd say, "Papa I'm in Israel." He'd say, "Israel! Son, how are things in Israel?" He'd talk real loud so everybody could hear - my son's calling me from Israel. I'd say, "Papa last night they gave me a reception on the rooftop underneath the stars overlooking the Mediterranean." He'd say, "Son, a reception on the rooftop underneath the stars overlooking the Mediterranean." Now everybody knows the story. It only took 5 - 10 minutes, but what a special day for my father, age 93.

If a father walks out of the house and he can still feel his daughter's kiss on his face all day, he's a powerful man. If a husband walks out of the house and he can still feel the imprint of his wife's arms around his body he's invincible all day. It's the special stuff with the inner circle that makes you strong and powerful and influential. So don't miss that opportunity. Here's the greatest value. The prophet said, "There are many virtues and values, but here's the greatest, one person caring for another." There is no greater value than love. Better to live in a tent on the beach with someone you love than to live in a mansion by yourself. One person caring for another, that's one of life's greatest expressions.

So make sure in your busy day to remember the true purpose and the reasons you do what you do. May you truly live the kind of life that will bring the fruit and rewards that you desire.

To Your Success,
Jim Rohn

Boost Your Productivity

Push to the Top
All successful people are very productive. They work longer hours and they work better hours. They get a lot more done than the average person. They get paid more and promoted faster. They are highly respected and esteemed by everyone around them. They become leaders and role models. Inevitably, they rise to the top of their fields and to the top of their income ranges, and so can you.

Everything is Learnable
Every single one of these tested and proven strategies for managing your time and doubling your productivity is learnable through practice and repetition. Each of these methods will eventually become a habit of both thinking and working.

The Payoff is Remarkable
When you begin applying these techniques to your work and to your life, your self-esteem, self-confidence, self-respect and sense of personal pride will go up immediately. The pay off for you will be tremendous, for the rest of your life.

Make A Decision!
Every positive change in your life begins with a clear, unequivocal decision that you are going to either do something or stop doing something. Significant change starts when you decide to either get in or get out, either fish or cut bait.

The Vital Quality of Success
Decisiveness is one of the most important qualities of successful and happy men and women, and decisiveness is developed through practice and repetition, over and over again until it becomes as natural to you as breathing in and breathing out.

Why People Are Poor
The sad fact is that people are poor because they have not yet decided to be rich. People are overweight and unfit because they have not yet decided to be thin and fit. People are inefficient time wasters because they haven't yet decided to be highly productive in everything they do.

Become An Expert
Decide today that you are going to become an expert in time management and personal productivity, no matter how long it takes or how much you invest in it. Resolve today that you are going to practice these principles, over and over again until they become second nature.

Action Exercises
Here are two steps you can take immediately to put these ideas into action.First, hold your own feet to the fire. Resolve to start earlier, work harder and stay later. Don't let yourself off the hook.Second, become an expert in time management. Learn and practice time management techniques every day until they become habits.

By My Mentor
Brian Tracy

Create Large Chunks of Time

This strategy requires a commitment from you to work at scheduled times on large tasks. Most of the really important work you do requires large chunks of unbroken time to complete. Your ability to create and carve out these blocks of high value, highly productive time, is central to your ability to make a significant contribution to your work and to your life.

Thoughtfulness may be defined as a careful concern for the secondary consequences of each decision and each action. This is the essence of strategic thinking.
Start Immediately on Number OneSuccessful salespeople set aside a specific time period each day to phone prospects. Rather than procrastinating or delaying on a task that they don't particularly like, they resolve that they will phone for one solid hour between 10 and 11 AM and they then discipline themselves to follow through on their resolutions.

Many business executives set aside a specific time each day to call customers directly to get feedback. Create Specific Amounts of TimeSome people allocate specific 30-60 minute time periods each day for exercise. Many people read in the great books 15 minutes each night before retiring. In this way, over time, they eventually read dozens of the best books ever written.
The key to the success of this method of working in specific time segments is for you to plan your day in advance and specifically schedule a fixed time period for a particular activity or task.
You make work appointments with yourself and then discipline yourself to keep them. You set aside thirty, sixty and ninety minute time segments that you use to work on and complete important tasks.

Create Preplanned PeriodsMany highly productive people schedule specific activities in preplanned time slots all day long. These people build their work lives around accomplishing key tasks one at a time. As a result, they become more and more productive and eventually produce two times, three times and five times as much as the average person.

Action Exercises

Here are two things you can do immediately to put these ideas into action.
First, organize each day to create large chunks of time you can use for key task completion.

Second, make a written appointment with yourself to work on a key task at a specific time.

By My Mentor
Brian Tracy