Your dream can be your future

Here is a basic truth you must accept and believe if you are to achieve your dream...

Your dream can be a reality!

That's right; your future can actually see you living your dream. It doesn't just have to be a big wish!

When we are young we are dreamers. Nothing seems too big for us to accomplish. Nothing seems too outrageous. The world is ours on a string as the old song goes. Until… "Reality" hits. Reality is what others want to box you in with:

"You can't do that." "Nobody has ever done that before." "It will never work." "You've gone off the deep end now!" All dreamers (who eventually become accomplishers) have heard these things. Yet they overcome them. They refuse to accept someone else's "reality" for their own life. They let the average people live their average lives, bound by fear, while they pursue their chosen future - their dream! So don't believe the people who tell you that you can't or won't. Believe your dream. Believe that it can be your future!

Once you have determined that you can actually live your dream, I want you to memorize this acronym. I've shared it before, but I found that it is tremendously helpful for reminding and motivating us toward our dreams.

D is for Dare (dare to dream while others don't) R is for Relentless (relentlessly pursue your dream no matter what) E is for Excellence (strive for excellence in all you do) A is for Abandon (abandon any other alternative plans) M is for Measure (constantly measure where you are in your dream journey)

Okay, that's great and motivating, but what about the practical stuff? Well, there is certainly practical stuff. No matter how lofty your dream, no matter how spectacular, you will live most of your life in the mundane. Richard Nixon said of the presidency that you "campaign with poetry, but govern with prose." The vision is beautiful, the actual is mundane (not bad but "everyday" so to speak).

If you are to achieve your dream, you need to plan and work and work and plan. Here are my thoughts on how to go about reaching your dream and securing it as your future:

Decide that you will do it.

This may seem elementary but many people never decide and commit fully to their dream. They simply keep "thinking" about it. Tell others that you are going to do it. This puts you on the record as to what you are dreaming about. It makes you accountable. It will help you do it if for no other reason than to avoid embarrassment!

Develop a step-by-step plan. This is absolutely essential. You must sit down and write out a few things:

• A timeline. How long will it take to the end? 2. Action steps. Point-by-point, what you will do and when you will do them. 3. Resources you will need to draw from. What will it take? Who will need to be involved for help or advice? 4. An evaluation tool. You need to evaluate from time to time whether you are progressing or not. 5. A celebration. Yep, when you are done you should already have planned what you will do to celebrate. Make it big!

I have found that there is no better time than now to start making your dream a reality. So, set aside some time today to get started on your dream. Follow the action plan and set your sights for the top of the mountain! You will be glad you did!

Chris Widener is an example of how anyone can overcome any odds to achieve a successful life and help others achieve the same. Chris has overcome many obstacles... living through his father dying suddenly when he was four, being sent away from his family to live with relatives at age nine and becoming involved with drugs and alcohol by the age of twelve. Chris overcame those obstacles and has for the last ten years worked with some of the most financially successful families in America, helping them to achieve both personally and professionally. Now he can do the same for you!

Consulting Services Chris Widener is proud to offer his consulting services to you. The following three areas are his specialty areas. If you have been considering the help of an outside source to help you in business or life issues, you'll want to read the following information.

Personal Growth As a person who has worked for 10 years with people from all sorts of backgrounds, Chris Widener is an expert in personal growth. Our lives aren't just all business. We have intellectual pursuits, spiritual lives, families, hobbies, and recreation to think about too. For the best advice on how to maintain a balance in all of the areas of your life, Chris can be your own personal growth coach.

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Got problems? From small problems to large ones, Chris can help you get solutions! He will help you determine the problem, and then get you on your way to solving the problem in no time.

Sometimes you need an outside source to take a look at what you are doing and provide smart, creative advice. Email Chris today!

Speech Coaching As a professional speaker, Chris is one of the best. Now, he can help you become your best whether you speak every day or simply have a once a year speech coming up. Chris has both on-site coaching and video assessments available. Email Chris today to find out how you can reach your peak as a speaker.

For strategy, advice, encouragement and an honest appraisal, give Chris a call. 425-444-GOAL