Own Your Dreams

Think back to the last business goal you accomplished that really meant a lot to you. Now think back a little further… What did you have to risk to achieve it?

Maybe it was hiring a team member, investing money in a program or a coach, or raising your rates before sending a proposal to a client you were hoping to sign. 

Whatever your goal was, there’s one thing everyone who’s achieved success has in common: they risked the possibility of not achieving it.

Seth Godin describes it this way:

"If you announce what you want, if you are clear about what's on offer, if you set goals...

  • the chances of accomplishing your goals go up, and so does...

  • the chance that you will be disappointed.

For many people, apparently, it's better to not get what you want than it is to be disappointed. The resistance is powerful indeed.”

Risk is frightening, not just because we may stand to lose some something we value, like time or money, but also because it makes us vulnerable. When you declare your dream, you show the world your heart, your hope, and how you can be hurt. But here’s the thing about risk: there’s no way to separate it from reward.

So the question becomes, what’s more important to you: being safe, or daring disappointment to achieve your own personal greatness? 

For my client Aimee Hoch, taking the next step forward in her dreams meant embracing Facebook Live as a way to share her message. “One year ago,” she says, “I got really vulnerable in my business and my life and put myself out there in live video. I was terrified to press the live button. All of the normal thoughts popped into my head... What will I say? How will I look? What will others say?” 

Aimee pushed past the nervousness, and started going live weekly—she’s even inspired others to do the same - and now has her own podcast.. “The thing is,” she explains, “those thoughts were still smaller than my desire to do it. I believed in it 100% and knew I could do it if I used every ounce of courage inside of myself.”

You move past fear when the desire to achieve your dream is greater than the voice in your head that whispers, “What if it doesn’t work?”

Seth Godin cautions us about curbing dreams to cut risk:

“Every time you use waffle words, back off from a clear statement of values and priorities and most of all, think about what's likely instead of what's possible, you are selling yourself out. Not just selling yourself out, but doing it too cheaply.

Own your dreams. There is no better way to make them happen."  

What do you dream about? Have you declared it to the world yet? Are there “what if’s” that are holding you back, or coaxing you to make the dream just a bit smaller, easier, less daring… less you

Consider this your invitation, your challenge, and most of all, your encouragement to let your desire for what’s possible win out over the what if’s.

Own your dreams. They’re yours, and the world is waiting for what you and only you can contribute. 

For clarity and confidence on next steps to help you raise your game, whether it's a new program or a whole new business, grab your spot in my FREE 3-day Business Building Mini Course HERE.

If now is the time to start going after what you want and achieving your big vision, let's talk about working together. Find out more HERE.

Photo by / Getty Images

Photo by / Getty Images