Big dreams?even seemingly impossible dreams?can come to pass for you and those you lead.
And here’s how…
On December 4, 1776, Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence. Together with the other daring signatories, this statement was boldly endorsed:
?We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.?
At the time, all men were not viewed equally. Women could not own property. Slavery was a legal institution. And only white male property owners could vote. Yet a steadfast group of men boldly signed into action their grand dreams of equality for the people of their young country.
But in order for those dreams to be realized, much had to be done. On?February 3rd, 1870 the 15th amendment to the US constitution was ratified, allowing all men?to vote, regardless of their color. (Women were still excluded from voting.) On August 18th, 1920 the 19th Amendment to the US constitution was ratified giving women the right to vote?144 years after the Declaration of Independence was signed. On July 2nd, 1964 the Civil Rights Act was enacted to prohibit segregation and discrimination based on color. And the Voting Rights Act of 1965 removed further barriers for disenfranchised citizens to vote.
My point is that it took nearly?200 years for equality to become a reality. But since we as a nation revered a certain written text, it eventually came to pass. This does not only happen for?nations, but I believe it also happens for?organizations, teams, and families.
How to Effectively Write Down Your Dreams
I want to encourage you to write down your big dreams. Dreams for yourself, your family, and your organization. Here?s how to get started.
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- Write them down. Write them as a source of inspiration and a means of accountability.
- Write them somewhere safe. Your dreams and plans are important. Far too important to leave lying around on random papers or caf? napkins. Find a safe place to record your dreams such as a treasured journal, notebook, or electronic device.
- Don?t just dream about what is possible, but what seems impossible. Write down ideas that seem crazy, ideas that stretch you. Challenge yourself to dream big!
- Review them. Keep your dreams before you. Post them where you can see them. And dedicate time to review your progress. Calendar weekly or monthly time to read them and reflect on them.
- Pray about them. If you are a person of faith like myself, you know that God plants dreams in your heart. He gives you the desires of your heart. Seek His wisdom and His timing to confirm this is His dream for you.
- At the right time, start working for it. When the right time comes, start. Jump on the opportunity when it presents itself. Keep working in the direction of your dreams, and you will see them come to pass.
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Dreams in Action
I have seen this happen several times in my life. One?example began about three years ago when I wrote my “Lifetime Goals.” One of them was to make movies. I didn’t even know movie-making?meant becoming a producer. This was a crazy dream. I mean, I know nothing about acting or the movie industry. But I wanted to be able to bring powerful stories that matter to the big screen. I read this dream almost monthly, but always thought to myself, “I wonder if that will ever happen.”
About a year ago, the son of a friend came to my clinic on a busy day. He stopped me between patients and asked,?”Can we use your clinic for?one of the?scenes in a movie I am making?” I said, “Of?course.” As I was walking away, I stopped myself?and thought, “Movie?” I asked if we could?have a meal together so I could learn more.
Guess what? They needed additional financial?support, which I?agreed to help with. And as of October 31, 2015, I am officially an Executive Producer of?Tinseltown.?Isn’t that incredible?
In the last article I wrote, I encouraged you to review 2015 and look toward your goals for 2016. On an even grander scale, I challenge you to think about your lifetime goals. Write them down, regardless how outlandish they may seem to you now. What would you like to accomplish in the next 5, 10, 20 years? How about before you die? Boldly write the dreams in your heart, even if they?d take 200 years to accomplish. Just like the United States? founding fathers, you will be the person to get things started and make your dreams a reality.
Your Friend,
For Further Reading:
Think Big, Act Bold
How Daring Have You Been?
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