| How do you create a dream? What are your | | | | plan for making it happen. Setting a step by step plan |
| dreams? Spend a few minutes, right now, writing them | | | | has a better chance at success than does just having |
| down. Of course, dont edit your thoughts, just ask | | | | a passing or recurring day dream. For me, cycling |
| what are my dreams? And start writing down the | | | | cross country happened because I made it happen. I |
| thoughts that come immediately to you. Make a list. | | | | took it step by step. Ask yourself; what are the pieces |
| Im a dreamer. I got it from my Dad. Several years ago | | | | that make this dream happen? What do I need to put |
| I looked at my life and wondered how did I get here? It | | | | in place to create it? |
| felt like it had all just happened and I had watched and | | | | Take it one step at a time. First, write your dream or |
| participated but I hadnt necessarily been in the drivers | | | | vision down. Write in great detail, as if it is happening |
| seat. I took some time to figure out what type of | | | | right now or picture yourself in the vision. How does it |
| career I wanted. At the time I was a mid-level | | | | feel, how does it smell? What are the sounds you |
| manager in a non-profit organization serving people | | | | hear? What do you see? What are you doing? How |
| with disabilities. It was work I had been doing since I | | | | has it changed your life? Write the details including all |
| was 14 years old. I explored my desires and dreams | | | | the feelings that being in your vision creates. |
| through experiential adventure. First, I participated in a | | | | Step 2: What are the resources that you already have |
| 72 day leadership course with Outward Bound. At the | | | | that can help make the vision a reality? Money, |
| top of an 80 foot rappel I sat terrified behind dark | | | | materials, supplies, time, property, frequent flier miles, |
| sunglasses, wondering how did you get yourself in this | | | | friends, colleagues, and/or acquaintances? List them all. |
| mess? And the reality was I had signed up for the | | | | Step 3: What resources or supports do you need to |
| course and each step was a challenge and | | | | achieve your vision/dream/goal? List everything that |
| accomplishment. | | | | could help you in succeeding. This is not the place to |
| After finishing the Outward Bound course I returned to | | | | write in winning the lottery. Each item needs to be |
| my non-profit job and continued to explore my | | | | realistic. Things that seem out of reach are okay |
| destination. My work in residential programs with | | | | because these are often reachable, with determination |
| people with disabilities had been filled with creating life | | | | and a plan. |
| plans and program plans for the people we served. | | | | Step 4: What steps do you need to take to achieve |
| We looked at some key things: | | | | your vision/dream/goal? What are the steps? Break |
| 1. What is your dream? | | | | the vision down into the steps that need to happen. |
| 2. What are the resources you have available to | | | | These often have a chronological order, but also may |
| accomplish/achieve your dream? | | | | have steps that have to keep happening over and |
| 3. What resources do we need to create to support | | | | over. The steps can become the smaller goals you |
| you in achieving your dream? | | | | work towards, so make them small and easy to |
| 4. What are the steps you need to take in order to | | | | achieve. |
| move closer to your goal? | | | | Step 5: When will you know you have succeeded? |
| 5. When will you know you have succeeded? What | | | | What will it look like, feel like, and sound like? This might |
| will it look like, feel like, and sound like? | | | | be similar to your vision that you developed earlier but |
| Through this process we created all sorts of new and | | | | it is an important step as it helps you to measure your |
| innovative living arrangements, jobs, community | | | | success. You can develop a measure for each step |
| supported goals for people. | | | | of the way and then check it off when you complete |
| I did much the same thing. I found a long lost passion | | | | it. Or buy stars and give yourself a star for success |
| for cycling and joined a bike club and started riding. I | | | | for each step along the way. I have used stars for |
| hadnt really ridden a bicycle in 15 years. I could barely | | | | years with staff working with me. People think it |
| ride 20 miles and didnt know how to fix a flat tire. As I | | | | sounds silly, but we all got a charge from them when |
| started riding I joined a bike club. Soon, I was telling | | | | we saw them on our paper in elementary school. As |
| people that I was riding across the country next year. | | | | adults, we go right back to those feelings when we |
| Within a couple of months I had completed a bicycle | | | | get one as adults. It makes the process a game. The |
| tour leadership training, had a national organization to | | | | check marks or stars become reinforcing for you as |
| sponsor the tour and was planning the route with an | | | | you succeed. They build enthusiasm and energy for |
| advisory committee overseeing the plan. | | | | success and they keep you moving forward. |
| In creating the Peace Tour I had to keep working each | | | | I recommend once you are clear on your plan that you |
| step over and over to create the overall plan. And I | | | | also tell people about it. Share your excitement and |
| ended up with a great tour route. One year later, I was | | | | enthusiasm with others. They can be your resources |
| biking across the country with a very small group and I | | | | and perhaps resources you didnt realize existed. |
| loved it. I love the feel of my bike with packs on it and | | | | Talking about your plan helps to move it forward. |
| the feel of the open road. A bicycle with everything I | | | | When I started telling members of the bike club I rode |
| needed, right on it, a true recreational vehicle. | | | | with that I was cycling across the country they started |
| Can we create the life we want? Can we take a | | | | helping me train. They made sure I was out riding and |
| vision or a dream and make it happen? Definitely. It is | | | | riding far. They helped me ride hard and fast and |
| what is done in large corporations all the time. It is the | | | | prepare for the Rocky Mountains. Share the plan. |
| clarity of vision and of purpose that provides a clear | | | | The last step is to do it! |
| path or direction for the people within an organization. | | | | Being a dreamer is great when you take hold of the |
| As individuals, we too, have vision and can develop a | | | | dream and move it into your life. Dream, create, live. |