Dream a Little Dream

"You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream." - Les Brown

Do you remember a while back when that hidden jewel of talent became known to the whole world as Susan Boyle? She was an unassuming woman from Blackburn, Scotland who energized a popular British television show called Britain's Got Talent.

It was easy to see her appear on stage and rush to the judgement of a book by its cover. So many people, including the judges were skeptical and had pre-determined thoughts as she began her song on stage.

Susan dreamed of being a professional singer.

In her words, "She had not been given the opportunity until now." The dream was to be as good as Elaine Paige. It was a goal which reached beyond the limits others may have tried to place upon her.

The same kind of limits others try to place on your life.

But your story is not yet complete for the journey continues. Susan's story could be you. We each yearn inside to accomplish something big. We tell ourselves if only given the opportunity. We then fail to boldly take the challenge when opportunity arrives.

We each must take the bold step forward, through the door of possibility, where we must go in order to realize our dreams. No guarantee of success, but then again, no guarantee of failure exist beyond that door.

Boldly go for your dreams by embracing the journey and all that is possible.

And stay inspired my friends.

I Am Spartacus

"Together we can face any challenges as deep as the ocean and as high as the sky." - Sonia Gandhi

I am Spartacus.

Stand next to your brothers.
Stand next to your sisters.

Proclaim it strong and bold.

Together we are strong.

We are Spartacus.



Stay inspired my friends!

Boldly Overcome

Bee Bold

"Begin, be bold and venture to be wise." - Horace

Change has to start some "where" and at some "time" if you truly want to get to a place in life that you would rather be. We can dream every day and even wish for it to magically appear. But even dreams have to encounter opportunity in order for them to ever become a reality.

And one might wonder where to start. 

One first step is to 'write down on a piece of paper the dream or goal'. This step is crucial and is your first accomplishment in reaching your goal. It is a physical and real thing once the goal is on that piece of paper taped to your bedroom mirror.

Chris Pringle refers to this empty piece of paper as your dream being empty.

Not until you write it down does it begin the journey. It creates movement that will have you boldly go forward to make a change in your life. Of course, none of this happens with out some level of fear. Each of us have examples of change inspite of our fears.

Some of the fears I've encountered are;

- When I was 19, my girlfriend became pregnant and we married. The fear of this change gripped me, but I took it on and today (although divorced from her) we have four wonderful boys.

- When I dreamed of a better job after six years in a 'go no where' job, could I truly perform? I buckled down and learned everything I could, then found the company I still work for after nearly 30 years of employment.

- When my marriage fell apart after twenty-one years, my normal and comfortable life evaporated. Boldly I found the means to move forward, develop new relationships and marry once again. Today, still the four wonderful boys, but also an amazing wife and four amazing step-daughters and grandkids.

- When my position in the company seemed to languish, I dreamed of performing more consulting type work. I took the steps to move out of my comfort zone and take on a new role within the same company.

- When my mother developed Pancreatic Cancer, the fear of losing her took hold of me. When I moved past the fear, I was given a gift along with my father and siblings of spending countless hours with her in the final days. I overcame the fear of her dying and was presented with the opportunity to learn and experience her life story.

When we boldly overcome our fears, the dreams we dream big take shape. 

Find a way to get past those fears and begin the wonderful journey. For it is with movement that we will come upon opportunity that otherwise would have evaded us. Life will throw many things at you whether you remain stationary or not.

Helen Keller once said, "Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. The fearful are caught as often as the bold."

Overcoming fear and moving boldly towards a dream will have its danger, but it will also have its opportunities. Take hold of those opportunities by being bold in life, by being unafraid to meet up with your dreams.

Stay inspired my friends.

Achieving Confidence

"Self-confidence is the first requisite to great undertakings." -Samuel Johnson

In a cartoon strip called Dilbert, one of the characters named Wally tries to coerce his boss into giving him a raise by threatening that he has a job offer from another company. You then see in Wally's thoughts, "..sit back and let the loving begin." But his boss is quietly speaking on the phone to security, "...whack him in the parking lot."

Have you ever had this type of feeling at your job?

The cartoon's creator Scott Adams does a wonderful job of pointing out the truths and misbeliefs of the work place. What I suggest the meaning behind the cartoon is that you can't simply expect things to happen in life. You have to go out and work for those things you want to accomplish. If we choose to merely "expect" things to come to us, that expectation will normally produce unexpected consequences.

Would we want to merely be meek in what we do?

At the same time I must admit the cartoon character named Wally exhibits a great amount of confidence. But we must be careful not to confuse confidence with self-serving ego. There must be work and sincerity behind the effort given in support of our confidence.

Your work ethic creates the boldness.

Be bold in your confidence and back it up with hard work and servitude. Others will be confident in your ability by the proof of the work you have performed. The reward itself will follow. Stay inspired my friends!