So here we are… Another year of opportunity is declared well and truly open. What achievements will you be proud of as you look back over this year?
With all the usual festive television repeats and reviews following New Years Eve, I stumbled across another viewing of the film Pretty Woman, only this time, just before surfing for another programme I heard something that I had missed on all the previous times I had enjoyed watching the film, it was buried in the opening credits.
Picture the film’s opening scene, it’s a busy Hollywood street, people going about their business and a street dude is shouting;
”Welcome to Hollywood… everybody who comes to Hollywood… gotta dream! What’s your Dream…what’s your Dream? Hey Mister… what’s your Dream?
So what do you think? Let me ask you… What’s your Dream for the year ahead or the next 2-5 years?
I’ve enjoyed catching up with friends over the festive season. Many of them have exciting plans and goals for their year ahead and their futures. They have already booked holidays, and are excitedly planning how they will enjoy their time on holiday. For them, their holiday is a well deserved, planned and budgeted for break from very stressful positions in their businesses or occupations. It’s a time to recharge their batteries, and to relax and enjoy quality time with their loved ones, time to relfect and time to re-focus and prepare to re-engage when they return to their vocations. You just know they are people who are going to look back on the year with a smile.
For others it’s about escapism, and short-termism, getting away from the frustration and pressures of everyday life, on the slimmest of budgets, (even though they have been complaining about lack of money and fears over job security in the current climate) just for a change of scenery and to leave their worries at home for a short time. But… guess what awaits them when they return… same old same old! They are good people, but they admit they feel they are not in control of their futures, or so they think!
Okay, so let’s take a look at how easy it is to book a holiday vs. plan the journey towards your success and your dream of what you want the future to hold. “What’s your Dream… everybody gotta a dream!”
When you visit a travel agent, or go online to book your next holiday, what questions will you need to answer…
- What kind of holiday are you looking for?
- Where do you want to go?
- How many people in your party?
- How long do you want to stay?
- What kind of accommodation are you looking for?
- When do you want to go?
Then they will hit you with the price!!
Well, the thought occurred to me… most people will spend more time planning a 2 week holiday than they will planning their future. Shouldn’t mapping out your life be a little like planning an exciting adventure holiday? Okay, let’s look at the next year or 2-5 years, you can choose! You know… you always have had the power to choose!
Let’s factor in the Dream, what’s your dream, or your driving passion for your business, your lifestyle, or what’s that personal goal you dream of? What will make you smile whenever you think about the end result, because you’re chasing your dream!
Factor in a start point. When do you want to start taking action and building the rest of your life?… Why not now?
Factor in your relationships, do you have to make amends with someone, or invest in quality time with someone? Who’s important in your life? Have you told them lately? Why not share with them how you are looking forward to sharing the future with them.
Factor in the lifestyle picture… the healthy lifestyle, the financial security, the great friendships, the house, the car, the holidays that will all be part of the picture.
Factor in the investment of time and effort that it will take to create it all. Don’t see it as a price to pay! See it as an investment!
Don’t pay a price for building your future… Enjoy investing time in creating the Dream, enjoy the journey towards it, enjoy the detours, enjoy the struggles, enjoy the lessons you will have to learn, and enjoy the sense of achievement in making it slowly become your reality. Enjoy the view from where ever you will be at any point on the trip, it will be the one you planned!
You are going to spend the rest of your life in your future. Invest in making it what you want it to be! You know it makes sense.
Stay Strong, stay positive… go chase your Dream… Make it Happen!