Do you dare to have big dreams? Do you wonder what you’re meant to be doing with your life? Do you want to live a life well lived? Do you ever wonder, is this it? I have asked myself these questions for as long as I can remember.
I had the opportunity to hear Australian Rules football great and hero of mine Ron Barrassi speak about 15 years ago. He said something that gave me a big aha! moment and became one of my mantra’s. Ron said “if it’s to be, it’s up to me!” I know that Ron wasn’t the creator of this saying, but by crikey, I didn’t care. I heard him say it and worked out it was time to stop dreaming and start doing.
Hope is Not a Strategy
I realised that whilst I had been beavering away at a lot of career based activities, I had become a little one-dimensional in my focus. Which is why those questions like “is this it?” were rattling around in my head. I knew that I couldn’t continue to sit back and expect things to fall into place. I realised that hoping for things to change, to happen, wasn’t a sound strategy!
By realising that I was the only one who could make what I wanted to happen actually happen, I realised that I had the power to make a difference. I could choose my own path. I could create the life I wanted for myself, my family and change the world! I also realised that the only person stopping me was me!
I’d love to say that I was very planned and disciplined through the next few years, but I wasn’t. It was a organic and evolving process of self discovery and personal growth. But on reflection, the pattern for me living my dreams is my mindset. Here’s how:
I Am All I Have Got
This sounds harsh and a little bit cold, but it’s the truth. I realised that I needed to depend on me, not others. Whilst I know I can absolutely depend on my lovely wife, the difference is that I am not dependent on her. Of course I am delighted, joyous and grateful that she is in my life. I enjoy her company. I trust her, implicitly. But I know that I must always have the mindset that if its to be its up to me. When I shifted my head space to this zone, things started to happen for me.
Having a Bias for Action
I am known as someone who gets sh*t done! Even as someone who lacked a lot of confidence (yes I did!) I learned that believing in myself, my own unique abilities and having mindset of having a crack meant I could step in and step up to make stuff happen. I know I have the power to act and lets face it, if not me then who? If not now, then when?
Using My Strengths
I know my top 5 strengths and I use them, every, single, day. I know that I have a powerful gift to be able to see the individual talents and qualities of people, I can scan the environment to spot trends and patters, think of new ways of doing things and that I love to and am good at working hard and productively. I know this because I have invested time and money understanding how to play my top game, every single day. I;ve also spent time with experts like Charlotte Blair from The Strengths Partners who has taught me how to get the best out of myself and the people I lead. I know by focussing on what is great about me and playing to those strengths keeps me on track to achieving what i want to achieve.
Getting What You Want
Obviously money is a key enabler for many of our dreams. I am not naive enough to dismiss the importance managing your money well to make that dream come true. However, if you think a lack of money is holding you back, investigate the funding options open to you. For my readers in the US, check out some specialist options like a va business loan or in the Australian market, check out female angel investing group Scale or find out more information from the federal government.
Your Life, Your Choice
It’s too easy to follow a path that you think your loved ones and others want you to follow. But you have one life to live my friend, so stop living ‘shouldie’ life and start living a life that you want to live and be proud of. Here are some questions to get you started:
- Do I give myself permission to think big and play bigger?
- Am I realising my own potential?
- What will I regret not starting today in one years time?
- What accomplishments will I be proud of on my 50th, 60th, 70th or 80th birthday?
I’ve been asked what makes me tick, what drives me lots of times. My answer is quite simple. I want a life of few regrets. I never want to say “I wonder what if?’ I would rather have had a go, made a few stuff ups and achieved some good stuff than wonder what might have been.
What about you? What’s stopping you now?
This article was originally published by Advancing Women, and authored by Michelle Redfern
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