"All your dreams can come true if you have the courage to pursue them." —Walt Disney

To believe in a dream is foundational to achievement.

To believe in something big.

Something that matters.

It’s what drives elite performance.

It is what sustains you when obstacles and roadblocks get in the way.

It’s a reason to celebrate your wins.

So, what is a dream?

I think a dream is a vivid mental image of a desired outcome.

It’s bigger than a goal.

Goals are tactical.

A dream is tied to deep desire and has emotion attached to it.

It is a grand vision of what is possible.

There are five phases to the D.R.E.A.M. process that I would like to share with you.

1. The DISCOVERY Phase: This is where you begin to create the picture in your mind of what you want. You are free to wander and imagine and invent. To explore your gifts and your deepest desires. To think big about your life and what you want to be, do, and have. Even if it seems impossible, this is your chance to ask, “Why not me, and why not now?”

2. The REALITY Phase: The next step in the process of designing a dream is the reality phase. This is where we come back to earth and examine where we are in relationship to our dream. What must happen in order to start moving in the direction of your dream? Who do you need to meet? What resources do you need? What do you need to learn? What must change in you and around you to make your dream a reality?

3. The EXECUTION Phase: Now it’s time to go to work. No dream has ever been realized without an extraordinary amount of work. Without the work, a dream is simply a wish. When you truly believe in a dream you will pour your heart and soul into the work. Those who aren’t willing to dig their dream out of the dirt are the same people who say, “I will believe when I see it.” But that’s not what the great dreamers say. They say, “I will see it when I believe it!”. And then they go to work.

4. The APPRECIATION Phase: Gratitude is a powerful force when it comes to dreams. Giving thanks for the ability to dream is a great place to start. Appreciating the journey and all that you are becoming in the process is paramount to the fulfillment of achieving your dream. Being present and thankful for each moment, each person and each lesson learned is what makes success so much sweeter.

5. The MENTORING Phase: In my opinion, there is nothing better than shining a light on the path for others. To teach what we have learned. To give others the gift of dreaming and chasing big things for their life is an amazing legacy that the great ones leave behind. If we are fortunate to chase our dreams, then I believe we have a responsibility and are called to help others reach for the sky and beyond.

I want to encourage you to DREAM for big things.

Something that matters.

Something that makes the world better.

Without dreams, we have no purpose and no drive.

No reason to do anything.

That’s how you end up in a rut.

And as my mentor used to say, “A rut is just a grave with the ends kicked out!”

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