BIG dream gathering at UNI!
Come dream BIG with us at UNI on February 16th!
Hey gang!
Why not come to the BIG dream gathering at the University of Northern Iowa on February 16th?
Here's the scoop on the schedule...
- It's going to be held at the Maucker Student Union.
- Registration starts at 5:30 pm
- The doors officially open at 6 pm.
- We'll be dreaming BIG until 9 pm.
- NOTE: You can come for all or part of that time!
First... it's FREE to attend and it's open to the public!
Second... when you come... you'll be given a dreamer number so you can post your BIG dream(s) anonymously. So it's a safe place to dream BIG!
Third... you'll be able to see other people's big dreams and be given the opportunity to leave encouragement... ideas... or connections for them (Hey... who doesn't need a little help on their BIG dream?)
Fourth... you can come and go as you'd like during 6 and 9 pm. Stay for part of it... or stay for ALL of it. It's up to you! (Warning... you might just get addicted to it!)
Fifth... you can be sure that it's a safe place. This isn't a set up for a sales pitch or a 8-steps-to-success program... it's just real people helping each other with their BIG dreams! And we figure that's a "recession proof idea!"
So... come... have some fun... connect with some great people... and dream BIG with us!
Lastly, just click on "comments" below if you have any questions!
We can't wait to dream BIG with you,
What if my BIG dream involves staying with my company?
It's interesting... I think that a lot of people who come to the BIG dream gathering assume that their BIG dream has to involve leaving their company or their job in order to do something BIG!
It's true for some but it's not true for everyone!
Successful BIG dreamer Megan Johannes is a great example of this!
Her story involves risk... taking a stand for her BIG dream... and going after a position that allowed her to play to her strengths.
When I first met Megan and heard about her BIG dream journey... she was at a cross roads. She was working for Marriott and was in the middle of some "corporate restructuring." Her job had been eliminated so she had some decisions to make... she could go with a "safe position" or she could take a risk on something BIGGER.
We talked about some of her BIG dreams... as well as the potential risks and rewards of pursuing them.
Well... she took the risk and it paid off!
In fact, Megan's story is so inspiring... we wanted to share it with you.
Click here to read the full interview ( Download BDG Interview with BIG dreamer - Megan Johannes)
As you read... you’ll hear about how hard it was to wait for the right position. You’ll find out how she took a leap of faith by turning down a “good” job in order to step into something “great.” And you’ll find out how doing some small but significant things to build relationships and put her BIG dream out there... helped to open the door to her being able to walk it out within Marriott!
Now... for those of you who like the read the last chapter first to make sure there's a happy ending... here's a recent update on how things are going for Megan... in her own words...
"Some of the things that have been happening with my big dream lately are... the position that I created proved to be so successful that it is now a benchmark in the company for our new re-organization.
New larger hotels and resorts that are launching are now including this position.
The position is now called " Destination Sales Manager."
I had a part in booking over $9.8M in the first year and showed a Closure Percentage of over 41%. (That's pretty darn good for a first year... especially considering that resort properties that have had the position for a couple years are only around the low 30%'s)
Be on the lookout for my next endeavor... I've done what I came here to do and I'm feeling a change coming on!"
Way to go Megan! Thanks for being a great example of a real person going after her BIG dreams!
Okay... so I have two last things for you as you reflect on Megan's story... as well as your own...
First... do you have some encouragement for Megan? If you were impacted by her story... why not leave a quick comment and let her know? I'm sure she would appreciate it... and it will encourage her to go after that next BIG thing!
Second... do you have a BIG dream... within your current organization? Why not let us know about it? Leave a comment. Even if you post it anonymously, it may just stir something in you to put it out there! So go for it!
Click comments and join in the conversation!
Keep dreaming BIG,
Why not join in the fun?
Okay... we just started the BDG Facebook fan page a few weeks ago... but the list of freakishly cool dreamers jumping on board keeps growing!
Why not join in the fun?
Denise's musical dreams have found audiences... BIG and small!
Denise Forney has brought her family... her bright smile... and her BIG dreams to a number of the BIG dream gatherings!
Her dreams have involved music... whether it's performing for large audiences... writing music for kids... or creating a music ministry that reaches children and teens.
Well... she has worked really hard... and had a lot of success! In fact, we could go on and on... but it would be best to just let her give you an update in her own words...
Thanks, Mitch!
The Big Dream gathering was the start of such great dreams of music. I've been able to do fun things, like start up "Music-n-Motion," a business of mine where I educate kids each week through music - singing, dancing, playing instruments... and have a great deal of fun entertaining at birthday parties.
My family and I performed out at "Every Family Rocks" in the fall.The creation of "Hosanna Montana" resulted from the Big Dream gathering too... :) "Hosanna" performed at the Des Moines Arts Festival last summer, and will be kicking off Indianola's Family outdoor movie night premier of "Hannah Montana, the Movie.." in April! Ha, ha... I love feeling like a rock star in the presence of kids! :)
My friend Susie Weppler and I started an acoustic duo called "Onyx2" last fall, and have been playing at events in the community, like Meals from the Heartland, Iowa Hall of Pride, East Chamber, and Celebrate Recovery at Hope. Playing with her is a total God thing, and we've been writing music together too. God's at work with our Big Dreams, and I praise Him for using you to place this venue in people's hearts... it's changing lives, and just filling me up in the process! :) The Big Dream Gathering has made me so happy with my choices now in my life... I feel like I'm living my life on purpose, for a purpose, for HIS purpose... does that make sense?!Thanks for all you do, Mitch! :)
Isn't that great? This is truly the picture of a real person... going after her dreams.
What I love about this too... is with all the success of her business getting started... and having the opportunity to perform in front of bigger and bigger audiences... when I asked Denise about what was one of her favorite memories from this journey... she said it had to be getting to perform with her daughter, Rachel, in front of a large audience this past Christmas Eve.
Check out the video...(By the way, Rachel has a great voice too... BUT according to Denise... her BIG dream is to be a firefighter! How cool is that?!?)
So... yes... Denise's BIG dream is happening and we can't wait to see what 2010 brings for her in 2010!
If you'd like to find out more or become of fan of Denise, check out Music in Motion's facebook fan page and Onyx2's fan page.
Well done Denise! Keep dreaming BIG!
One last observation... It's funny but when I talk with Denise... she almost seems surprised at how far things have progressed over just a few years. Especially when you consider that she's a wife and a mom of 3 and works full time. But what we've seen is Denise continuing to take those small but significant steps towards her BIg dream. And as you can see... those small steps add up over time!
We hope this inspires you to keep taking some of those small but significant steps towards your BIG dreams.
Keep dreaming BIG,
PS - Denise is also a UNI grad and she's VERY excited about the BIG dream gathering at UNI on Feb. 16th!A priceless gift in a surpise package!
BACKGROUND:
THE GIFT:Okay... so I've mentioned it before... my wife... Melissa... is an artist. (She's a lot of cool things actually, but artist is at the top of the list!)
Recently, she was asked to do a display of her work at our church. It was a true compliment, but it also felt like a bit of a risk.
Now, if you are an artist... you know that it almost always feels like a risk to display your work. You know... to work hours and hours on something and then put it out there for people to look at. There can be that inner conflict with whether people will like it... get it... appreciate it.. etc.
But a few weeks ago, Mel agreed and put up a collection of her work. In the end, she said it felt good to have it up and she was really glad she'd pushed through that inner struggle of whether she should or not. It was done. It was out there.
THE A-HA:Well... just the other night... we received a "gift" and it came in a surprise package.
We were at the library with our boys. I was at the main desk dealing with a fine (NOTE: I'm a habitual library fine guy! I probably pay for two library pizza parties a year!) and Mel was with our sons at the computers looking up some book titles.
Then a relative stranger approached my wife. I could see it from across the room but I couldn't hear the conversation.
The woman was obviously pleasant and excited to see Mel. By the time I made it over to them... their conversation was in full swing. Actually, it was mostly the stranger talking and my wife listening.
As I listened in... I realized that this wonderful woman was telling Melissa about the experience she had had when she had seen her artwork. She said things like "I love how whimsical it is!' and "I just loved the colors." And... my personal favorite... "I just kind of got lost in it."
And then just as quick as she came... the relative stranger was gone again... and Mel and I were left to just smile and revel in the encouragement. It was a beautiful thing.
It was something that took this person 2 minutes to do (tops!). She had to walk across the room. She had to stop. She had to take a bit of risk as well by offering the encouragement... because she didn't know how Mel would take it. And then she was off again.
But I have to tell you that that 2 minutes made a deep deep impact! It was like a refreshing cup of water on a hot summer day! It touched my wife and encouraged her... deeply.
I'm really grateful for what that stranger did. It was a priceless gift.
And I would dare to say... it will be a gift that Melissa will reopen every time she goes to pick up a paint brush.
Afterward, I have to tell you that I felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude for that stranger!
You see... I love to encourage my wife in her art and I do as often as I can. But there is just something about someone with no vested interest... no potential bias... offering encouragement.
So thank you stranger! You gave Mel and I a priceless priceless gift!
But then an "A-ha" hit me. I felt a rush of gratitude for all of you!
Why? Well... because anytime any of you have left a comment on any of these blog posts about dreamers and their dreams... or anytime any of you have left an encouraging note on a dream sheet at a BIG dream gathering... you've given that same priceless gift.
I remembered that anytime someone puts their dream out there... it's like an artist displaying their work. There can be that same inner-dialog... "Will people like it?" or... "Will people get it?" or... "Will people appreciate it?" It feels like a risk.
But then when someone comes along... and more often than not it's complete strangers who do it... and leaves an encouraging comment... it's a priceless gift for the dreamer!
So thank you to everyone who has done that!
Thank you to everyone who has left a comment on this blog and THANK YOU to everyone that has left an encouraging note on a BIG dream sheet!
You make all the difference and you help to make the BIG dream gathering what it is!
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU for the priceless gift of encouragement!
Please... keep it up... you make a BIG impact!
And... please... keep dreaming BIG!
MitchA BIG dream that has really taken root!
A few years ago... we met BIG dreamer Adam Hammes... and he was willing to tell us a little bit about his BIG dream of bringing environmental education and the concept of sustainability to Des Moines.
Adam's an amazing guy... and here he is sharing about his dream...
And... wow... has he been busy going after his dream over the past few years! (We'll list some of the things later in this post.) But something that's coming up... that involves his BIG dream and we wanted to help get the word out on... is the Hope for the Hungry event coming up on Saturday in Des Moines.
This looks like an amazing event... so click here to find out more.
We're really proud of Adam and his willingness to pursue his BIG dream... as well as help others with theirs. It's been fun to watch!
Need some inspiration on your own BIG dream? Well... here's a short list of some of the things Adam has been up to since we interviewed him...
- Founded Urban Ambassadors in November 2008
- Participated in the 4th Annual Sustainable Living Bike Tour in California, 3 weeks-750 miles teaching sustainability, December 2008
- Went again 5th Annual Tour, December 2009, video-blogged and made a DVD to share in Des Moines
- Sponsored a local documentary film-maker to visit the trip and start planning a filming of the 6th Annual Tour
- Designed Sustainable Spring Break with Drake University, March 2009
- DMACC Urban Campus joined forces and doubled the trip size for March 2010
- Other universities are looking to model their own trip after ours (e.g. Grinnell)
- Designed Transforming Business Speaker Series, May 2009
- Brought 4 world-class green business speakers to Des Moines
- Designing a Green Business Starter Kit box with all of their info, books, DVDs, etc. to sell in 2010
- Adopted a parking space downtown and turned it into a park for a day (so did 4 other businesses) for International Park(ing) Day, September 2009
- Building a coalition to adopt spaces every year
- Building a coalition to adopt spaces every year
- Organized two volunteer days to help build an Earthship home near Lucas, IA
- Organized two volunteer days to help build a Strawbale education center near Colfax, IA
- Designed local food event, Hope for the Hungry: Feeding Greater Des Moines for Saturday, January 30, 2010
- Already adopted by larger food coalition to train low-income neighborhoods in local urban agriculture
- Already adopted by larger food coalition to train low-income neighborhoods in local urban agriculture
- Working on funding full-time Director position, upgrading website, and building membership services
Again... way to go Adam! Keep up the great work! And check out his website if you want to join in!
If you have ideas, encouragement, questions or connections for Adam... take a second and click "comments" below. I'm sure he'd appreciate it!
In the meantime, keep dreaming BIG everybody!
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