It’s funny because when Christy Leibundguth came to help at a BIG dream gathering in 2007… she NEVER intended to share her dream on video.

But with a little encouragement from friends… prompting from our video guru Brad and… okay… I pushed a little bit too… she sat down to talk about her dream.

She kept it short… sweet… and contained.  But she got so excited she was about to burst in the end.  Here check it out…

(Can you tell we have fun at these BDG’s… or what?)

Well… Christy stayed with her BIG dream and what seemed impossible in 2007… became a reality in 2009!

And it sounds like it’s all been worth it.  Here’s an update from Christy… in her own words…

“I launched my business in April of 2009 and opened my doors for child care in June. My goal financially was to have 4 children and I had that within 3 1/2 months. At the end of January this year I will be at full capacity with 6 children.  The thing I am most excited about is that I always knew this was a dream but I didn’t know what my motive was for it and if it was ‘to be’. The journey to get to this place has been long and grueling without end in sight or vision at times. But I know now that all those jobs, opportunities, tests, and struggles I went through were to prepare me to be the business owner that I am today and run a successful, high quality child care program where my parents continue to stay extremely satisfied….and I am satisfied as well and have pride in what I do. The best is yet to come.”

If you spend two minutes with Christy… you’ll know that she was made for this!  If you’ve ever gotten to see her interact with her kiddos… encouraging them… making them laugh… teaching them… having fun… you’d just know it.

It’s a beautiful thing to see her doing EXACTLY what she was created to do.  And she’s doing it because she dared to dream… and go after it.

So we say… WELL DONE CHRISTY!

Okay… so let me ask you… which of your BIG dreams seems impossible right now?

What’s something you were created to do?

I know… I know… it might feel like a hard question because the answer might seem impossible right now.

Or that inner-critic might be saying “I can’t think about that because I don’t have the money for that!”  Or… “My dream seems totally out of reach.”  Or… “I don’t have the credentials to do that.”

All fair.

But… what if you just took a few steps towards it… today?  Even though it felt impossible… what if?

That’s how Christy did it.  One step at a time.  With a little help from friends… with some prayer… and with a whole lot of work… she was able to see her dream happen!

Listen… if you’ve been around the BDG long enough… you know that we’re not trying to sell you something.  This isn’t a set up for an “8 steps to success” cd set.  Nope.  We just want to encourage you to go after what you were put on the planet to do.

And… we’re the last people to tell you that it will be easy… but just like Christy found out… the process that you take to get to your dream (no matter how hard it is) will help to prepare you for your dream!

So go for it.  Take a step today.  You just never know where it might take you!

Keep dreaming BIG,

Mitch

Today’s featured BIG dream is a BIG dream update from Sean Moore!

You maybe remember Sean’s inspiring story from last year.

Rattlebox LIVE

He is the awesome dad, hubby and member of his small community… who had a dream.  That dream was to form a band… and rock the house. (Check out the story by clicking here.)

Now that may sound a little simple… and it would be fine if it was.  We want to celebrate all kinds of dream pursuits!  But as we talked with Sean, we found out that the “why” behind this dream… had a much deeper heart connection than just getting out with the “band” from time to time.  This dream was also important to Sean because of his sister Kendra and her battle with something called Stevens-Johnson Syndrome.  You can read more about Sean’s story in his own words by clicking here:  BIG Dream Gathering – Sean Moore -big-dream-story-2010.

Well, the update is that RATTLEBOX has continued to ROCK!

(more…)

Today’s featured BIG dream is a bit of an update on a big dream that got posted at a BDG last fall.

LAST NIGHT WAS A BIG NIGHT!

The BIG Dream Gathering had a fun night last night!  Why?

Well… we got to celebrate a BIG DREAM… coming to fruition.

That’s right… A BIG DREAMER… Jay Carstensen hit a major milestone in his big dream journey last night.

Do you remember Jay? He posted a big dream last year… and it was one that seemed impossible when he put it on the wall.  Here he is… talking about it.

But last night… just 8 months after he posted that big dream last November… he had his GRAND OPENING!  That’s right… Jay opened his martial arts school in Des Moines!

How about that?

I’ve got to tell you that it was so cool to be there on the sidelines to see the people who were there to root Jay on in his big dream pursuit!  (Plus, get a little kick-butt-action schoolin’ along the way!)

He’s now teaching classes each night and on Saturday mornings.  Plus, he signed up a big group for one of his self-defense/self-preservation courses while we were all there too!  Heck, it was great to see a group of women learn one technique that would help them get away from someone who grabbed them!  You should have seen it.  They were in their business attire… but they were fired up!  As they tried it… and it worked… they were whooping and haulering… and “feeling the power!”  It was fun to watch!

MY FAVORITE THING: THE GRIN

THE GRIN - Jay at his grand opening!

But my favorite thing… was that little grin on Jay’s face.

That grin that only comes from an inner-knowing.  That grin that comes when you’re on that big dream journey.  That grin that comes when you’ve taken a big step towards that dream.

Jay had “the grin.”

And even though Jay doesn’t usually like to be the center of attention… he stepped up.  He welcomed people into his business. He showed them things.  He introduced them to his current students (who were there in droves and wildly excited for Jay too!).   And he wowed people with some demonstrations.

Yup… it was a MAJOR milestone in his big dream pursuit!  And we are so proud of him for walking it out!

So… what’s next for Jay?  Well, he needs your help on getting the word out about his school.  He’ll do some advertising and those types of things, but he’s wanting to grow it over time.  He wants to gradually grow the school one student at a time… one class at a time.

So if you’re interested in finding out more about the school… or you want to find out more about why this big dream is so important to Jay… connect with him.  You can visit the school’s website by clicking here or you can call Jay directly at 515 255 9698.

You can also check out this recent interview with Jay to find out more about the school and his approach to teaching.

So… okay… what’s the call to action?

Well… a few things.

The first is that I’d ask you to leave a comment to encourage Jay on his BIG DREAM PURSUIT!  Let him know you’re excited for him or that you’re inspired by him… or that you’re pulling for him too!  Also, if you have an idea, a connection or a question for him… let him know that too.

Second… I’d offer you a bit of a challenge.  I’d challenge you to think about your own big dream pursuit today.  What’s something you could do… today?  I can tell you that it was so fun to see Jay’s grin last night.  But I can tell you that there were a lot of small but significant steps that he had to take to get to that point.  He had to get clear on what he wanted to do.  He had to plan.  He had to ask for help.  He had to take risks.

But it all happened because he was willing to take those small but significant steps… every day. And by the way, there were a lot of those “grins” along the way… because Jay has been enjoying the journey too!

So… how about you?  How can we put one of those grins on your face today?  What’s a small but significant step that you could take?  Why not take it?  Think about it.  What if you wound up walking around with a BIG DREAM GRIN on your face all day?  I guarantee that grin will make people wonder what you’re up to… and… like Jay…  you can just know you’re taking some steps towards making your dream a reality!

Keep dreaming big!

Until we hit a million,

Mitch Matthews

Related articles

• A story that will blow you away and a big dream involving a knight in shining armor! (bigdreamgathering.com)
• Today’s featured BIG dream comes from a little person who wants to build BIG houses! (bigdreamgathering.com)
• April is living her dream… and now she’s going for more! (bigdreamgathering.com)

Today… we are featuring the “updated” big dream for Denise Forney.

Featured BIG Dreamer - Denise Forney

The reason I say it’s her “updated” big dream is because Denise has been with the BIG Dream Gathering for a while! In fact, her big dream journey started back in 2008 when she came to her first BDG and she posted a dream that was all about writing kids music.

Then… she started walking out that dream!  And she did it one small but significant step at a time.

She didn’t quit her day job.  She simply started to look for opportunities to flex her “music writing” muscle.  She was involved with the children’s ministry at her church and so she started to write some original songs for that.  Someone asked her if she’d do some songs for a kid’s birthday party… she agreed… and wrote more songs.  She wanted to encourage her own kids to be musical… and BAM… more songs came.

Fast forward to 2010, when she came to another BIG Dream Gathering.  This time she had 14+ original songs written, but now the big dream was to record a CD.  So she posted a dream sheet describing the dream and asking for help.

Get this… someone in the room had a recording studio… and they wanted to help Denise make this dream happen!

Denise Forney - Criss Cross Applesauce

Now… it’s 2011… and Denise has her own CD – CRISSCROSS APPLESAUCE!  How cool is that?

Since she’s been walking out her dream… I asked Denise for an update.  Plus, I wanted to find out what was next.

So here’s her “updated big dream,” in her own words…

You are just the best… thanks so much for continuing to be so encouraging of my dream!

Our big dream is getting this CD into the hands of as many childcare providers, parents and young children as possible!

It always blesses me when I hear stories of families around the country that are listening to the CD with their young tots and enjoying the music. When a child I’m teaching says,

Denise with two of her back up singers getting ready for a gig!

“Konichiwa!” after hearing “Hello Around the World,” or gets excited about recycling after hearing “Let’s Go Green.” Or when another mom can relate how hard it is to be a working parent and drop their child off at daycare in the morning after hearing “Tic Tac Toe, X’s and O’s.” Yes, it’s cool to leave this kind of legacy with my kids… but to know that the songs are touching other families too makes my heart smile. So… the dream continues… with plans in the works for a children’s Christmas CD of songs I’ve been writing for a few years… and fun performances with kids this summer at the Blank Park Zoo (where we’ll outroar the lions!) Wellspring Christian Bookstore, KangarooBoo, and the Great Iowa State FAIR!

How cool is that?!

Denise Forney with her ALL STAR Back Up Singers!

So that’s Denise’s “Updated” Big dream.  We’re excited for her and I bet you are too!  Why not let her know if you have some ideas, connections or encouragement for her?  Just click on comments and let her know!

Also… as I’m wrapping up this post… I’m wondering what Denise’s story might inspire YOU to do today?  What if you took a few lessons from her BIG DREAM PLAYBOOK?  What if you thought about a few of those big dreams that you have and wrote them down?  What if you looked for opportunities to walk them out?  What if you took a few small but significant steps towards them?  What if you got started… TODAY?  What could happen?

Denise’s story is proof-positive that those small but significant steps can add up over time!

So let Denise know that you believe in her BIG DREAM… and also know that we believe in YOURS!!

Until we hit a million,

Mitch Matthews

Related articles

• What’s one of your big dreams for the kids in your world? (bigdreamgathering.com)
• What’s one of YOUR big dreams? (bigdreamgathering.com)
• April is living her dream… and now she’s going for more! (bigdreamgathering.com)

We first met Calvin Johannsen at our BIG Dream Gathering at the University of Northern Iowa in early 2010.

Calvin Johannsen

I really connected with one of his big dreams and we started to explore working together on some projects.  That has lead to a freakishly cool working relationship and some amazing videos for the BIG Dream Gathering too!

So… I asked Calvin about some of his big dreams and where he wants to go.

It was interesting because before he started to talk about his future… he started to talk about his past.

He talked about the fact that his big dreams have involved producing cutting edge video for as long as he can remember.  As a result, he would go above and beyond to create it.  For example, when he was at UNI, he took it upon himself to create a “stripped down” video series.  This wasn’t for a class.  This wasn’t for an assignment.  This was just something he did to push himself and see what he could come up with.  (With little to no budget and limited equipment.)

By the way, Calvin won BEST of SHOW for a video contest at the University of Northern Iowa with this!

He has since graduated from UNI and he now has his own video production company called VisualHouse.  The flippin’ cool thing is that he’s been having a lot of success with it.  In fact, to give you an idea of how he’s continued to grow in his craft… take a look at some recent videos that he produced.

In these videos, Calvin said he built off of the experiences like his “Stripped Down” project, but he was able to add additional know-how and new tools.

(more…)

I’m excited to say that I’ve teamed up with visual author, Jocelyn Wallace to create…

IGNITE! – A little book to spark your BIG dreams

It’s been something I’ve wanted to do for a number of years… and it has everything to do with my own big dream of helping to launch 1 million dreams!

Click here to find IGNITE on Amazon!

Why?

Well… because IGNITE is a combination of stories… questions… inspiration… and ideas… paired up with incredible design and photography from visual author Jocelyn Wallace… and some original artwork from my wife (the BIG Dream Gathering’s co-founder) Melissa.

It’s not 400 pages of “how-to.”

Who has time for that?

Nope… IGNITE gets to the things you need to think about with your big dreams (and even remember them if it’s been a while)… plan for them… and launch them!

We’ve received some great feedback too…

“If you want to learn an extremely effective method for dreaming BIG that will also help you to make your dreams come true, IGNITE is the book to get you there.”

- Bob Burg, Co-author of the National Bestseller, The Go-Giver

“This wonderful little book will be a modern day treasure map to help you excavate those buried dreams and spark your passions again!”

- Patricia Rossi, Author & Television Host

So… if you want to spark some of your own big dreams… or give it as a gift to spark someone else’s… we invite you to check out IGNITE! 

Click here to find out more and/or order it from Amazon.

Thanks for joining us in helping to launch 1 million dreams… including yours!

Mitch

Related articles

• IGNITE! – A little book to spark YOUR big dreams (mitchmatthews.com)
• On the BIG Dream Gathering’s 5th Anniversary, we want to dream BIG with YOU! (bigdreamgathering.com)

Jay Carstensen has been a fan of the BIG Dream Gathering for a while.  In fact, if you’ve been to a Des Moines based BDG, you’ve probably seen him helping out.

But back in October… Calvin Johannsen, our videographer, finally got Jay to talk about one of his BIG dreams.

Here’s the short but sweet vid:

Even though it seemed pretty darn impossible at the time…  Jay has been hard at work… making his BIG dream a reality!

Yup… he had to take one small but significant step at a time.  And let’s be honest… some of these were HUGE and significant steps.

He had to do things like put together a biz plan… get insurance… find a location… get funding… find supporters and advocates… AND STUDENTS!

And guess what?

Drum roll please…

This week… Jay opened his doors!

And look at that smile!

How cool is that?!?

I asked him why this BIG Dream was so important to him and he said, 

“I saw how it helped me in so many ways that I can’t NOT share it.”

You can find out more about the school and Jay at his website:
http://www.ksma.us/desmoines.html

Check out the site and leave Jay a comment here to congratulate him and to let him know you believe in his BIG dream!

Again… Congrats Jay!  We’re all excited for you and proud of you! You’re going to crush it!

Lastly… what’s one of your BIG dreams?  Does it seem impossible?

Even if it does… what’s a small but significant step that you can take towards it today?

Why not get started?  Jay did… and look at his smile!

And that’s just a beautiful thing!

Keep dreaming BIG everybody,

Mitch

Related articles

• BIG Dream Gathering Alumnus Kevin Hansen and his book Secret Regrets to be on Dr. Phil – April 1 (bigdreamgathering.com)
• Could Brad Pitt help you with your BIG dream? (bigdreamgathering.com)

Image via Wikipedia

Hey gang -

We wanted to give you the update on friend, successful first-time author and BDG alumnus Kevin Hansen.

He and his book Secret Regrets are set to be featured on Dr. Phil tomorrow, Friday, April 1st.

You can check local listings or visit Dr. Phil’s website to find out when it’s on in your area.

If you’re from Kevin’s neck of the woods in Northeast Iowa, then you’re invited to watch the show with him!  Click here to find out about the special viewing party that they are holding in Kevin’s home town of Cedar Falls.

You may remember from past posts about Kevin… but just to give you the quick scoop…  Kevin and I connected a few years ago around his big goal of writing a book.  We shared some ideas and some encouragement and he started rolling with his big dream.

He experimented with a blog first… which blossomed into several blogs… and then one of those blogs… Secret Regrets… started to explode!

He soon had over 500,000 hits and several thousand comments on his blog where people could share some of their regrets in life.

As Kevin worked to grow the blog, he saw people being able to share their regrets but he also saw opportunities for healing and support.  So he kept at it and then turned the blog into an Amazon best seller.

And that brings us to the next chapter in his BIG dream journey… with his story and his book (as well as some of the people who have posted to his blog) being featured on Dr. Phil.

Check out the related links below to hear a podcast I did with Kevin to hear more of his amazing big dream story!

And… tune in tomorrow to see a BDG alumni continue to walk out one of his VERY big dreams!

Kevin… Great job! We’re exited and proud of you!!

For everyone else… let this inspire you.  This all seemed pretty impossible a few years ago… but Kevin took action and stayed with it… and in a relatively short time… his BIG dream has taken off!

Just remember… yours can too!

Keep dreaming BIG,

Mitch

Related articles

• BIG Dream Gathering alumi Kevin Hansen to be on Dr. Phil! (bigdreamgathering.com)
• Podcasts to help you go after your BIG dreams and goals! (mitchmatthews.com)

Hey gang -

Last week I received a great phone call from our friend and BIG Dream Gathering alumni Kevin Hansen!

He was calling to let me know that he had been invited to fly out to meet Dr. Phil and that they were going to base an entire show on his new book called Secret Regrets!

In fact, they are taping the show today for a future broadcast!

How exciting is that?!?

So I thought I’d repost my podcast with Kevin so you could hear more about his BIG dream journey.

Listen in to hear more about how he got started as well as find out how this BIG dream has lead to an internationally acclaimed blog (SecretRegrets.com) and best-selling book!

We were also able to cover many of the question that you submitted for Kevin… here as well as on Facebook.

Click here to check out the interview!

BIG Dream Gathering – Podcast with author Kevin Hansen

We had some mic problems a few times, but hang in there! It’s a great interview!

Again, some the things Kevin shares are…

• Some of the things that he did to get started
• How he experimented with his big dream
• How he balances life and working on his BIG dream on the side
• How he got his book published and how it’s become an online success!

Say a little prayer for Kevin today and be bolstered by how his BIG dream pursuit has been playing out one small but significant step at a time!

Thanks gang,

Mitch

We LOVE to share stories of regular people who have had the guts to dream BIG… especially when they've posted them at a BIG dream gathering.

Well, a few years ago, Jennie Smith came to a BDG, and told us all about her BIG dream of owning a farm. 

I have to admit that it was a bit of a surprise because, at the time, I knew Jennie as a very successful business person with an incredible biz network.  So to hear about a dream to grow organic tomatoes was a bit of a shock.  But… anyone who heard about the dream… loved it! 

Recently, I asked her (via facebook) to update us on the progress of her BIG dream.  Here's her response… in her own words.

"Well Mr.Matthews…. life is a rockin and a rollin. Simply
stated…I am blessed.

About two years ago, I shared with you my BIG
Dream… and now it is a BIG reality! And one worth living every moment
of.

Thus, here is the short story long…

I now own and operate
Butcher Crick Farms, LLC.

I formed the company and started with just 3
clients two years ago. I am up to 15 clients, and will be serving the
Downtown DSM Farmers market this year as well….

THAT'S A LOT OF
TOMATOES!!!

I hired part time help this year, and still control my
labor of love costs with what I call "harvest parties"

I invite my
network to come out on Sunday afternoons throughout the harvest season
to help me pick, and in return I feed them (via one of many cool chefs
i sell to) and let them take a box home. Agritourism at its best!

What's been one of the hardest
lessons learned thus far? Well, I thought I was going to own a vegetable farm,
but instead I am learning that I own a business;) quickbooks, grants,
and learning how to pay myself…. Yup… still working on those skill sets,
but I will get there eventually."

Well… we say… way to go Jennie!

As you can tell, she's got heart, determination, creativity and a willingness to look for people around her with complimentary dreams.

It's going to be fun to see what the next few years bring!

Make sure to check out the DSM Farmer's Market and get some of those amazing Butcher Crick Farms tomatoes! Your sauce and your salad will never be the same!!

So… what's one of YOUR BIG dreams?

What small but simple step could you take towards it today?

That's how Jennie got started… one step at a time.  Who knows where YOU could be in two years!

Keep dreaming BIG,

Mitch Matthews