It's Friday... do you need a little inspiration for your BIG dream?

Have you heard about Jake Olson's story?

Wow!  It's inspiring and humbling and it puts things into perspective...

Check it out.

There are some common themes here with the BDG...

I love the fact that it's real people coming alongside Jake to help to make some of his BIG dreams happen!

I love that it took someone's connection with USC's football organization to get him in... but once he was there he had a HUGE impact on the players and the coaches.  

I love the fact that they wanted to help and bless Jake... but you can tell that they have gotten as much out of it as he has... and isn't that usually the case when you help someone?

I love the fact that Jake's BIG dream had an impact on everyone around him and he continued to walk it out... and to be the person he was created to be... no matter the challenges he faced.

Yup... it's a great story to end the week with!

Be like Jake... and keep dreaming BIG... no matter what,

Mitch Matthews

What seemed impossible in 2007 became a reality!

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

Barbara Garlock shares an inspiring BIG dream!

Barbara Garlock has an amazing story... AND an amazing BIG dream!

She is a successful attorney... she has a huge heart... AND she is a stage four cancer survivor.  

Now, she is wanting to help others that are facing challenging health issues by introducing something she is calling a "Center for Patient Partnerships."

Check out our video interview from the recent BIG dream gathering in North Carolina...

She wants to start a center as a collaborative project affiliated with one or more universities.   

Students, practitioners and professors of medicine, law, theology, social work, psychology, nursing, etc. could help people navigate the health care system and be advocates for the patients who need it most!

And not just "treat" them... but help them in a loving and compassionate way... listening to them... and helping to provide resources and sense of peace.

So, if you have encouragement, ideas or connections for Barbara, please click "comments" below this post and let her know!

And keep dreaming BIG!

Mitch

So... what do you want to "DO" today?

Image by Great Beyondvia Flickr

Okay... so... we are continuing our conversation about budgeting our time... especially when it comes to going after our BIG dreams!

We're wanting to figure out your unique "D.D.A.E. equation." 

(That's deciding what you need to DO, DELEGATE, AUTOMATE or ELIMINATE.)

In my last post, I suggested starting this process with taking a "snap shot" of how you are currently spending your time.  I even included a tracking grid to help in the process.

Today, we are going to start by looking at the first "D" in the equation. 

Yup, that's right.  We're going to talk about what you actually need to be "DOING."

This sounds simple enough... doesn't it? 

But whether you are a stay-at-home-parent, an entrepreneur or a high-level executive, we all seem to have a lot of stuff to do!

Some of this "stuff" represents things that we need to be doing... but some of it is stuff that we don't need to be doing anymore... right? 

How about you? 

After tracking your time for a week, did you figure out you were doing some things that you didn't need to be doing? 

Maybe, if you're like me, you found things slipping into the daily schedule due of bad habits, old habits or maybe because nobody else will do it!

Now, there are a lot of places to turn to get help on deciding what to do and not do. 

You can look to Covey's Four Quadrants.  (Click here to check out the quadrants represented in fun cartoon format!) 

You can look to gurus like David Allen and read Getting Things Done.

Yup, these are great tools!

But I'm going to challenge you to think BIG PICTURE for a minute. 

Why? 

Well, a lot of times we wind up doing things that we don't need to be doing because we don't REALLY know where we want to go. 

So, it's as Epictetus said, "First say to yourself what you would be; and then do what you have to do." 

This is especially true when you are considering going afer one of your BIG dreams.  Sometimes it might involve a major career change... but sometimes it might involve doing some things on the side to move towards your dream... small step... by small step.

This is what Tim Ferris did in his pursuit of the 4-Hour Work Week. 

He got clear on what he wanted life to look like... and what he'd need to do to get there.  Then he started to align his daily tasks with that vision.

So... here are some questions to ponder:

• What are some of things I want to achieve in the next five years? (Or how about 10 to 25 years?)
• Who do I want to be?  Who do I feel called to be?  What do I want life to look like?

Then... as you are looking through your daily task lists... ask yourself some of the following questions:

• Can I link this task to these goals?
• Will this help me to achieve these goals?
• How could this task help me in the pursuit of these goals and dreams?

Now, I'll admit that 100 percent of your to-dos won't pass this test.  They won't all clearly link to these big goals and dreams.

But what if you held yourself to a higher standard? 

What if you simply agreed to take a look at this? 

What if you were willing to at least consider these questions and hold yourself to a greater number of your daily tasks lining up with your bigger vision and dreams? 

How might that help you move towards these goals and dreams?

Then... as you find tasks that align with your goals... you can start to think about ways to do more of those things.

And for the things that don't pass the test, you can agree to at least consider putting some of them in one of the upcoming categories in the D.D.A.E. equation!  (Delegate, Automate or Eliminate)

Stay tuned... because we'll be getting you specific strategies for these categories in the coming weeks!

Go ahead... take the challenge... think BIG picture... set up some targets to shoot for... and start aligning your day to these goals and dreams.

Keep dreaming BIG!

Mitch

Help Carly with her BIG dream of digging wells in Africa!

UPDATE (3.30.09):

We have had an overwhelming response to Carly's request for help.  Some of you have requested ways to help pitch in with some financial help.  We've been in contact with Carly and she's going to be relaying some ways that people can donate to her student project.   

She has also had some offers of materials for the bracelets... which is incredible!  

What's amazing is that as the offers have come in, Carly's dream keeps getting bigger.  It's all freakishly exciting!  So, keep helping out!  It will be amazing to see where this takes her and this BIG dream!

If you want to help out, you can click on "comments" at the bottom of this post and leave your contact information. Or shoot us an e-mail at info@akickinthepants.com.  We'll relay the info to Carly.

Carly or her student adviser will get back in touch with you!

Thanks for dreaming BIG!

Original Post (3.27.09): 

Carly attended our most recent BIG dream gathering in North Carolina. 

When she started to describe her BIG dream, I knew it was one we needed to get the word out on... especially since she needs some help right away!

Check out her BIG dream in her own words...

So... some of the background on this... is that Carly is working with ICDI International to build wells in Central Africa.  You can check them out at http://www.icdinternational.org.

You can also check out an awesome video that tells their story by clicking here.   

So, it's simple... Carly needs our help...

• getting materials for bracelets, in which she is going to turn around a sell to her fellow students at her high school. 
• Once she raises $3000, they will be able to sponsor a well for a village in Central Africa and her high school's name will go on it.  (How cool is that?!?) 

How can you help?

• Donate $$ to help pay for the bracelets  
• Or... donate materials for the bracelets (she is thinking beads and leather-type string, but is open to other ideas.) 
• Or... just leave her some encouragement with some kind words about the idea (Honestly, this is pretty amazing for a high school senior... don't you agree? 

You can leave your comments, suggestions and/or offers to help by clicking on "comments" below this post.  Then, Carly and/or her student adviser will get back to you (especially if you are wanting to help out!). 

Lastly, there is a deadline to this.  She's needing to get this wrapped up by mid-to-late April, so her club can tackle this before the end of the school year.  

So, dig in... see if you can help!

Thanks for dreaming BIG and helping young BIG dreamers like Carly!

Keep dreaming BIG...

Mitch

Excuse me President Obama... Judy is ready to help!

Okay... so Judy Gustinis came to the BIG dream gathering last night.

This is a woman who impacts a room.  

She has a presence and a smile that will knock you over.  

But when you find out about her history... you are even more blown away!  

High level executive with a Fortune 100... launched products... started a program for small and medium sized businesses in New York... oh... and... started the first center in the U.S. for resource recovery and re-manufacturing at the Rochester Institute of Technology in NY.

Yeah... wow.

Now... she has a new BIG dream.  

It's to help President Obama and his team... to not only help the country to survive... but to help us thrive!

Check it out... in her own words...

So... how about it?  Who do we know?  Does anyone have any connections within Washington?  

How about getting Judy connected?  

You can click on comments below and leave her suggestions, encouragement or connections!

Or... you can e-mail her directly at: 

gustinis@yahoo.com

Let's get Judy to Washington D.C. to help!  Right now... our country needs as much wisdom as we can get!

Keep dreaming BIG!

Mitch

Check out Sean's BIG dream...

So, Sean showed up at the BDG in NC with a guitar case... so I just had to ask... "What's the BIG dream?"

  

As we talked... I found out that he's been playing for 2 years or so... and get this... other than a few lessons... he's self taught!

He also writes music... and has started to pick up the piano too.

Yeah... this kid amazed me.  

He had a heart the size of a Mac truck as well as skills and insight beyond his 16 years!

Okay... now... about his BIG dream...

He said he needs support and some people to listen.  

So... how 'bout it? 

Listen in... and then click on comments below and encourage Sean with some kind words.  (What would that have been worth for you to hear at 16?)

Go ahead... click on "comments" and let him know what you think.

Oh, and keep dreaming BIG!  

It's just like Sean says... If we don't have our dreams... what do you have?

Mitch

PS - Come on down for one last night of BIG dreaming on 3.25!  We'll be dreaming BIG between 6 and 9 pm.  You can stop by for 15 minutes or the full 3 hours!  It's up to you.  We'll just warn you... once you get started... you may not want to stop!  Click here for the details!

 

Check out BIG dreamer M.J. Craft's BIG dream!

M.J. Craft was one of the BIG dreamers that attended the BDG last night!

She was also brave enough to shoot a video to talk about her freakishly cool BIG dream.

Check it out!

The cool story behind this story is that as people heard about her dream last night... she wound up getting help from some friends on getting her studio set up.

AND... she also connected with a friend who has a BIG dream that involves construction and remodeling and he's agreed to help her do some improvements so she can be up and running with her studio ASAP!

How cool is that?

This is a great example of how the BIG dream gathering works... 

You come... you write down your BIG dreams... you put 'em up on the walls... you talk with other dreamers to see if you can help... or be helped... and then... just see what happens!

Okay... so what's one of YOUR big dreams?

Bring 'em tonight!  Click here to get all the specifics and logistics!

Keep dreaming BIG!

Mitch