I met Eric and his parents this week.

He’s an amazing kid and he’s someone we can all learn from.

I mean hey… I’ve been talking with people about their BIG dreams for years now, and it’s rare that anyone can tell me about their big dreams with the clarity that Eric did.  (Heck, I don’t know that I can state mine this clearly!!)

Check him out…

Click here: Eric’s BIG dream from the BIG dream gathering.

Now, granted.  He’s young.  His dream might change and that’s ok.

But at the same time… I’m betting on Eric.

I can see him in the front row of classes at the University of Louisville.

I can see him working with the finest race horses in the world.

I can imagine that great smile and that humble confidence really kicking in when his horses win big some day!

Can’t you?

Why not leave him a comment to encourage him?

Do you have a suggestion or an idea?

Click on comments and let him know.

Thanks for dreaming big together gang!

And watch for more videos and dreamer updates in the coming weeks!

Posted by Mitch Matthews

Okay… So I have to tell you that we generally pick the BIG dreams to post… at random… from a HUGE pile of BIG dreams.  I’ll admit that it’s not a perfect system… but it works… for now.

This morning… I went "exploring" in the pile… and wound up pulling out two dreams… again… at random.

Here’s what’s wild.

They were from the same dreamer.

Again… this pile is HUGE… and I went "in" twice.  AND… I pulled the same dreamer out TWICE!

So… I’m going to post both of them!  (I kind of feel like it’s divine providence… and that I’ve got to follow through on that!)

Okay… so here they are…

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Dreamer #928′s first BIG dream:

Change the world by helping people connect with others (personal and business) and make a living doing it.

Things I have:

• Communications business
• Enthusiasm
• Hope

Things I need:

• I want to attract the right people to my team and as clients
• focus

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Dreamer #928′s second BIG dream:

Buy a building – commercial –

• The lower level: Dance, taichi, yoga studio
• The business offices: graphic design, artists, creative people, meeting space
• The upper level: apartments, lofts

The things I have:

• hope
• enthusiasm

The things I need:

• Money for down payment
• financing
• a building in the "right spot" for me

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Okay… so if you have ideas or encouragement for dreamer #928… let them know.

And I’ll jump in and say that I have similar goals… so I LOVE these… and can totally identify with them!  I think we’re on to what I call "the connection revolution" and that people… authentically connected… can change the world!  So… yup… I LOVE these dreams! 

Keep dreaming BIG and keep connecting!

Join in the conversation by clicking "comments" and let #928 know what you think!

Photo credit to: kellen!

I’m not even a HUGE fan of American Idol… but I HAD to post this clip.

One… because of the song he sang.

Two… for the way he sang it.

Three… for the impact it had on everyone… including Simon!

Wow.

Check it out!

By Mitch Matthews

There’s a cool story behind this BIG dream which I’ll share afterwards…

Here it is…

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BIG dream:

Create a network of women to address transitional changes that happen in life.  It would be a resource to foster growth in a positive, energizing environment.  The focus is on creating community and promoting growth spiritually, professionally, financially and Physically.

The things we have in place:

• Business experience
• Non-profit experience
• HR and PR experience
• Marketing experience
• Professional development and leadership skills
• Passion for reaching out to others in need

Some things we need:

• Professional women willing to participate in focus groups to help clarify the mission for this organization
• Feedback on the concept

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If you are interested… or just want to encourage Janel and Judy… You can e-mail Janel at J.Cerwick@mchsi.com or just click “comments” below and let them know you think it’s a great idea.

Okay… so here’s the story behind the dream.

Janel and Judy both came to the most recent BIG dream gathering… but they didn’t know each other before they arrived.

What’s cool is that neither of them really knew what their BIG dreams were before they came.  They just had a feeling they were supposed to attend.

They wound up sitting down at the same table to write out their dreams… and just started chatting.

They talked about their current situations… and their history.

Then they both admitted that they just weren’t sure what their dreams were.

But then they started talking about their passion for connecting business women… how they wanted to help women in transition… how they wanted to come alongside women who needed help getting back into the workforce… then BOOM!

They realized they both had the SAME BIG DREAM.  To connect and help women!

How cool is that?

So then they spent about 2 hours at that same table hammering out the basics of a business plan for this group.  Then… together… they posted it on the BIG dream wall.

I wound up hearing about their dream when Janel came to pick up her dream sheets.

I LOVED the story and told her I’d post it on the site.

How about that?

How awesome is that?

So… if you dig their dream… help them.  Encourage them.  Spread the word.

Who knows?  This might just be another BIG dream that could connect people and change the world!

Photo credit: bikeportland.org

Image by SimonDeanMedia via Flickr

By Mitch Matthews

Tionna has a BIG dream… and we’ll let her share it in her own words…

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BIG dream:  I want to become a professional singer and recording artist!

Things I have in place:

• I currently sing in a local band
• I take voice lessons
• I play the piano
• I have a vocal booth at home
• I have the support of my husband, family and friends

Things I need:

• Producer
• Demo
• Piano instructor
• Jazz/R&B vocal instructor
• Fellow musicians
• Mentor/Advice

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So… can anyone help Tionna out?  Anybody have any ideas?  Anybody just want to encourage Tionna?

Just click on “comments” below and let her know!

And thanks for dreaming BIG!

Photo credit: fensterbme

Image via Wikipedia

Here’s today’s BIG dream…

It’s from dreamer 595:

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The BIG dream:

To be the best husband and father, now tomorrow and forever.  I want to… and will change the cycle established by my grandpa and father.  I want my legacy to be a strong family with a wife who adores me and boys who can’t wait to spend the next minute with me!

Things I have:

• Commitment
• Friend support
• An AMAZING wife
• God’s love and guidance

Things I need:

• Good books
• Prayer

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Okay… do you have any thoughts or recommendations for this BIG dreamer?  Click on “Comments” below and let him know.

Oh… and keep dreaming BIG!

Picture credit and kudos to: Naya girl

In February, 2008 – we hosted a BIG Dream Gathering at Lutheran Church of Hope in West Des Moines.

We had more that 500 people arrive in less than 45 minutes!  It was huge… and a whole lot of fun!

Trish Toma-Lark… our 2007-2008 BIG dream gathering photographer… helped to capture the event.

Thanks again for coming… for connecting and for dreaming BIG!

By Mitch Matthews

We pulled down the dreams from our latest BIG dream gathering last night… and we’re getting ready to get them back to everyone tomorrow night.

We’re going to start posting people’s dreams on the site soon, but I just had to relay one of my favorites that I saw last night.

It was simple.

No dreamer number.

A kid’s handwriting.

It simply said…

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"I have 2 dreams.  I want to be a fashion model and a fire fighter."

The things I have… "I’m good lookin."

The things I need… "Time and fire fightin skills."

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Yup… I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again… dreamin’ BIG is for young and old!

Love it!

Keep checking back… more dreams are on their way!

photo credit: MikeL-911

By Mitch Matthews

We’ve started to receive pictures from last night.  These first ones are from Dick Galloway who attended his first BDG last night.

We had a great group… and more pics will be coming… so keep checking back!

And thanks again… Dick Galloway!