Dream on…

Those of you who’ve been following this blog, even for a short while, know that our clients have been gaining a lot of traction as they seek 20/20 clarity around their 2020 vision.  But not all have taken to this immediately.  One of my clients struggled a bit when I first ask him to clarify his BIG dream for 2020.

“Well,” he began, with a deep breath; “I suppose I’ll be…” and he went on to paint a rather fuzzy and predictable picture.  Then he paused, thought for a moment, and started again.  “I suppose my kids will probably be…” he continued…

“And this business?” I asked.

“Well, that depends on a number of things.  If my partner decides to…”  “And if my son finally…”  “And if the market ever…”

This went on for about five long, painful minutes.  Then we just stared at each other for a while longer, and I said, “You don’t sound very excited.”  “I’m not,” he answered.

I then told him his vision for 2020 looked more like a prediction.  A prediction based simply on his current reality, not his BIG dream.

Make no mistake about it; a dream is NOT a prediction.

Weathermen and insurance actuaries predict.  Great leaders and revolutionaries DREAM.  Predictors use rules of probability and historical trends.  Dreamers break the rules and create history.  Predictors help us to see what’s likely.  Dreamers inspire us to see what’s possible.   Alexander was a dreamer.  Our Founding Fathers were dreamers.  Edison, Salk, and Gandhi were dreamers.  Abe Lincoln, Henry Ford, Bill Gates.  Dreamer.  Dreamer.  Dreamer.   Do you think anyone would have predicted the impact each of these men made on the world?  Did any of their accomplishments seem likely to happen?

When you’re working toward 20/20 clarity of your 2020 vision, don’t simply project a “best guess” for the next ten years, based on the last ten.  That won’t inspire anyone, especially YOU.  The magic in this exercise is to dream BIG about what you REALLY WANT your life, your relationships, your team, your leaders, and your business to look like in the year 2020.  The magic lies in envisioning an enormous, compelling, and truly inspiring BIG dream for work and life.  An ideal vision that you step back, look at, and say, “Now THAT would be awesome!”

The poet/philosopher Johann Wolfgang von Goethe once wrote, “Dream no small dreams, for they have no power to move the hearts of men.”

Translation:  If your 2020 vision doesn’t have your heart pounding, dream BIGGER.