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| Climb_Mayan Temple_Coba_Mexico_Sep12 (Photo credit: Ian Halsey) |
Success always starts with a dream. Big dreams can lead to big success just as much as they can lead to big failures. The key is to dream realistically. Daydreaming about fantasies can be fun and have a place in our lives, but those fantasy dreams should not be our main vehicle to use on the road to reaching success.
There's certainly nothing wrong with starting out with a big dream. You might want to start big in order to get enthusiastic. Then you have to put the dream into realistic perspective. Understand how you can make a big dream succeed within your means and abilities.
If it's a marketing campaign you're putting together, you want a decent return on your efforts. You want to get the word out about your product in the most effective way to reach the broadest audience. Do the research to see what has worked best for others and decide if that might be the same thing that could work for you. Enlist the aid of those who are willing to help you. Others want to see you succeed. They are often willing to share in your dream.
Don't dream bigger than your reality. You wouldn't want to lose money on your marketing efforts. If you do invest in marketing try to look beyond the initial campaign to see if you are laying a foundation for future campaigns. Diversify your marketing attempts. If you dump all of your resources into one big advertisement you are taking a risky gamble. Be careful about not spending more on the marketing that you will realistically recoup in the sales of your product. The marketplace may not believe in your product as much as unrealistic dreams can lead you to believe.
Dream big on the first day, then think realistically on the second. Hope for the best, but don't have any expectation that all will turn out as you imagined. You don't get to the top of a mountain by flapping your arms and flying. You have to climb the mountain to get to the top and often it can be a tough climb with many obstacles. You might have to try more than once. Sometimes you won't even make it to the top of that mountain. But there is always another mountain to climb.
Don't ever stop dreaming. Dream big. Dream often. And most importantly be sure to act on those dreams.
Do you give up easily when things get tough? How have others helped you attain a dream? Has there been a time when you invested too much in the pursuit of a dream?
encouraging write up, I have followed you , I am participating in A to Z challenge at The Other Side
ReplyDeleteCheers to dreaming big Lee! Loving the A-Z for the second year in a row. Jodie
ReplyDeleteI love how you talk about dreaming realistically. Reminds me of a comedian who said, 'I can dream but I can never become the president of Uganda!'
ReplyDeletePerfect way to convey the essence of dreaming big yet dreaming well.
Shailaja
A to Z Challenge, 2014
Introspection in Shades of 11
Thanks for those encouraging words. Smart dreams... Smart goals :)
ReplyDeleteI've been fortunate so many have been willing to help me with spreading the word about my books. And the IWSG.
ReplyDelete"Dream big on the first day, then think realistically on the second." This is great advice to take into account. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteThank God for dreams. My dreams are realistic: rich, famous, NY Times bestselling author. haha.
ReplyDeleteI had to learn that I have to put some effort into achieving my dreams.
Great post, Lee
Very sound advice. My post was on dreams too! I tend towards lofty dreams but I do try to keep my expectations achievable.
ReplyDeleteI am going to respond to this in HERE'S TO YOU sort of way....
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3KwEuNapzt0
Yes I give up easily. Too many years of criticism as a child and then self criticism as an adult. As George McFly said, 'what if I'm no good? I don't think I could handle that type of rejection'.
ReplyDeleteDreaming realistically I feel is important, at times I feel my dreams are unrealistic. I don't give up on my dreams easily.
ReplyDeleteI believe it's fine to dream big as long as you have a plan to get there. A dream without a plan is just a wish.
ReplyDeletePrecious Monsters
I don't think I dream realistically since I tend to dream BIG, but I do think realistically. I try to fulfill the dream one step at a time.
ReplyDeleteI dream small and succeed big :)
ReplyDeleteRhi
scruffy-duck.net // Welsh Bloggers
The importance of dreaming can never be overstated. The importance of reality checks also comes in handy. Looks like we're both sharing the benefit of dreams and daydreams today. Must be something in the water:)
ReplyDeleteMJ, A to Z Challenge Co-Host
Writing Tips
Effectively Human
Lots of Crochet Stitches
" Dream big on the first day, then think realistically on the second."
ReplyDeleteLove That Idea!
Now if only I knew how to stop beating myself up over the mistakes I've made...
Btw, thanks for hosting A to Z. really appreciate your time!!!
ReplyDeleteSomehow my realistic dreams are still unrealistic - or perhaps just unrealized.
ReplyDeleteYou DON'T want me to act on that dream I had last night. Seriously...
ReplyDeleteLee, I used to be afraid to dream because I was afraid to fail. As I've "matured," (euphemism for aged) I don't care so much what others think, so I dare to dream. With the encouragement, advice, and help from friends, family, and other writers, my dream of being a published author is coming true this summer. Thanks for a great post.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Linda
My dream has long been to win the Nobel Prize in Literature, but if I can't have that, I'd settle for being remembered as a writer for all time, like Shakespeare, relevant and read across many eras and cultures.
ReplyDeleteI am dreaming big, well... just the ability to dream is a dream itself.
ReplyDeleteI am out for the moment, thought I would say hello to the awesome A to Z team.
Jeremy [Retro]
Dream big is my mantra. I will always go for it. Great post.
ReplyDeleteBrandon Ax: Writer's Storm
I have invested too much in a few dreams. I'm smarter now.
ReplyDeleteIt's great to dream big, but it's very important to be realistic in those dreams. I have to remind myself of that from time to time.
ReplyDeleteIt's great to have a dream in the first place, however big or small.
ReplyDeleteI love to cheer people on! I think that's how I get people to step outside themselves and do what makes them happy. My husband tells me all the time that if I hadn't pushed myself so hard, he wouldn't have. I guess I don't also realize that my big dreams (which in my mind are small secret nuggets of self doubt trying to eradicate itself) inspire others too!
ReplyDeleteI loved this post!
I remember opening a book--can't recall which one--when I was about 13. The first thing I read in it was, "They who build beneath the stars, build too low." That's stuck with me since then.
ReplyDeleteSo many great comments and I wish I could respond to each individually. A lot of good material here too that I may have to return to after April and develop some additional posts.
ReplyDeleteThank you all for leaving your thoughts on dreaming and reality.
Lee
It's the dreaming that gets me through my days!
ReplyDeleteGreat post, dream,but be realistic. One of my fav quotes is 'Do not Dwell on Dreams and Forget to Live'.
ReplyDeleteNew follower :)
Suzanne @ Suzannes Tribe
xx
I don't think there is such a thing as dreaming realistically. You dream or you stick to reality. Reality often says that the dreams are impossible, so those things don't mesh.
ReplyDeleteMaybe dream big but make realistic plans to make those dreams happen, like the men that created the first rockets. They wanted to go to the moon, an impossible dream, but they used real science to get there.
Because of dreams, I've been to the top of the mountain literally (Pyramid of the Sun and Mount Haleakala). Now I am working to reach the top of the mountain metaphorically with my writing. Guess that would be literately.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the encouragement and advice.
Gail visiting for AtoZ
Great and inspiring post! We should never give up on our dreams and we should never be afraid or embarrassed to dream big. It gets scary and hard and our dreams can seem shattered at times but we must move forward and not give up on something we really want!
ReplyDeleteSarah :)
Saloca in Wonderland
What's wonderful about dreams is that you can have them at any age. :)
ReplyDeleteIf you give up too soon, you'll never know what you're really made of. If you shoot for the moon and land in the stars, that can't be all bad, eh?
ReplyDeleteYou Inspired :D
ReplyDeleteYes I totally agree and am a dreamer :) doesn't matter its day or night.. i just keep dreaming :)
ReplyDeleteHi there!
ReplyDeleteI'm just getting the hang of dreamng big and then coming back to reality to assess the dream.
My spouse would willingly relate the story of how I once had this idea to fundraise by making calendars.
I took all the pictures, did all the editing and art, printed the calendars, and bound them.
I thought I figured out a reasonable price. But, by the time I had finished, I'd spent over $200 of family money - money we could NOT afford to lose.
That was a hard lesson, but a good one. Now, I weigh things much more carefully, and I'm more likely to dip in a toe to test the waters than I am to jump in with both feet.
I like how succinctly you express this in your post. It's likely my pre-calendar self would have poo-pooed you - but post-claendar me is right on board! =)
I will never stop dreaming and neither should anyone else.
ReplyDeleteSuch good advice!
ReplyDeleteHappy A to Z-ing!
~Anna
herding cats & burning soup.
Thanks Arlee, great post.
ReplyDeleteI love this bit especially:
"Dream big on the first day, then think realistically on the second."
That says such a lot.
Would love to know what your dreams were when you started the A to Z Challenge. Did you ever dream it would be this extensive?
ReplyDeleteI used to, not only early on in writing journey but with a lot of other things as well. If the tough got going, the victim took a walk to do something easier.
ReplyDeleteGradually though, I managed to stick it out and accomplish quite a few goals that I had set out for myself, especially with my writing.
A-Z Challenge at Father Nature's Corner
Diversifying marketing efforts is a sound more. More good advice, Arlee.
ReplyDeleteI tend to dream "small" instead of big. My little dreams involve just having a happy family, internet access, and coke in the fridge. Everything else is icing on the cake. I write, and I hope it'll become "something", but as long as my little dreams are coming true, I can live with my big dreams never coming to fruition. Doesn't mean I won't keep trying, though! ah, maybe that means I'm a dreamer, after all...
ReplyDeleteOh Yes! Very good advice, and I'm paying attention. I've got three books to read now, two to re-read, and a new one on specifically Amazon marketing strategies.
ReplyDeleteMy dream is about to break open into its next level. I'm dreaming wider and deeper than I've dreamed in a long time and it feels really good. Coming upon a post like this brings a big smile to my face and reassurance to my heart.
ReplyDeleteLove how A to Z manages to work like this again and again and again! THANK YOU for that!
Julie Jordan Scott
The Bold Writer from A to Z
More great comments. Thank you all for your personal stories and observations.
ReplyDeleteIn specific response to Judy's question about what my dream was when I first thought of the A to Z Challenge, I just wanted to add 100 followers in one month after having taken 6 months to reach 200 followers. In April of 2010 I achieved my goal and followers have come steadily since that day.
When dreams become intentions that are pursued, they can become reality.
Lee