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Chasing the dream!

Guest post by: Sarah James-Cyrus

Article Overview: Dreams are part of life and a common phenomena amonst most people, but are they realistic?

Chasing the dream!



Chasing the Dream or not?



Doctor, Singer, Pilot, Accountant, Stunt Driver, Actress, Singer...

These were just some of the many careers I have considered over the 31 years of my life and I'm sure that the next time I see a movie, I will add to the list. Like most people I consider myself to be ambitious.

When I'm bored of living the 'routine'- I daydream,

When I've had a particularly stressful day - I go into Wish mode AND

When I've just had enough- I contemplate the different ending had I pursued a different Career Path.

Whether we like it or not, we all have burning ambitions. When we were younger we were told that we could achieve anything we put our mind to and for most of us: that advice never fades.



Have you ever stop to think why we have these burning ambitions? Have you ever wondered why that burning passion and drive that initially fuels us, seems to wither away with obstructions until it is finally blown out by the harsh reality of life?

I admit that some girlie chats I have with my friends often include this very thought, (that is after wild and vivid discussions of men, shopping, other people's lives, not forgetting the rich and famous). I am not one for regrets, (as I am of the belief that everything happens for a reason), but being naturally inquisitive, I like to know that I am not alone in my thoughts.

I think the whole ambition concept is a double edge sword. I mean, looking at it from the positive perspective, standards should be set, inspirations met and dreams/aspirations put in place. Millions were never made by being complacent and comfortable and let's be honest, risks can only be taken if you are proactive and have direction.

HOWEVER

On the other side, chasing dreams can lead to extreme disappointment, disillusionment and disenchantment!

• Ø The high profiled job that stifles the social life and fails to bring satisfaction - not what you imagined?
• Ø Sitting at home with two babies, housework piling up and lack of other adult attention- far cry from the happy 2.4 family?
• Ø Stuck at home on benefits, counting the pennies and unwilling to emerge out of the house- how did I get here?

Have you ever stopped to wonder why no one seems to be happy with what they have? Is there a reason why the Rich and Famous make millions and lose them just as quickly?

Have you considered where this 'get rich or die trying' mentality has emerged from? Given the choice, many young people have dismissed the structured career path for the unsavoury, dangerous and murky world of drug/sex trafficking (possibly seeing it as a quicker and easier route to achieve success).

How about the old age subject of infidelity? If a person loves, commits, gains trust, and make plans to set up for the future, what happens when they stray? Why isn't the love of their life enough?

Often when people cheat, they say it is just sex...but is it? Or is it that they are chasing excitement, something more to break free from the static nature of a relationship?

At a young age, our dreams are untarnished, however as we grow and adapt to society, we are influenced. Whether it be by the media, friends or personal experiences. The dream to work in M15 might be squashed once you realise how much pay you can expect, whilst the lure of becoming a rapper/singer might become a strong possibility after watching those countless TV programmes of their lifestyles.

You might have noticed that I have posed many questions within this blog and to be honest, the reason for that is that I am just as confused as most people. I remain of the viewpoint that ambitions should not be stifled, entrepreneurship is admirable and that once you have drive and passion you should follow your dream. I am sure there is room for fellow Alexandra burke's and Phillip Green's .

BUT

At some point, lines have to be drawn. If you are naturally shy and introverted, (although it is possible), you may have to rethink entering the brutal world of acting. If you are not naturally blessed with a talent, accept it and move on. Family are there to support and cushion us, but don't put them in unnecessarily uncomfortable positions. If you can't sing, you can't sing!!!

A happy family needs all of its members to feel content ,

A job is only done to its full potential if you are prepared to give you're all to be competent.

Dream away but be realistic! If it is what you really want, chase the dream and don't let it get away from you!

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Article Tags: choices, dream, expectations, needs, realistic, wants, wishes



Related Forum Posts
Re: Quote of the Day - "Believe in your dream." - Dave Thomas ( - Hi GT - I think that's very true. I would also say that sometimes our dreams are mis-aligned. Many people dream of making a lot of money but when that's your only goal, it rarely happens. The most successful entrepreneurs have a dream of a world they want to create and products and services they want to offer to help people. That's a dream that can get you out of bed early and start working!
Nana excercise - Nana > answer the following: 1. If you had no chance of failure what would you dream to be your ideal Job or Business? 2. What about this dream excites you? 3. What Field of Study (Major) will get you closer to this dream? 4. What other Field of Study would "compliment" (Minor) your dream to get you closer to it. REMEMBER: there is no wrong answer. I'm hoping this exercise will help place you in a program that makes you excited at a "most probable likely" future. Your answers will help open a dialogue on the forum.
Re: What or Who Sparks Your Business Interest - This is a nice thread, and I love reading all the stories. For me it started with the dream of owning my own business, I wanted my own store, selling puzzles, jigsaws, etc. It was too expansive to start and it is not a very successful niche here. So I decided to check other niches and then came the internet marketing option. The dream of being wealthy was always a dream and my parents always told me that to be rich you have to be born into a rich family or be a thief. I decided to prove them wrong.
Re: The greatest gold mine in the world - I agree, Kevin. I actually invite my clients to look at what their absolute dream business would look like... doing exactly what they love to do, having the kind of lifestyle they want and bringing in what they think would be an incredible income. Then I invite them to open up to the possibility that it could actually happen! This dream business then sets the bar for what we begin coaching towards. The sky then becomes the limit! Here's to all of us setting that bar higher to what we really want! Warmly, Tami
Re: What is one of your favorite sales and marketing book? - Great post. I love biographies. My favorite book is The Magic of Thinking Big. It's such a quick, easy read. But the big take away message is you should dream big because most people don't bother to dream big and actually try big. The book cites the example of a job posting for an executive position gets far fewer responses than a job for a mid level manager or a mailroom clerk. So Dream Big & Do Big because most people won't. Off to get the Zappos book.


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