Go ahead, think big. What is it you really want?

Hi!

The summer always seems to be a good time for me to start dreaming big dreams. Must be something about getting away from the day-to-day, and enjoying some precious downtime, that opens us up to fresh ideas and new options. Possibilities appear, crazy ambitions pop up, choices jell.

Here at Work in Progress we’re taking a summer break these next few weeks. Back in September with my pointers for taking those ideas you dream up this summer and working them into a master plan—one that will continue to inspire in the months and years ahead.

But first: an invitation to think big this summer. What is it you really want?

Finding your own Why

Stephen Covey wrote: It’s incredibly easy to get caught up in an activity trap, in the busy-ness of life, to work harder and harder at climbing the ladder of success only to discover it’s leaning against the wrong wall. Friedrich Nietzsche is quoted as saying, “He who has a why to live can bear almost any how.”

So choosing a direction is crucial.

Today I want to encourage you to think about your own Why, and to link it to some concrete outcomes. In other words, think about what you want—for yourself, those around you, and the wider world.

If you don’t know where you want to go, then it’s hard to see the signs that let you know you’re on track to get there. Thinking about what you want helps you take your dreams seriously. And I’m convinced that you and I are capable of more than we think. All too often, we just presume the world works a certain way and that things can’t change.

Once you know what you’re aiming for down the road, it helps you make smarter choices today. Choices like taking that class you’re interested in, or deciding how much you want to start saving each month to support that big idea of yours.

Before you pick up your pen and get started: of course not everything you dream up will come to pass. I don’t think we can wholly engineer our futures. But writing out your dreams can help enormously with motivation and focus. And with actually getting to where you want to go.

Have a great summer and see you in September!

Rick

produced by the language girl