the next BIG thing

What do you secretly, or maybe not so secretly, in your wildest dreams want to do? Not too long ago I had a talk with my brother. He told me that the facebook age is one of narcissists. And in school we are often told we can "be anything we want to be." All we have to do is dream it, then work to achieve it. We had a back and forth over this mentality, with me on the side for the dreamers. Who's right?

Let's consider what it's like to think you can do what you want. You're 10 years old. You relish in the idea of owning an ice cream business. You go through school, and you hear the other zany ideas your friends have. But when you're at home, your parents tell you about how they have their own dreams that you will become a doctor, and you can help treat them when they older. You start to think that maybe being a doctor wouldn't be so bad. You would get paid well, and you could afford to take care of your family. Then you get to college. You focus. You make straight As through your hard work, and that lingering idea of owning an ice cream business seems like a childhood notion. Med school application it is.

Does this sound familiar? I have nothing against conventional occupations. Most of them are direly, importantly necessary for our society to be what it is and has been. But what about the dreamers who want to be doers? Do they stand a chance?

I completely understand that it's unrealistic that everyone who wants to run wild with a great entrepreneurial idea is not going to be successful. Most people will fail. I like to think that it's a worth effort to try against all odds to achieve what seems so deliciously good.

I sometimes wake up in the morning with a calm yet energized feeling; I think, "I am going help someone today." That is all it takes to motivate me on the spot. Then I go through my day, get hung up over issues that are much smaller than they seem, and suddenly my perspective is shot, and I retreat to my bed downcast and thankful I get to close my eyes and end my miserable day. You see, what I lack is constant application of what I'm trying to achieve. I need a game plan.

So here is what I am going to do, and I encourage you to do the same. I'm going to go home and make a list of five BIG, CRAZY, INSPIRING ideas I want to set in motion. I am going to spend a few lines elaborating on each one. Then I'm going to put it away and revisit it tomorrow. So grab a pen and some paper, or maybe start a new Word file. Do this simple step, and I'll be back tomorrow with more.

I dare you to dream,
Saira

PS: Someone needs to invent a way to keep drinks cold. Watered down drinks are not that yummy. Ice should be a thing of the past.