If you’re an entrepreneurial businessperson, you probably don’t need anyone to tell you to dream big. It kind of goes with the territory. The status quo simply doesn’t satisfy you. There’s a good chance that you’re inspired by others who are driven to do better as well—whether it’s in the business arena, in sports, in the arts, or in some humanitarian endeavor.
We know the names of many of the people who have dared to dream big—and have succeeded: Steve Jobs, Richard Branson, Elon Musk, Oprah Winfrey, Michael Jordan, Mia Hamm, and others. And while we know that these individuals were extremely disciplined and worked hard—we’re not always aware of the sacrifices they made to achieve their success.
Sure, we know that they put in long hours. We know they kept going when others quit. But sometimes they paid a significant price that others never knew about. In order to say yes to their dreams, they sometimes had to say no to something else.
John Maxwell illustrates this beautifully in a story he tells about Olympic Champion, Mary Lou Retton. You can read his complete post here, but I wanted to pass on one snippet Maxwell shared that really struck me:
The dream is free, but the journey isn’t. At some point, you have to make a transition from believer of the dream to buyer of the dream. No dream comes true without somebody paying for it. If you want to achieve the dream, you have to be willing to do more than just imagine the outcome. You have to sacrifice your comfort, money, time, and energy. Over the next year, what sacrifices do you anticipate needing to make in order to move closer to your dream?
That’s pretty powerful stuff! And it raises the question for all of us: “What price are you willing to pay to fulfill your dream?” You’ll have to say no to something. What are you willing to forego? And because the price is often high, you’ll want to make sure the dream you’re pursuing is the right one—one that meets both professional and personal goals.
What’s your dream? And what are you willing to pay to fulfill that dream?
By the way, I want to remind you about the 2014 Growth Summit presented by Fortune coming up Tuesday and Wednesday, October 28-29 in Las Vegas. Click on the link to check out the list of people presenting at this fabulous 2-day conference.
And remember, if we can get 4 people to register, the individual rate drops to $400 per person. So if you put my name in the coach code when you register we should have enough people to get you the lower rate! (If you have questions, shoot me a note and I’ll be happy to answer your questions).
Need help growing your business? With over 35 years of experience and thousands of companies assisted, Chuck Kocher and The Transformation Company can help you scale your business into a truly exceptional business capable of high growth strategies. Businesses are always changing, don’t let yours be left behind. Stand out with our business and executive leadership programs – designed to challenge and improve your business. Your business will thank you for it. Contact me today for a free consultation! 719-339-9505