I love to bring the laptop out here – I’m in a shady nook of a shrub of unknown variety. Over the years the ivy has covered it and forms a protective umbrella. I have often wanted take that shrub down and plant a respectable tree but I know that it would take years to grow to shady proportions and the ivy haven that both the birds and I dearly love. 

Yes, the tree and ivy are full of many little birds that come to overnight here – a sheltered roost. Outside the ivy covered fence I have two bird feeders full of seed and inside a hummingbird feeder.

Our property here in suburbia is home to 16 towering oaks. Right now the breeze is rustling the leaves on this wonderful spring evening.  I’m sitting here relaxing – preparing my mind for Dathan & Jerry’s live Q&A for our training class.

How perfect, ice tea, breeze, birds, and the wireless internet that connects me to the world…

Think of your dreams as something that must be nurtured, fed, and yes, even loved before you can bring them to life.  Just as a woman becomes pregnant – the conception of a dream is a miracle.  It is what makes us different from other mammals.  The ability to use our minds to make a conscious or sub-conscious  choice.  Conception happens long before the dream is achieved.  The period of time between conception and the birth of a dream is a process.

A process is a systematic series of actions directed to an end.  It takes continuous action or a series of changes taking place in a definite manner.  Heading towards the definite goal. This is the period of time when the dream is in the “womb”.  It is often filled with doubts, adversity, changes, and even some out and out surprises!  There will be good and bad days.  At times you may be faced with serious dilemmas: Should you give up or should you go on?

Without a moments hesitation, I will give you my answer, “Don’t give up on your dreams!”

Nurture your dreams – a woman does not become pregnant and just forget about it until it’s time to be delivered. A woman spends her every waking moment thinking about the dream; the dream that will become her child.  Love your dream.

Stop being a victim.

How cool is that. I am not a victim of circumstances. Where I am today is based upon choices I’ve made up to now.
The best part of this – where I will be in a year or two, or three, or ten – is totally based upon me.  No one else!
We are not victims. That thought just lifted my spirits and the weight left my shoulders. I hope you feel the freedom too.

Be in control.

Ask yourself, “Is this beneficial to me? To my business?”

Will this choice control me?  Or I it?

Your character is the sum total of your everyday choices.

Look for ways to say “no” to yourself each day.

Exert control.  Be in control of you.

Tell “the little guy” in your head to sit back and shut up.

Choices made this day will affect the rest of your life.

Choose.

We traveled and installed systems (the hardware and software) and I trained the operators how to use the new system. The thing that always amazed me was how during each and every single class that I could learn something about a software package I thought I knew inside and out. We think we know the “way” to do something. But another can look and the same thing and do it very differently. Not wrong by any stretch – just another route. I loved the training, working shifts with the operators.

This makes me think of a quote, and I don’t know by whom, “If we keep going down the same old road, how will we get anywhere else”.  In other words – if we continue to do the same things that got us where we are today – then how can we expect tomorrow to be any different.  Hope is great – but there has got to be some action on our part. 

I hope you’ll think about that and maybe I’ve it a chord….

It was a great time in my life and I’m glad of the experience.
Blessings! Colleen

The other day on one of the calls – I heard how we should nurture our dream explained in a way that every person could understand.

In the early stages of you vision… It is fragile. It requires protection. You have got to keep it alive inside of you. Now, consider a pregnant woman. She takes extra vitamins, she changes her life and lifestyle to protect and nurture the infant growing within. There’s no-smoking, no drinking, saying no to certain foods, saying no to activities which may harm the life inside…. There is a vision growing within.

Carry, protect, feed that vision inside of you. Nurture – Care – Be Clear.

Love the Vision – Talk to the Vision – Feed the Vision

Feel the heartbeat of the Vision.

The second decision for Success in Andy Andrews’ book “The Traveler’s Gift” is “I will seek wisdom“.

Part of seeking wisdom is reading or listening to books. Andy Andrews’ book is a wonderful place to start your journey. This journey is one that should lead you to your inner self. Allowing you to grow into the leader that is within you. Leadership is not directing others it is directing self – it is a journey.

I hope that you will choose to read Andy Andrews’ book and begin your journey to greatness.