Actualizing your Dreams

Have you ever had a big dream but neglected to take the necessary steps to make it a reality? Do you currently have a product you would like to produce, a poem you need to write, or a children’s book series just waiting to be born?

Dr. Donna Goldstein, Managing Director of Development Associates International, is a pioneering career and life success coach, author, and educator. She works with individuals, teams, and organizations to help them achieve balance and focus. Her clients excel at everything from starting new businesses, completing books, DVDs, and CDs, to improving sales and service.

Donna has developed a clear and easy seven-step approach that will assist you in making your dream a reality.  In it you will find the way to plot your own map to achievement.

To demonstrate this process, Donna illustrates how she manifested one of her own big dreams.

Bring Your Dream to Life in
Seven Focused Steps: The Heroes Story

As a professor of multicultural education in 1992, my dream was to create a play about Black history. Even though I was an experienced educator and event creator, I had never produced a play. In just two and a half years we created and performed our play, “The African American Portrait Gallery: Discovering Timeless Heroes,” for over 30,000 people in five states.

Here are the 7 steps I used to make it happen:

1. Clarify your intention. Is it a song or a story—a new product or product adaptation? What value does it bring?

After a dormant period, I began to bring my own dream to life in a theatrical production. After meeting with dozens of leaders in that field I determined that a one-man touring show would best suit the needs of our communities.

2. Call in potential opportunity partners. Who in your world could help you make your dream a reality? How will it also benefit them?

We started the journey by hiring a skilled playwright and director with a similar vision, then partnered with dozens of corporations, non-profits, and educational and community organizations to bring this dream to life.

3. Develop resourcefulness. What are the small business resources in your community? Who in your circle would help you if you asked them?

Since we started on a shoestring budget, we acquired, made and borrowed our initial props and costumes, sourcing family members, colleagues, friends, and even our own closets!

4. Upgrade your product or service continuously. How could your dream be even better by reaching more people and touching more lives?

Our actor and our playwright rehearsed and revised the show tirelessly, adding more humor, audience interaction, and music, adjusting sound cues, and deepening the characters.

5. Be responsive and flexible. Can you adapt your dream in response to your target market? Who else can use or benefit from your big idea?

Although we had originally planned a show that was targeted grades six through twelve, we soon realized that the show was of great interest and relevance to younger audiences, college students, and even seniors. So we adapted the play and now have several versions for both younger and more mature audiences.

6. Give something back. How can your dream benefit the greater good? Would giving away your product or service be beneficial?

We initially provided free shows to audiences ranging from homeless adults and children to inner city schools and our Young-at-Art Children’s Museum. The phone started to ring soon afterward for the paid performances!

7. Build your referral base. What’s the “buzz” on your dream? How could you generate more interest and referrals?

Many of our initial shows were provided to personal and business associates—people who knew the caliber of our work. Then they shared their excitement with others. Later referrals came from individuals who read one of our five full-page newspaper reviews. (See http://www.daint.org/WorldArts/Heroes)

This article was adapted from the book: 101 Great Ways to Improve Your Life Volume 2, which was written in collaboration with John Gray, Jack Canfield, Richard Carlson, Bob Proctor, and Alan Cohen.

To receive your complimentary copy of Donna's dynamic approach to goal setting, visit http://www.DrDonnaGo.com or to book a consultation to discuss your dream, e-mail Donna at DrDonna@DAInt.org, or call her at 954.893.0123.

For more information on the Heroes project, visit http://www.WorldArtsNow.com.

***If you purchase one copy of this new book, you will also receive $1,500 worth of valuable bonus gifts. To see this special book package, please visit http://www.selfgrowth.com/greatways2.html