‘If you can dream it, you can do it’ — Walt Disney
Are you an ‘entrepreneurial dreamer’? Are you able to dream bigger than your current abilities and experience? Are you the kind of successful entrepreneur who keeps doing with passion and desire until you achieve your goals?
To make the use of the powerful tool of ‘Authentic Attention’ , I truly believe that most successful entrepreneurial dreamers go through a process.
THE PROCESS OF ATTENTIONAL DREAMING
I meet a lot of entrepreneurs, some are successful and others are simply looking for a clean exit strategy. As I talk with the successful ones and ask them about how they achieve their dreams, I found out that it all starts with a real and authentic attention (full of passion and enthusiasm) to dream big.
Step 1: DARING TO DREAM.
Every successful entrepreneur went at least once in her/his life thru this step: realizing that she/he can dream in big. This dream keeps going even when everyone and everything is trying to be against it. The entrepreneur gives her/his sole attention to realize this dream. Interesting to find out, that these dreams come many times in moments of inspiration.
Action Step: Commit to doing something creative and stimulating at least once a week. Giving this thing your authentic attention is very important for the purpose of increasing your dreams.
Step 2: DEFINING YOUR DREAM
How do you define your dream? From meeting with successful entrepreneurs, I learned that once they have found their new dream, they will talk about it, think about it, plan for it, and eventually define it. They will give it their undivided attention (which will eventually increase their focus).
Action Step: Let me propose to you, that next time you have a dream (not a day-dream), try to specify and describe it as detailed as possible. You can do it by writing down all the details, the feelings, the circumstances. Have others critique it. Memorize it. Tell others about it. Revise it some more. Treat it as your most valuable life plan.
Itzik Amiel inspiring, motivating and practical talks filmed in September 2013 during the International Referral Annual Conference at the British Academy of Film, Television & Arts (BAFTA) in London.
Step 3: END OF YOUR DREAM
Life is unpredictable. Do you remember the last time your dream was crushed? Probably specific circumstances, e.g. a failure, a setback, disappointment etc. cause your dream to end. This is the point where successful entrepreneurs are different than the rest of us. While most of the people will end in that point all of their dream, the successful entrepreneur will only end up the current dream and will directly try to learn the lesson in order to make their next dream, even more successful. It is all about your authentic attention to the dream itself!
Action Step: To cope with the possibility of the end of the dream, try to think on a scenario that your dream’s death as if it has already occurred. Try to discuss all the relevant things that could put an end to your dream; write down possible ideas to prevent those things from happening. And act accordingly. Keep sharp focus and full attention to your next dream.
Step 4: DISCOVERING YOUR DREAM
The next step in the process of dreaming is the rebirth of a new dream that the successful entrepreneur will dedicate her/his full and authentic attention to. This is definitely a complete different dream. This is an interesting step since it almost like a new beginning.
Action Step: In order to learn from your own mistakes and prevent making the same mistaks over again, I suggest to you to take your next entrepreneurial dream and to discuss it with other 3 successful entrepreneurs. Let these last ones, to criticize your dream and give their sincere input. Your job is only to listen carefully and objectively. I suggest to you to take their advice to heart and use it to make your dream better-to give it “new life.”
Step 5: DEVELOPING YOUR DREAM
Many people I know could be very successful dreamer entrepreneurs. But you know why they fail? They stopped! Remember it is your dream, and the purpose is to implement it and turn it into your reality. The only way to implement it is by taking positive steps, that will help you keep your sincere attention to your dream
Action Step: An advise I gave recently a very successful professional, who is in my opinion an absolute dreamer entrepreneur: is first, to write down what prevent you right now from acting on your dream (at least 5 elements). Second, to outline the steps you need to take in order to make your dream become a reality. Last, schedule time in your agenda (with a specific time line) for accomplishing these steps. Thus, success will follow, no doubt!
Step 6: DIRECTING YOUR DREAM.
Every entrepreneur, and specifically the successful ones, learned the ‘Art of Attention Channeling’. Once you are on your way to entrepreneurial success through developing your dream, you must learn how to most effectively channel your attention (including your energy and resources) so you can produce the greatest results. This process include continuous attention on revising your dream and implementing your dream in order for it to fulfill you in return.
Action Step: To make this step very effective you can hold yourself accountable to yourself! This is a very important point. I strongly encourage you to find someone to hold you accountable for defining, developing and directing your dream. I promise you it worth it!
I invite you to approach me and discuss how can I help you realize and fulfill your entrepreneurial dream and support your organization/firm growth…it will surely blow up your mind!
