Be a Sponge: You are the C.E.O. of Your Dream

Yup! You are the C.E.O. of your dream. Is that scary? Is that an eye-opener? Think about it. You can delegate, hire consultants, have teachers, but you are still 100% responsible. Yes, 100%. It’s your dream, not your parents, not your kids, not your friends. It’s yours.

Think about it. Dreams are yours. The desire is in your heart and no one else’s. Yours! Are we clear yet? Until we take ownership, nothing else matters. You determine the end goal. You decide the path. You choose when you change directions.

If you are anything like me, at times, I’ve been a horrible C.E.O. of my dream. More often than I care to admit! Also, I’ve been an awful employee to myself as well. I didn’t do the work I committed to, and then I also didn’t call myself out for not doing it! Doesn’t that sound like colossal failure? Yup, and if you are not careful, victimhood soon follows, and it’s time to phone the head of H.R. and plan a massive pity party! Whoop, whoop, boo!  Woe is me.

You can get opinions from others, but please make sure those opinions are from qualified people. Would a good C.E.O. hire consultants in an area where they had zero experience? No! They would get advice from people who know what it takes to guide you in that area. Would a good C.E.O. look for only free advice or free articles they find on the internet by some blogger they never heard of? 

If you needed to hire someone to help you in a specific area, would you find just anyone willing to help at a low price? If you are hiring someone, don’t ask your friend for advice who has never hired someone! Well-meaning, unqualified people will lead you in the wrong direction! Even if their heart is in the right place, only experienced people can guide from experience. Doesn’t that make sense?

Sometimes we get jealous of our bosses when we have jobs and clearly see that they should have done things differently. I have! We think, “That policy isn’t fair!” In our head, we shout, “Why would they change the commission structure? That’s stupid! Now, we’ll make them rich, so they get a bonus!” Well, when you work for someone else, it can be easy to complain. You can focus on bitching about it or focus on making strides in a better direction. You are the C.E.O. of your life too. Maybe it is just the nudge you need to take control back and recalculate at a deeper level what you are genuinely trying to accomplish?

When you are the C.E.O., you can’t complain because you are the boss! Dreams are not convenient, and being the boss isn’t easy. No dream has ever been accomplished on a straight path. Adjustments will always be required along the way. Reevaluation is necessary. 

Do you know what’s not necessary? It is to know exactly how things will happen. I doubt any big dream was accomplished by perfect execution. I do know that many perfectionists will never fully achieve their dream. Why? Because they are perfectionists! We need to strive forward before it is perfect for more intel so we can course-correct. I know great speeches aren’t written. They are re-written. You can’t edit what you don’t create. It’s the same for any worthwhile mission. You can’t course-correct without some intel from your own experience.

You can’t delegate your dream. You can’t love living someone else’s dream, and you can’t keep making excuses about your own. A good C.E.O. doesn’t allow excuses. You don’t have to know the whole journey upfront. If you are looking for excuses, you’ll find them. If you are looking for your top priority to focus on today, you’ll find that too. Be honest with yourself! What are you seeking? 

If you aren’t quite sure where you start, it starts with a commitment and owning the fact that you are the C.E.O. of your dream. The second step is getting qualified advice on the best habits to create a proven process to start following. It does not mean it will be easy or simple. It also doesn’t mean you may not get bad advice from time to time, even if you do your due diligence. It’s just part of your dream. It’s just a test to see if you are serious or not. Are you?

Let me ask you this, who is more important in the process of accomplishing a dream, the student or the teacher? Think about it before you read the following sentence. There are many great teachers out there, but I say the student is much more important. It is you as the student finding the right teacher for you! If the teacher isn’t helping you, you can choose to find another. Remember, you are the C.E.O.

Not every mentor is the right mentor. Throughout my journey, I’ve had many mentors. Each taught me something different while confirming some common essentials. As a trainer, I’ve had many students come through our world-class workshops. Some become successful, and some do not. The course is solid, but it’s what the student does with it that truly causes the transformation. Find the mentors and teachers you are truly open to. Be a sponge. If it truly is a dream that you are committed to, there may be many lessons and allies you need to attract along the way to your dream.

Are you ready to re-hire yourself as C.E.O.? Are you prepared to recommit? Remind yourself each morning. Say it out loud and own it, “I am the C.E.O. of my dream.” O.K., what will you do today?