6 Steps to Achieving Your Dreams

When we have big dreams, there are KEY steps we must take to make our dreams a reality. Check this out.

1) Set the Vision

Creating a vision for your life is like crafting a roadmap to your desired future. It begins with introspection and a deep exploration of your passions, values, and aspirations. Take the time to reflect on what truly matters to you, your life purpose, and what kind of life you want to lead. Define your long-term goals, both personally and professionally, and consider the impact you want to make on the world. For ultimate efficacy, consider doing a vision board. Neuroscientist Dr Tara Swart explains that "Looking at images on a vision board primes the brain to grasp opportunities that may otherwise have gone unnoticed. That’s because the brain has a process called ‘value-tagging’ which imprints important things onto your subconscious and filters out unnecessary information.”?

I created a vision board in 2012 when building Blazin' Babes , my female founder community for women’s career development and career transition. Back in 2019, after I got divorced, I was reinventing my life starting from the bottom and was in the depths of despair. I wrote down three goals and taped them to my bathroom mirror.? Two out of those three goals have come to fruition and the last one is about to become a reality. In 2021, I wrote a $5M check to myself and placed it on a table (you could possibly call it a shrine) that I created with ALL my desired goals.? The check sits next to a glass bowl of beach sand from Cisco Beach on Nantucket, the very place I want to buy my new summer home. Jim Carey used this same method when he was a starving actor. He wrote a large check out to himself, placed it on his refrigerator and 5 years later cashed that check. There is power in writing things down and staring at them every day for years. The key part is NOT to attach a timeline or deadline to when that check (or goal) is coming in for you and not to give up on that goal regardless of what’s in your reality. You cannot be attached to the “How” and “When” either. Instead, focus on the “What” and the “Why.”

2) Say “Yes” to opportunities that align with your vision and “No” to everything and everyone else.

Start with a clear vision as a guiding light, and say “yes” to opportunities that align with your ultimate objectives. One example that happened to me where an opportunity came in that was NOT part of my end-goal, was being offered a board seat on Good Sports, Inc. ? I was able to deduce three things: 1) I want to support girls in sports because sports had a big impact on my ability to overcome adversity, 2) The members of this board are people who align with my venture capital goals and 3) I am interviewing for corporate Fortune 500 and PE-backed board seats and non-profit board work gives you incredible board experience.? Being presented this opportunity aligned with my life purpose, vision, and goals. It augmented and enhanced my life, my purpose, my impact, and my legacy.

You also need to be really good at saying, “No” to things and people that seem enticing, but do not align with your end goal.? Oftentimes we say yes to people, places and things that steer us down the wrong path.? This is where our intuition comes into play.? Without focusing on keeping our intuition sharp, we might make hasty, poor decisions, like aligning with the wrong people, signing up for the wrong opportunities, or dedicating our time to environments that are bad influences on us, our credibility,? and our image - that won’t get us to the place we want to be in our life. (For strategies and tactics on keeping your intuition sharp, check out my next LI article coming out at the end of October).

Having a clear vision and saying “yes” to opportunities that align with it empowers you to break down your dreams into actionable steps and stay motivated on your journey. Remember that your vision is not static; it can evolve as you grow and learn more about yourself. It's a dynamic compass that keeps you focused and inspired, propelling you forward toward a life that aligns with your deepest aspirations.

3) Become An Expert

Strive to become the ultimate authority in your chosen field, even if it requires humbling yourself as an adult intern for an extended period (I did!). In this journey, you'll likely discover that some individuals you once revered as experts merely excel at talking the talk rather than walking the walk. Take courses, classes, volunteer, ask for 30 minute “info sessions” with people who work in the field you are aspiring to enter. People love talking about themselves! Let them talk.? Offer to help and give to those people. You will be surprised at what happens to your reputation and your credibility when you show how badass, smart, and hard-working you are!? By immersing yourself in the trenches of your chosen domain, you'll gain invaluable hands-on experience, insights, and deep knowledge that can't be gleaned from the surface nor acquired by just having a title.? People will start to see you as the expert and you will too! Many people I once thought were experts in venture capital I now see as showmen or false individuals.? There are also people I see as experts, with whom now I am partnering!? The only way we can learn is to start from the bottom. We will NOT be taken seriously if we don’t put in the work!

This commitment to mastery may entail years of dedication, but the transformation from a novice to a true expert is an investment that pays dividends not only in knowledge but also in genuine expertise that commands respect and influence in your chosen field.

4) Find your people?

The good news: you don’t have to do this alone. As you meet new people, consider who you admire and who you trust. Your connections can serve as invaluable guides on the journey of personal and professional growth. These special people offer wisdom, experience, and insights that can help individuals navigate challenges, make informed decisions, and avoid common pitfalls. They provide a source of inspiration and encouragement, fostering self-confidence and motivation. Others in the industry can facilitate networking opportunities and connections within one's chosen field, opening doors to new possibilities. And we know a strong professional network is essential to professional success.?

Being stringent on who you select as mentors, advisors, friends, and romantic partners can help or hinder your ability to achieve your life and career goals. As the saying goes, we are the average of the five people we spend the most time with. Be selective with who you are talking to, who you decide to get on a Zoom call with, who you marry, who you date, who you vacation with, who you eat lunch with.? All of these people can positively or negatively impact your energy.? Your energy affects whether you draw in opportunities (or you don't),? you make daily healthy choices( or you don’t), you are introduced to other smart people (or you're not).? Choose your people wisely.

The right person (or people) can be a compass, a coach, and a source of unwavering support, offering guidance that can lead to greater success and fulfillment in both personal and professional spheres of life.

5) Map out a plan

Having a plan is an integral part of your success, assisting you in outlining the steps necessary to complete the required tasks, deal with obstacles that arise along the way, and enabling you to determine the time it will take to reach each of the necessary steps. Planning helps you to frame your future by highlighting the ways in which you can achieve the desired outcome.

Begin by setting clear, specific objectives that align with your long-term vision, then break these goals into smaller, manageable steps, creating a roadmap to follow. Next, prioritize these steps based on their importance and dependencies, ensuring that you tackle the most critical aspects first. Establish deadlines to provide structure and urgency to your plan. Regularly review and adjust your strategy as circumstances change and new opportunities arise. Seek guidance and mentorship from those who have achieved similar success, and don't be afraid to iterate and refine your plan along the way. Flexibility, determination, and consistent effort are key to navigating the path to success, allowing you to adapt to challenges and celebrate milestones as you progress toward your ultimate objectives.?

I tried Jesse Itzler ’s Calendar Club back in 2020, at the height of Covid. At that time in my life I was looking for a supportive community and people who could cheer me on as I was struggling, feeling alone, and with limited support. Jesse’s program really helped me during a rough time in my life and I do believe he genuinely loves helping and seeing people improve their lives.? You should check out Jesse and his Calendar Club.

6) Set up a daily routine - and include self-care!

I have found a daily routine to be a critical part of my success. Not only can a routine reduce stress and improve your mental health, they also put you on the right path to achieving your goals. Researchers at Northwestern found that daily routines make you more likely to effectively use your time. “Often, no routine means you simply run out of time, leaving things undone and not making the most of your time.”Rituals help ensure you’re productive even when you’re not particularly inspired. Having to go back-and-forth about when you’re going to start, what you’re going to do, or how long you’ll work zaps your mental energy and willpower.?

It’s been especially important for me to include self-care as part of my routine. This can look like a trip to the gym (I go to a 5 AM HIIT class daily), meditation (I sit on the beach of Lake Michigan), or a morning run, walk in nature, Epsom salt baths or cold plunges (I like cold plunges on Lake Michigan to reconfigure the nervous system). Not only can self-care alleviate feelings of stress and anxiety, it better prepare you for the demands of life. You’re only able to help those around you when you’ve taken proper care of yourself.

Changing your life is a marathon, not a sprint. It requires patience resolve and daily work. But baby steps add up over time! Create your vision, break it down to micro steps, get the help you need, invest in self-care to keep you focused, and act out your plan, and watch yourself soar.?

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