Entry 05: Cheers to the Daydreamers Who Create a Better Future!

Chances are if you are a founder, you are a daydream believer.

I remember sitting at my desk at my corporate job as I worked on some mundane project for the nth iteration—because you know that’s how corporate projects typically go—and I would fantasize about my business idea; what it would look like, who it would impact, and how I would feel running it. I would daydream about my business like a girl in a rom-com staring out the window into the rain pining for the boy next door.

Those daydreams turned into a clandestine romance as I built my business in the shadows of my day job–lunch break meetings with lawyers and developers, evening creation sessions building the brand, community, and business model. It was all very exciting!

That time is what shaped my vision for my company. It was in those early daydreams that I was able to really see beyond the hustle, to see what could be possible because there were no limitations yet. There were no financial constraints or market adaptation concerns. There was only the visualization in my head of a world being a better place because of this concept.

About a year after I had the idea and worked on the side to build it, I resigned from the day job and went full-time into building the MVP (minimum viable product), so I could make this concept a reality. In that hustle, I was able to define my mission. From that experience, I knew what it would take to achieve my vision.?

A clear vision and mission are foundational elements of your brand DNA. They are what drives you and your business. They are your founder story in a nutshell, and they are what inspires people to connect and collaborate with you.?

Let’s do a little exercise.?

Think about your early days before you started your business when you daydreamed of a better way of doing something, a better world with a paradigm-shifting idea.?

You don’t have to be a founder. This applies to a major career shift, a family, whatever. You had a vision that you fantasized about.

Tap into how you felt and what you daydreamed about. Then think of the hustle between then and now, wherever you are in the process.?

Write down your daydreams from the pre-shift. (I wanted to create a virtual online learning hub where people from all over the world could connect and learn from one another, turning traditional education on its head.) Those daydreams are your brand vision.?

Next, write down the steps you took to get you to the other side, post-shift if you will. Those are your mission statements. Yes, they are personal to you, but as a brand, they can be expanded. This is what it took for you to build XYZ, and it will continue on that trajectory.?

Your vision will inspire the right people, YOUR people.

And your mission will help them know what it takes to be on board your crazy train to make it happen.

I used to get in trouble all the time in grade school for daydreaming, but I haven’t stopped.

It’s those who are not afraid to dream and then take action against the current that change the world.

So I ask you, are you a daydream believer??

If you said yes, please, for the love of Steve Perry, don’t stop believing. Hold on to that feeling!?

????♀? Hi, I'm Angela DiMarco. I specialize in guiding businesses to express their unique brand with authenticity and creativity. With over 30 years of experience in branding, marketing, and advertising, I possess an intuitive knack for uncovering the soul of a company. From shaping your visual brand to connecting with your audience, my goal is to empower you and your organization with a sturdy foundation. Learn more at UniquelyPhenom.com or DM me to set up a call.?

Dana Sardano and I are your super professional and buttoned up ??co-hosts of Going Commando with Angela & Dana Podcast. Check us out for a good dose of authenticity and wisdom, and the occasional epic burp.

I am also the author of Uniquely U. Update #52: The Birth of a Bright-Eyed Entrepreneur, available at Phenom-Publishing.com or an Amazon near you ??. In my debut book, I share the tumultuous journey of starting a business.

“Angela reveals herself without inhibition…We can feel her angst and the insecurity of her inner child holding on for dear life as her warrior spirit takes over with fierce determination…a true window into the evolution of Angela’s soul and each update gives us a greater glimpse into her star power and creative genius.” ~ Dana Sardano

#branding #foundation #creative #entrepreneur #creativeservices #entrepreneur #founderstories