ARE YOU AN EAGLE IN A CAGE? A DREAMER WHO LOOKS AT LIFE WITHOUT RESTRAINTS, BUT IS SHACKLED TO A SYSTEM THAT DICTATES HOW TO THINK?

"It is the stubborn dreamer, imbued with a lot of courage in their capabilities, who will withstand the pressures of conformity.

As children, we are all dreamers. We see the world through the eyes of unlimited possibilities. We dream of being able to fly, to have and do practically anything. We are excited about the things we see and the stories read to us. Our imaginations run wild. Gradually, those dreams are eroded and shattered by what we are told are the things we must do first, like study, get a good job, save money, and finally, eventually, we can attain those things we covet. Dutifully, we conform to a system that has been the norm for centuries. Often, we study what is expedient in order to make money and strive for creature comforts, without giving adequate thought to what would really make us happy. I have spoken to successful professionals like accountants or financial advisors working within four walls, who would rather have been forest rangers or pilots but chose professions that were immediately available and recommended, usually under pressure from family or society. That is why I always say, don't get to my age and say, 'I wish I could have, should have, would have.' The time to think of these things is when we are embarking on life's adventure. However, it is then that we must decide if we have not lost the spirit of entrepreneurship, dreams, and belief in ourselves to resist the pressures of conformity and become average in the comfort zone of mediocrity, always wondering 'what if.' What if I had chosen to be a forest ranger and truly been in love with what motivates and gives me passion? 'What if' becomes a nagging sensation, but maybe we did not have the courage of our convictions and self-esteem to follow the dream.

Determine if you really are an entrepreneur or a wannabe-preneur. Take a long, hard look at the person in the mirror, identify who you are, and what you really want. What will truly make you happy? Have the courage of your convictions to follow your dreams to their highest levels, which will be determined by your work ethic.

Determine if you want to be free and rise and fall like an eagle, or safe and average in the cage of work norms, following orders."

Michelle Trieste Michelle T. O'Connor Simon Sinek Dan McCormick Joseph Scalia, Jr. Michael Weldon Cook John Swartz Shanee Moret