You have to Dream, to Achieve!

If you dream it, it will come (but you still have to work for it).

This is an area of real estate that my husband Chip excels at. He is always coming up with new ideas or strategies. He truly has never fallen to the “you can’t do that” mindset. He truly believes there is a way to make everything possible. It sounds wonderfully positive doesn’t it. Well, in reality and the day to day world of life and business, it can be quite annoying. Now I’m not going to paint this fluffy picture that if you just dream about things, brainstorm solutions, and hope for the best things will work out. The real world requires a few more steps then that. That’s probably why Chip and I are a great team. He dreams it, we discuss and brain storm, and then I figure out and work to make it a reality.

Have you ever noticed that you think about a place, a song, an event and then it seems to just pop up in your world? A coincidence? Or your subconscious preparing you, getting you excited? It is hard to say what it really is, but sometimes that’s the pre-work our body & mind was giving us so we’d be calm and confident when the big moments happen. Leading researchers now believe there may be a connection between dreams and success – especially when work related stress is involved.

Dreams are an important way for us to learn. They allow our subconscious to process what we know, have learned and experienced, and prepare us for what’s coming up next.

The Basics of Dreaming

During a typical life span, a person spends about 6 years dreaming (about 2 hours each night). It’s unknown where in the brain the dreams originate or why dreams even occur at all. According to Freud, dreams are a form of wish fulfillment, and the imagery contained in them isn’t random. Dreams are thought of as a way of making the unconscious conscious. They can often be seen as keys to your inner feelings and unfilled needs.

Dreams also can serve as a way of dealing with unfinished business, and what we dream can illuminate both a problem and its solution. Dreams are constantly coaching us for challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.

Research has also shown that the brains emotion centers that are active during the day become active when we dream. This has led some researchers to suspect that while we’re dreaming our brains are still working through the emotional conflicts of the day. In fact, there will be an increase in the frequency of our dreams in order to help us work through these issues.

If you have a repetitive dream, over and over again, that could mean that you’re tired of the same old going through the motions that you have day in and day out. You may just need some flexibility and a sense of freedom in your career. I’m not saying you need to quit your job, but find some little ways to break up your routine or your daily activities.

Maybe your dreams are also just tied to your natural intuition. Your dreams may just be helping paint the picture that you need to move forward in life. The solutions that surface in dreams can be significant guides in your life. The more positive the attitude you have about your dreams the better the impact that they can have and the more likely you’re to remember and therefore be able to use them to your advantage.

Decoding your Dreams…

Want to put your dreams to work? To increase your chances of remembering dreams, experts recommend reviewing the events of the day before falling asleep. Then, instead of springing out of bed as soon as the alarm goes off, remain in bed with your eyes closed and try to recall your dreams.

Interpreting images from dreams can be more challenging, but here are a few themes I found from researching the internet for common meanings:

Dream – You show up to a meeting in the buff.

It Means – This dream often occurs after you’ve started a new job or received a promotion because you do not yet feel comfortable in your new position. Maybe how you feel about the new venture into real estate investing.

Dream – You’re screaming at your boss or co-worker.

It Means – You could be expressing anger toward and individual that you didn’t even realize you felt, or that you feel uncomfortable expressing for real. If you dream can fill the need to freak out, embrace it and maybe it will be easier to deal with that person or situation the next day.

Dream – You’re at your old job.

It Means – This suggests that there’s an old lesson you need to learn and apply to your current situation. We are always growing, but there are old lessons that may not have been right at the time to learn. Open your mind up to the possibility and you’ll grow even faster.

Dream – You’re being chased or you’re falling.

It Means – You may feel out of control and anxious about your career or job. Start with lists and planning out each day. Accomplishing even little things may make a big difference in your feeling of taking action and mastering your life.

Dream – You’re flying through the office.

It Means – If you’re flying with ease, then your dream suggests that you’re in control of the situation. If you’re having difficulty flying, it indicates a lack of power over your own circumstances. And if you’re frightened when flying, it could mean you’re afraid of challenges and of success. Do not let your fear of success stop you. Go back to your Why. If your why is as strong it needs to be then it will help you push through to the success you deserve.

So Dream, trust yourself, take action and make those Dreams a Reality.

To wrap up, I wanted to share 10 tips that I recently read from Richard Branson “Top Ten Tips for Success” on the BBC. Here’s the link to the article so you can see the images that go with it. http://www.virgin.com/richard-branson/my-illustrated-top-10-tips-for-success

1. Follow your dreams and just do it: You will live a much better life if you just do it and pursue your passions. Those people who spend their time working on things they love are usually the ones enjoying life the most. They are also the ones who dared to take a risk and chase their dreams.

2. Make a positive difference and do some good: If you aren't making a positive difference to other people's lives, then you shouldn't be in business. Companies have a responsibility to make a difference in the world, for their staff, their customers - everyone.

3. Believe in your ideas and be the best: Belief in yourself and belief in your business ideas can make all the difference between success and failure. If you aren't proud of your idea and believe in your plans, why should anybody else?

4. Have fun and look after your team: Fun is one of the most important - and underrated - ingredients in any successful venture. If you're not having fun, then it's probably time to call it quits and try something else. If your staff are having fun and genuinely care about other people, they will enjoy their work more and do a better job. Find people who look for the best in others, praise rather than criticize, and love what they do.

5. Don’t give up: On every adventure I have been on - whether setting up a business, flying around the world in a balloon or racing across oceans in a boat - there have been moments when the easy thing to do would be to give up. By simply not giving up, brushing yourself down and trying again, you'll be amazed what you can achieve.

6. Make lots of lists and keep setting yourself new challenges: If you don't write down your ideas, they could be gone by the morning. Write down lists to keep track of your goals, and you'll be amazed what challenges you overcome.

7. Spend time with your family and learn to delegate: The art of delegation is one of the key skills any entrepreneur can master. If you find people who can take on tasks you aren't good at, it frees you up to plan for the future. It also gives you time to spend with your family, which is the most important thing of all.

8. Try turning off the TV and get out there and do things: Rather than sitting in front of a screen all your life, switch off the TV or the computer and go out into the world. There's so many fascinating people to meet, exciting adventures to embark upon and rewarding challenges to take on that there's no time to lose.

9. When people say bad things about you, just prove them wrong: Some people will react to success by trying to hang onto your coat tails. The best thing you can do is to not only ignore them, but to prove them wrong in every single way. We've had a particular writer claiming Virgin Galactic is a white elephant - we'll prove them wrong when we go to space later this year.

10. Do what you love and have a sofa in the kitchen: As long as you are surrounded by the people you love, doing what you love, it really doesn't matter where you are. When we are on Necker we tend to spend most of our time in the kitchen. If you're got a bedroom too, and a partner that you love, you really don't need much else.