In my last post I discussed the importance of forming a mastermind team and how success is a team sport, particularly in home based business. In this post, I want to ask you a question. How much does your dream cost? In other words, how much are you willing to pay—willing to sacrifice—to make your dream a reality?

One disclaimer before we get started: I am not saying that the path to your dream has to be riddled with pain and agony. But let’s be honest; the bigger the dream, the more complex the journey will be in most cases. The more complex the journey, the more challenges you will face along the way. I challenge you to look at any high-achiever and find that their path to riches and success was an easy one.

So with that said, let’s begin…

The question of how much your dream costs should not be the focus of your pursuit. I suggest you focus on the price you are willing to pay to get to your dreams. It is so critical to come to grips with this notion right now. Even if you are already on the journey, get comfortable with that level of commitment from this point forward.

How far are you willing to go to achieve your goals? How much money, time and human resources are you willing to invest to make your dream a reality? Are you willing to relocate? Are you willing to lose everything you currently have? How long are you willing to hang in there in order to succeed.
Hopefully your answer is “until…”

When I was in flight school, about halfway through the training, I felt as if I would never graduate. The training was arduous and grueling, and seemed to never end. It was a 24-hour per day, 7 days a week obsession. There were times I “hit the wall” and thought I might not make it. But I knew if I hung in one more day, hung in “until”, I would make it.

Toward the end of training, I was almost shocked that I was a few steps away from my childhood dream of becoming a Navy pilot. At one point, that shock nearly derailed me. I was doing well up to that point, and definitely pointed down the path to graduation, when I suddenly realized the toughest part of training was still ahead of me. I knew that, despite all the struggles and hard work I had already put in, the hardest part was still in front of me. I had a brief feeling of hesitation, then a rejuvenating sense of inspiration.

It was in that moment that I realized I was not going to fail, no matter what.

I struggled mightily in the final phase of training, but to me, I knew there was no other path. I was going to make it or die trying. In the end, I succeeded. The day they pinned my wings of gold to my chest I was absolutely filled with pride, fulfillment and confidence because I had done what so many others told me I could not do.

While the graduation moment was great, it was finite. The bigger gift I received from seeing my dream through to the end was the many lessons I learned, and continue to learn from today. There are times in my LifePath Unlimited business when I am faced with a challenge that I know I will conquer, simply because I have faced bigger challenges in flight school.

When a fellow entrepreneur calls for advice, I can assist them by calling on my experience in achievement to get them through their tough patch. Now, I am not suggesting you sign up with the Navy and apply for flight training. What I hope you do is consider the experiences you already have had in your life and how they can assist you in achieving your big dream.

Realize that the price you may have to pay to attain your dream might be hefty. I know my dream is so big that I will no doubt see plenty of challenges along the way. But that is the exciting part! As you see setbacks and challenges, look at them not as painful discouragements, but rather indications that you are pointed toward something huge. And if you learn from those setbacks, you will overcome them and grow from them.

In my next post, we will discuss whether you are making progress toward your dreams or losing traction. Until then, reflect on your previous triumphs and apply the knowledge to your current endeavor. See you in the next post…
~JT