By Dee Scott
A FEW years ago, I watched the movie ‘Castaway’, starring
Tom Hanks.
The movie was about a man named Chuck Noland, a FedEx
systems engineer, whose ruled-by-the-clock existence abruptly ended when a
harrowing plane crash left him isolated on a remote island, struggling to
survive.
It took Chuck four years to realize no one was coming to rescue him. One day he
decided to build a boat and take a risk to get off the Island.
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| Are you 'cast away ' on an island of unfulfilled dreams? |
It was ‘do or die’ time for him. He realized if he remained
on that Island he would eventually die. He also knew if he tried to leave, he
could risk dying at sea.
He took a chance. He decided to risk his life before he
remained stranded.
Many of us have been cast away to an island that we do not
want to remain on. Yet, we are too afraid to leave because we do not know if we
will succeed.
Maybe that Island is a dead end job, a toxic relationship,
friendship or habit.
For me, it was becoming an author. For years I wrote books,
poems, and short stories; then I would let them collect dust.
It was only after I recovered from an illness that I
decided, like Chuck Noland, it was time to get off my island.
Maybe you have a dream you want to fulfill but everyone is
telling you that you’re not qualified.
Maybe you want to submit a manuscript to a publisher, go
back to school, or start a business, but fear of failure, rejection, and
criticism are impeding you.
Whatever it may be, you can do it!
Here are five steps to get started.
1. First, realize that no one is coming to rescue you. If
you want to achieve anything, YOU, will have to put in the hard work.
The daydream that something or someone will save you from
the hard work, or rescue you from your current situation, is just that – a
dream. No one can get you off of your island, but you.
2. Sketch out your boat. Write down your dreams. Outline
what you need to do to achieve your goals. The purpose of this is to have a
vision of what it is you want to do and achieve.
3. Gather your supplies and start building your boat. Place
your goals in short and long-term categories.
Doing so will help you not to become overwhelmed, and not
take on things that may be unrealistic for now. Remember, rarely do things
happen overnight.
Sometimes, it’s the thousands of tiny baby steps that will
get you to the bigger goal. It is good to start small and conquer the short
term goals.
Short-term goals are the things you can do now to begin
pursuing your dream. If you feel clueless, do some research and get the facts.
Do whatever you have to do in order to learn. Maybe you can
read a book on something you are interested in. Maybe there is a class you can
take.
Maybe you can walk a half mile. Maybe you can write a
chapter of a manuscript. Whatever, you decide – start small.
4. Continue to work on and perfect your boat. If you do not
reach goals, don’t give up and don’t quit. Continue to revise your goals and
move toward them.
MOST IMPORTANTLY, lose the naysayers and find mentors and
people who support you.
5. Use others’ success as motivation and inspiration, but
never copy someone else.
Copying someone else’s brand is like taking a medicine that
wasn’t prescribe for you and expecting it to cure you.
You have to follow your own authentic path and be who you
are. You need to find your own voice. Being who you are is what brands you and
makes you different.
Remember, the only failure is not trying at all. So what are
you waiting on? Start building your boat today.
A boat is your plans, goals, and steps you will take to get
there. You have everything within you to get off of your Island and succeed!
Join in on the conversation. Please leave your thoughts,
whatever they may be on our social media pages. Check back to see the next five
steps that will be updated soon.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9530478
