Dream Killer

Like you, I wake up from dreams, face the dawning reality of the day and sigh, "That'll never work." Sometimes that sequence occurs fully awake. Sometimes it happens after an inspiring leadership summit. At one this year, the last speaker warned us of this 'reality effect'. The real killer, Gary Haugen of the International Justice Mission says, is fear.

Fear is the silent killer of dreams and vision. The vision you may have had for your organization most likely died because of one or several fears: rejection, incompetence, ignorance, etc. Fear is also the enemy of the love that built your original dream.

So what can you do when you wake to the reality?

• Relentlessly inventory your fears
• Switch from defense to offense; focus on what might go right
• Forge a community of courage

As you're building your vision, you'll get halfway...some distance from your comfort zone and not yet in sight of seeing the dream fulfilled...and that's when the whispers of defeat will kick in. Better make sure you're following the antidotes above. If you do, you'll get through the fear and instead of a dark tunnel, it'll be illuminated by the light of love, courage and perseverance. According to Angela Duckworth's Grit: the Power of Passion and Perseverance passion and deliberative practice will push you into world-class achievements. Deliberative practice comes from having stretch goals, 100% focus, getting feedback and reflection on your efforts and refinement of them into new stretch goals. Grit is sustained passion and perseverance towards long-term goals. So when you find yourself half-way and in "no man's land' and you're afraid, stay focused, get feedback and refine your efforts aiming towards your vision.