In his first edition of 2011, international writer and teenager Scott Cowley is back with more interesting insights and awesome ‘ah-has’. Perfectly timed for a refocus of our goals for the year ahead, Scott begins by recalling a memorable meeting with a business executive…
I attended a seminar the other day with a successful executive of a large multinational organisation, in charge of a division spaning from Australia to China and, I gained a profound insight.. The executive’s talk was on career development and he used a phrase I have never heard before. The successful executive defined a goal as simply ‘a dream with a deadline’.
And how true is this?
In Late December 2009, attending a seminar on wealth and cash flow, the typical literature was given out and unsurprisingly I paid little attention. It wasn’t until later that day I read the material and noticed it had a section to fill in. I remembered back to when I was in high school and I bought surfing magazines. In these magazines were ads to fill in to have a board custom made. Again, unsurprisingly, I would without fail fill that section in each and every time. So I thought it might be novel to fill in this pamphlet.
The questions were ‘How much money do you want to earn by 31st December 2010?’ and, ‘Where will this money come from?’ The obvious answers are ‘a lot’ and ‘anywhere’, but that dream has no measurability, no ‘deadline’ as the executive hinted at.
So I went specific, randomly picking a number I decided I could earn $24,000 in 2010. I might have been aiming too high but frankly wasn’t sure. When asked where I would get this money, I had no idea putting down ‘bookkeeping for my mother’s business’ and ‘find it on the street’. But put bluntly I just didn’t know. One of the presenter’s words rang true at this moment ‘when the Why is strong enough, the How takes cares of itself’. My ‘Why’ was 15 pages long.
For the next few days my father and I threw ideas around, we came up with a job, my own business or working a lot of hours for my mother. These ideas were good but we kept at it.
Shortly after the event I received a call from an Unknown Caller. I answered to be told I had applied for a job, this was news to me. Nevertheless I answered her questions as at the time I did in fact need a job. I was happy as I put down the phone thinking I had struck the lottery, getting a job offer I didn’t remember applying for. Next was a phone interview 2 weeks later.
By this stage it was well into the Christmas period, but I ‘was a good candidate for the position’. It was at this that I asked a few questions of my own. Turned out the job was to be a shift manager at a newly opened ice-cream store near my house.
And the yearly salary was $24,200.
This opportunity would have fulfilled my goal by more than $200 and I would only be working 22 or so hours a week. I was shocked at how good an opportunity this was. With a strongly desired dream AND a set deadline opportunities will arise for you to take action to achieve your dream. Opportunities may not be as direct, but be prepared, have a strong ‘Why’, and who knows where you’ll go!
Scott will be back next time, explaining why we should go out there and ‘Eat That Wasabi’.
Enrolments have already been accepted to the first Empower U program of 2011.The program is in Sydney on March 12 and 13. Entering into our 10th year, we are more inspired than ever from the countless success stories of young people taking control of their results in life.
Email brent@tomorrowsyouth.com.au for an enrolment form and an investment into your young person’s life.
