Dreamin' Big

Dreaming big has never been a problem for me. In fact, I excel at dreaming. When I was single, I dreamed of marrying an awesome guy. After I was married, I dreamed of being a mother. After I was a mother, I now dream of parenting teenagers instead of toddlers because if they dump those toys out one more time I might lose it. What's really hard for me is finding the joy in the journey exactly where I'm at. Put in the perspective of business, I dream of already achieving financial success and leading a team of people and making a name for myself. But there's joy to be had in the smallness of the business, in the lessons I'm learning, in the mistakes I'm making on a small scale, right now. Remembering to feel that when I'm writing my hundredth paper of the semester, or figuring out a new and creative way to respond on the discussion boards, is the real challenge for me. When I start my business next year, there's going to be joy in the loss of sleep, and bookkeeping, and finding new and creative ways to attract customers to my online shop.

One lesson I did appreciate this week is that there's space for me in the world. By that I mean there's space for my business. There's a thousand other shops selling merchandise, and while no one is selling merchandise for romance authors, it's still intimidating to enter a very established market as a beginner who has no clue what she's doing. But there's space for me, and I have a right and the necessity to see if there is anyone else out there that needs what I want to sell. 

The last takeaway from this week's lesson is another book recommendation! I've added Your Emotional Fingerprint by Woody Woodward to my list read, and my Christmas vacation is really getting full of new book to study and learn from!

Dallin H. Oaks "The Challenge to Become"

-"In contrast to the institutions of the world, which teach us to know something, the gospel of Jesus Christ challenges us to become something."

-"That which I have I can easily give you, but that which I am you must obtain for yourself."

-"Charity is something one becomes."