Build Your Confidence To Build Your Dream

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When it comes to building your dream there's one thing that I can guarantee. No one's going to build it for you.

We take a lot of things for granted in life, and having others carve a path in front of us is definitely one of them. I'm often shocked at how much I assume is just going to fall into my lap, with little to no work on my part.

We all know it, but we don't always believe. Building a dream takes hard work and dedication. It takes a level of commitment that a typical project just doesn't need.

It also takes confidence. Where others may doubt your mission, you must remain solid and steadfast. It's not just about knowing that your dream is a real possibility. It's also about knowing that you are the one that will be able to make it happen. It's not hard to imagine that someone will build the next great food truck, for example. But if that's your dream, and the you better believe that you are the one who is going to make it happen.

You must know, without a shadow of a doubt, that you're capable and able to accomplish each of the tasks necessary, and if not, that you will be able to connect with the people who can.

Last year, I read the book How To Sell Anything to Anybody, and while I learned a ton of lessons from the book, there was one lesson that sticks out to me right now. That's the lesson about confidence. In order to be an accomplished salesman, Joe Girard had to absolutely believe in his ability to sell, as well as have confidence in the product he was selling. He would not have been able to make a single car sale if he doubted his ability to find a good match for his potential customer. In fact, he wouldn't have even had a start in the industry if he didn't have the confidence to approach a dealership and ask for a job with no prior experience.

Confidence stems from more than just assuming that you can do whatever it takes. That's called arrogance. Don't confuse the two; while arrogance may get you far, eventually someone is going to catch on to the fact that you have no idea what you're doing. Confidence comes from knowing that you can apply your previous knowledge and experience in a way that will be useful for your new goals. Your experience doesn't need to be exactly the same, just transferable.

Find your confidence. And if you don't have it yet, start working on activities that you know that you can do. Those that you're already passionate about are a great place to start. Work in your passions, and start to branch out towards your dream. Want to start a new charter school, but only have experience in dentistry? Start working with kids in your free time, teaching them about proper dental hygiene. Then work from there.

Start with where you are confident now, build towards your dreams one step at a time, and don't take no for an answer.

 - Ryan

(PS Share this with anyone you know whose confidence might be wavering.)