What's Tugging at Your Heart Strings? Following your Dreams
Photo Credit pixbay / pexels.com
“You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.”
– C.S. Lewis
Remember your school days? After summer break your first assignment was to write an essay, ‘How I Spent my Summer Vacation?’ I remember writing about days at the beach, road trips with the family, watching for shooting stars in August, and the crazy summer jobs. Fast forward a few decades, and summer is still filled with downtime, fun, and adventure; except for this summer.
For me, this summer has been quite different. Instead of trips to the beach, it has been the summer of pivoting my business. Shifting to an online presence and empowering women as they work from home while living in a hunkered down state. The biggest change came as a result of a postcard that I received from my alma mater, Northwood University. They announced their inaugural Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) program.
Wonderful!! I had always considered a DBA program, but the timing was never right. While not everyone dreams of more school, I have always been passionate about higher education. The idea of a doctorate did not seem crazy to me. Since I was old enough to understand the different levels of higher education, I have had a desire to achieve those levels. Growing up, my Mom was not allowed to attend college as my Grandfather would only support her becoming a secretary. My Grandma Martin never finished high school because she had to work on the farm. These women instilled in me a value for education because they were not allowed to pursue their educational dreams.
We all have lifelong dreams and passions that tug at our heartstrings, engage our imagination, and motivate us. Last week, I watched three young men make their Major League Baseball debut with the Detroit Tigers. Each day a different prospect made his debut surrounded by family members watching the game remotely. Their families talked about the deep sense of pleasure and gratitude for this opportunity. They shared stories of hard work, dedication, and sacrifices these men made to follow their dream.
For me, just getting accepted to the doctoral program was an achievement. The journey was a hot ride of
Asking for letters of recommendation
Writing a personal essay
Hunting down transcripts
Interviews with the DBA committee
It was an intense project over a short period of time during a season of what is typically filled with beach days and golf. Getting accepted is an honor and took a lot of work and support from:
My husband who is a constant source of encouragement and who told me to ‘go for it’
Incredible people who wrote heartfelt recommendations on short notice
Family and friends who held a loving space of support during the application process
Photo by Taryn Elliott from Pexels
In mid-July, I received a phone call from Dr. Fairbairn. I was being invited to participate in the inaugural DBA cohort at DeVos Graduate school. Holy Moley!! I’m accepted! Let the celebration begin!! While you won’t see me climbing Mt. Everest or competing in an Ironman Triathlon, I will take on a DBA.
While toasting my acceptance and the beginning a new adventure, I had such a deep feeling of gratitude and anticipation. I’m grateful for the opportunity to pursue my dream and excited to bring new ideas to the world.
I shared my ideas and DBA interests as part of my personal essay. These interests were sparked after reading the reading the book “A Great Place to Work for All” by Michael Bush, CEO of Great Place to Work, Inc. Bush wrote, “Around the globe, today’s businesses have people who do not feel inspired or heard, who feel strained and stretched and insecure. Many workplaces not only deaden the spirit and overwhelm, but kill the body too.”
The book articulated and put data to what I saw in my corporate career. It described gaps in leadership perceptions and work experience. Not everyone has the same work experience which impacts employee engagement. My doctoral interests are focused on the next generation of corporate culture and leadership in which everyone feels seen, heard, and valued. Organizations change the game by changing their culture.
How will you live your life? Your life can be Predictable and running on auto-pilot. You can live seeing lots of Possibilities but lack the courage to seize the opportunity. Or you can follow the Passions that engage and energize you.
This DBA story is not without its downside. We can find growth and clarity in the conflicts of life. The journey has just begun and already there has been nay-sayers and critical feedback:
Are you crazy?
When I’m your age, I just want to relax with a cocktail.
Why don’t you just retire?
That seems like a huge investment, what’s the payback?
As we pursue our dreams, they may not align with the others’ expectations for life. Everyone has their beliefs, views, and values which form the basis of their perspectives and influence how they view life. When faced with the nay-sayers, doubters, and critics in life; remember that you are the leading person of your life. As the leading person, own your dreams and be fearless in what you do.
Now for the proverbial good news/bad news situation. The good news is I have been accepted to a doctoral program at my favorite business school. The bad news is I am going to be immersed in this program for three years while I continue to build my business. Am I up for the challenge? Absolutely! When you are living your dream, each day is another opportunity to experience and fully live your passion.
As I jump into the first DBA course with both feet, following are some thoughts and ideas that will guide my journey. These items may empower your life too as you follow your dreams:
💡 Celebrate along the Way. Gratitude and celebration solidify the memory, the experience, and feelings. We have this tendency to overlook our achievements and accomplishments in life. In our outcome-driven culture, we delay celebrating successes along the way. Celebration and gratitude are fuel for the journey. What feelings do you experience when you achieve a milestone? Do you celebrate your milestones or just keep chugging?
💡 Life is full of nay-sayers and doubters. You are the leading man or lady of your own life. Own your passions and dreams. We each have a purpose and gifts to share. Don’t let someone’s interpretation and beliefs cast a shadow on your dreams.
💡 Play full out! When you see an opportunity to follow your passions, live your dreams, or check an item off the bucket list; go for it and play full out. There is nothing worse than standing with one foot on the dock of safety and one foot in the boat of your dreams, which is pulling away. You will either pull a muscle doing the splits or end up in the drink.
Connect with me LinkedIn to follow my DBA journey. You can learn about the latest trends in leadership, participate in research, or just enjoy the ride!!
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