President's Blog

Hoping your dreams will come true will not help one bit in fulfilling your dreams. I hope you still believe that dreams come true. I trust you are dreaming.

In John Maxwell’s book, Put Your Dream to the Test, he supplies ten questions to honestly ask ourselves to help us to take ownership of our dreams for our life, our family, our ministry, and our church. I’d like to briefly share these ten critical questions. I think they will be helpful.

1. The Ownership Question: Is my dream really my dream?

   1. You cannot achieve a dream that you do not own.

   2. You must lead your life instead of merely accepting your life.

   3. What would you do if you had no limitations?

2. The Clarity Question: Do I clearly see my dream?

   1. “I can tell you the basics of my dream in one sentence!”

   2. Without a clear vision, no strategy will save you.

   3. A dream doesn’t become clear without effort!

3. The Reality Question: Am I depending on factors within my control?

   1. “I know my talents, and my dream relies heavily upon them.”

   2. “My current habits and daily practices strongly contribute to the potential success of my dream.”

   3. If your dream depends on luck, you’re in trouble.

4. The Passion Question: Does my dream compel me to follow it?

   1. Passion is the starting point of all achievement.

   2. “I can think of nothing that I would rather do more than see this fulfilled.”

   3. “This dream has been consistently important for at least a year.”

5. The Pathway Question: Do I have a strategy to reach my dream?

   1. You have to work for your dream, not just wait for it!

   2. “I have written down a plan and I have shared it with people I respect.”

   3. Do something (today!) that relates to your dream. Repeat daily.

6. The People Question: Have I included the people I need in order to realize my dream?

   1. Does my circle inspire me and tell me honestly about my weaknesses?

   2. “I have recruited those who are strong in areas where I am weak.”

   3. Do they own the dream as well? The dream must transfer to others.

7. The Cost Question: Am I willing to pay the price for my dream?

   1. “I can tell others the price that I have already paid…”

   2. “I can list the things I am willing to jettison to accomplish my dream.”

   3. “My health and my family will not be sacrificed for a selfish pursuit.”

8. The Tenacity Question: Am I moving closer to my dream?

   1. “Here are the obstacles I have already overcome…”

   2. “I will do something every day, however small, to accomplish my dream.”

   3. “I will do the difficult things needed to grow and change!”

9. The Fulfillment Question: Does working on my dream bring satisfaction?

   1. “I am willing to think differently with the help of others.”

   2. “It is so important that I will work for years (or decades) if necessary.”

   3. “If my dream fails, the effort would have been worth it.”

10. The Significance Question: Does my dream benefit others?

    1. Who are the specific people who will benefit?

    2. “I can see like-minded people who will help me accomplish my dream.”

    3. “What I’m doing will still matter ten years from now.”

These questions force me to action. I’ve heard of some leaders who couldn’t dream themselves out of a paper bag. Full of vision, but unable to take the steps to see the dream realized.

What will you do? What baby step will you take today, or this week, to start fulfilling that God-given dream? The adventure begins…