Dreams - Architects' most valuable assets
Harry Kafka
The ability to plan and envision an improved state of
existence is the most valuable of all Man's
facilities.
To achieve anything we must first envision it first.
There has to be that goal in form of a dream -
something which we can then attempt to achieve.
Without dreams, we would still be cavemen.
Every great success started with a simple dream of one
person. Take the Disney empire for example.
How did Walt Disney start it? Here's how he put it:
"If you can dream it, you can do it. Always remember
that this whole thing was started with a mouse . . . "
It all starts with an idea, a dream, a realisation of
some type or another.
It's the very first thing. That's how your practice
came to be - at first, there was the dream.
Without it, you wouldn't be where you are today.
We can observe possibilities and create plans. We can
envision a desirable, improved state of existence.
That's our highest ability.
And yet, "dreaming" is considered impractical and
naive by the business world...
A PLAN DOES NOT MEAN IT WILL BE EXECUTED
There are many demands and responsibilities in the
world of a practitioner. Thus, we're reluctant to take
on MORE.
It is so easy to confuse a plan to mean the same as its
fulfilment - that a dream should automatically be
executed and a practical project started.
It's so usual to blame oneself for NOT executing a
plan, not going after a dream...
But of course that's nonsense.
Just because you envision an improvement and create
a plan doesn't mean you would (should or even could)
start to work on making it a reality.
Without plans, one cannot start anything - but
planning does not INCLUDE starting the project.
It simply means one is looking INTO the subject in
order to find ways to get more results.
In fact, it is usually necessary to envision of
SEVERAL plans to find one that offers realistic
chances of success if and when it is implemented.
THE FIRST GOAL IS THAT OF LEARNING
Funnily enough, the first goal in any plan regarding
some specific subject is that of LEARNING.
Fully complete, risk-free plans to achieve something
great are NOT created overnight and at one go.
Reversely, if you don't START planning regardless of
how inexperienced or uncertain you may feel within the
specific subject of your dream, you can never develop
a workable plan.
Planning itself is a learning process.
One creates a plan and then starts to evaluate its
feasibility.
For this, one needs INFORMATION.
Simplified, one gets an idea to do something and, as
a part of planning, obtains information about that
subject.
For instance, if the dream or idea is to expand one's
practice ( to obtain more clients or increase profit
or create a more competitive image), one would gather
- research data on the views of one's target audience
- information about how other practitioners have
successfully achieved that same (or similar) goal
- knowledge on what is needed to REACH that goal.
You would first secure this information and study it
at your convenience.
Out of that emerges a more detailed plan including
the "what, how, when and in which order" of it.
And only after that it's time to decide whether
or not you want to IMPLEMENT the plan.
NOW, you would evaluate its feasibility, suitability,
cost-efficiency, likelihood of success... and so on.
It's possible that you'll find something's missing.
You may decide it's too risky for now or too costly.
Or that you don't have time for it right now.
But REGARDLESS of whether you decide to use the plan,
you've already achieved something very valuable.
Now, you know a lot more about that specific subject.
Now, you have SOME PARTS of a plan ready. Now, you're
in the know.
Now, you've attained experience, expertise and
knowledge. You know much more about your dream.
You see much more clearly what is needed to achieve
it.
And you ARE much closer to making it a reality!
NEVER EVER GIVE UP YOUR DREAMS!
Life has an unfortunate habit of getting us involved
in its tiring routines. We want so much and yet find
that our best efforts do not produce the envisioned
outcome.
Disappointment sets in and we accept realities.
But were those realities really the ultimate truth
about the matter?
Or was it only that we should have had MORE
information, obtained more knowledge and experience
in the subject in order to FIND the way to realise
that dream?
See, DREAMS are what keep us alive.
Dreams are what give us a FUTURE... and a more
positive outlook to make some of those dreams
into a reality.
It's not that all dreams could (or should) become
reality.
The important thing is to maintain the frame of mind
that EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE.
Don't listen to those who want to stop you dreaming
just because "it isn't practical."
It isn't practical and it isn't MEANT to be such.
Dreams PRECEDE practical application.
Dreaming, for Man, is the original state of creativity
that has given birth to every practical success story
in this world.
So revitalise those dreams that you threw away as
"impractical" and rediscover the magic of having
dreams and plans.
I guarantee it will make you feel better and achieve
your goals more than anything else!
Have a great week,
Best wishes
Harry Kafka
http://www.architectmarketingtips.com
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