Once you've determined to wake up, you need to create your dream. I've noticed that my dreams have followed the same path as the life of a human being. Before a baby is born it must develop through several stages and the birth of a dream is no different. It all begins with conception followed by formation, incubation and birth
I'm asked to address young people and business people the world over. Doors of opportunity have opened for me in the most unlikely places. As I look back over my life, I can clearly see how I conceived a dream gave it form helped it grow, then saw it birthed.
In much the same way as an egg and sperm bear no resemblance to the fully formed human baby my early dream was a long way from what I'm doing today. It all began when I was 16 years old. I was sitting in what they called a “youth rally” and the only word that I could think to describe it was ‘boring’. This event was so boring that boring people called it boring. As a matter of fact, not only was it boring it lacked any sense of excellence or professionalism.
The choir was you guessed it …. boring. The music was … that's right boring. Add awful to that as well. The speaker had no reason to be there because he was …… boring. As I suffered that evening from noise pollution, I felt an inner voice, that still small voice of destiny say, “son you'll take over this one day”. I said good! The first thing I'm going to do is fire the choir and I'm going to change its name.
A seed had been planted
I began sharing my desire to get involved. I started to get a burning ambition for youth rallies.
World changers and dreamers aren't always nice. They’re compassionate but not necessarily nice. They are loving yet will dare to affectively pioneer and pave the way for others. They run the risk of often being misunderstood except by other dreamers. You might feel that no one understands your dream. You're probably right. Don't expect people to – even your closest friends or family members. Keep dreaming and pave the way for others and they will follow.
The dream conceived
You might think that the conception of my dream to work with young people began when I decided to take over the youth rallies. However, as I look back over my younger days I can see a significant incident which really sparked it off for me.
I didn't do that well at school as I've mentioned, and the teacher said I was a ‘no hoper’. All except for one – my English teacher. He was a former pilot and the school's boxing coach. I was involved in boxing and really wanted to compete in a big championship. Everyone ridiculed me (and if you've seen me in the flesh, you'll know why) – except for my English teacher. He basically said “Mesiti, you can be anything you want.”
It's that attitude I still believe in today. I believe that small incident where someone believed in me was the conception. It led to the desire to want to help young people
What is yours?
The dream nourished
Everything starts and finishes with a dream
The farmer is ridiculed and criticised, threatens his own meagre finances by reducing the size of his crop. But he sticks to the dream. With an all-consuming passion he is driven to attempt the unnatural, the extraordinary. He doesn't have all the facts, but he has passion, a sense of purpose
As well as the pain there is sacrifice. There is a cost to having children, I know I have three. For parents it can mean adjustments to the shape of their body, less sleep, rearranging lifestyle and priorities, and less freedom. A worthwhile dream or purpose in life will also cost you something. Before starting out in pursuit of your dream you need to understand this.
I remember once being approached by a person who asked me to get involved in a business scheme.
Will it take time? “I asked”
“No of course not”
“Will it cost me personally?”
“No”
“Then it's not worth getting involved in”, I replied.
Personal cost is something that never stops.
There is something far greater than money, it is purpose.…
in conclusion
- Don't wait for a big break, conceive your dream now
- Nurture your dream through its pregnancy
- Be willing to endure the pain of birthing your dream
- Allow your dream to grow in stages
- Think big – your infant dream will bear little resemblance to your mature dream
Until next time
Yours in prosperity
Pat Mesiti
ABOUT PAT MESITI
Pat Mesiti is a best-selling author, coach and educator in the area of personal development. Having built some of Australia’s largest people-driven organisations, Pat understands the power of harnessing human potential. He has shared the stage with some of the world’s great business minds and has sold over millions of copies of his books and materials.