“You must be prepared to act on your dreams, just in case they could come true.” ~ Bill Strickland

Bill grew up in Pittsburg, immersed in the crumbling remains of the steel economy and facing racism everywhere he turned. The odds were stacked highly against him. And what an AMAZING legacy he has built to date (and is still building!) to help disadvantaged folks thrive in life.

Bill is about dreaming, following his heart, and staying true to his vision of hope and human possibility.

Make sure to listen to his story below (35:28)…I guarantee you’ll be inspired to dream bigger!

What does Bill teach us through his experience? My three key take-aways are the following:

• If we want to lead in a community, we need to look like the solution and not the problem.  We need to bring a story of hope and genuinely believe in the community itself as being a valuable partner in the solution;
• The key to changing behaviour in others is all in the way WE and THEY think about themselves.  For us, we need to look beyond what’s obvious and see what’s really there in others.  Sometimes the intrinsic good in people is well-masked as the result of hardship and circumstance….look deeper.  As leaders, we can also help them to realize that they ARE valuable and worthy human beings, who may just need even one person to believe in them and to care;
• When we lead from a place of integrity, commitment and passion, other people will unexpectedly show up wanting to help us.  This of course requires faith and trust, especially when we may feel we are leading an uphill battle on our own at times.  Look at the amazing and influential network of human, financial and capital resources that “magically” appeared for Bill without him seeking them directly. The impact of the people who showed up for Bill is breathtaking!

To me, Bill’s call to action at the end of his talk speaks directly to us here in our CIC community:

“I want you all to know that I think the world is a place worth living. I believe in you…I believe in your hopes and your dreams, I believe in your intelligence, and I believe in your enthusiasm.

We won’t make it as a country [or as a global community] if we can’t turn this thing around…I am banking on people like you, very decent people who still believe in something.“.

So consider the following:

• What dreams are percolating for you that would help others who need your help?
• How are you not dreaming big enough?
• What are you not yet noticing about your dreams that’s fundamentally important?

We would all love to hear your insights on Bill’s story or your dream below…don’t be shy !

Technorati Tags: commitment, community, connected, connection, dreams, hope, human possibility, inspiration, integrity, leader, Leadership, legacy, passion, vision

Randy Pausch is young, energetic, accomplished and a father of three young children…and in September, 2007, he was told that he only had a few months to live. His message to us about realizing our dreams? Set aside 11 minutes now to hear this truly inspiring clip about what he has learned about living life and pursuing dreams!

Wow – what a powerful reminder about how to live life to the fullest. Imagine how much richer * our * lives could be, if we lived by the lessons that Randy is imparting.

“Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it! Boldness has genius, power and magic in it” ~ Goethe

Why is it that, for many of us, we all too easily shelve our dreams for “some day” when we have the time or resources (or fill in the blank!) to pursue them? What if all of the stars never align in the way we think they need to for us to get started? What if our time runs out before we expect, as appears to be the case for Randy?

I’ve always loved Nike’s slogan “Just Do It!”. Full of energy and “can-do” spirit!  It is so aligned with what Randy is saying.

So what are your dreams? Do you really remember? Ask yourself:

• What story have I made up that is keeping me from realizing my dreams?
• How are my dreams calling me to lead in the world?
• How will the communities that I belong to, both current and future, forever miss out if I am not courageous enough to “just do it!” and make my dreams a reality?

If we are truly leaders, we need to lead by example. Stop telling yourself the old story and design a new one!  Get started today – don’t wait any longer! Even just taking one step towards your dreams, will set those dreams in motion. What steps can you take * right now *?? 

As Goethe said, “Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it!  Boldness has genius, power and magic in it.”

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Randy and his family as they continue on their challenging journey.  We are really grateful to him for his courage, strength and wisdom, demonstrated even amidst his daunting challenges. 

Post-script: At the time of writing, Randy was recently admitted to hospital for complications from his chemotherapy treatments, and continues to fight the good fight.  Randy, feel this community’s support for you as you move forward.

Technorati Tags: community, connection, courage, dreams, gratitude, inspiring, leader, Leadership, life