This week’s challenge is going to seem kind of simple. A little too easy. But you will be pleasantly surprised by the results if you just do it: I want you to put out a signal.
Dreams are not something we can reach on our own. “Heresy!” you say, but it’s true. Like it or not, we need the help of friends, family and other Revolutionaries to make things happen. The first step to enlisting help from your dream army is to simply make them aware of your dream. Put out a signal. You will be amazed by the ideas and resources that will open up to you if you just let other people know what you’re thinking about. Here are some simple ideas for putting out a signal.
Talk It Up
Work it into your conversations naturally. You don’t have to be annoying about it, but if you are passionate about it you are most likely talking about it anyway. You just might find out that Aunt Sue and Uncle Bob have a connection at Sea World which would be perfect for you to pursue your dream of marine life studies. How will they ever make that connection if you don’t tell them you’d like to work with dolphins? An easy way to do this is to Share Your Story right here on this site and then post it on your social networks or email it to friends and family. Not only will you be “talking it up” but you will get encouraging feedback and comments from others who share your interests.
You Collect WHAT?
Take advantage of birthdays and gift-giving holidays to fuel your dreams. One of the first things people ask when looking for gift ideas is “Do you collect anything?” This is the time to put out a signal and tell people what interests you. If you don’t have a collection, start one. Collections are great ways to stay motivated and can become a wonderful source of inspiration. My youngest daughter loves horses and everything in her room is tied to that theme. Friends and family know this about her and she is constantly receiving books, toys and other resources that teach her about horses.
Wear It Well
One of my main reasons for creating the Girls Can’t WHAT? designs was because I always enjoyed wearing t-shirts that put out a signal. I have quite the collection of drummer t-shirts and they never fail to catch someone’s eye and start a conversation about drums. There are a bajillion t-shirts out there. If you can’t find one that fits your passion, holler and I’ll make you one. ;)
Try something new
We sometimes get stuck in the same routines and miss out on great opportunities. As part of my “Adventerous” theme this year, I decided to jump into Twitter and really make an effort to use it. In doing so, I started connecting with a lot of other women who shared my same interests from women’s rights to drumming to speaking geek. Had I not “tried” it, I’d be missing out on a fantastic support network.
Ask for help!
Oh how we don’t want to do this sometimes! Getting stuck is a given. It’s going to happen sooner or later. The easiest and most universal signal to put out is an SOS. Most people like to help, but they need to know how to help. Tell them. Yesterday, I tweeted about my $1,000,000 donation goal and asked for help. Others graciously picked up my signal and retweeted it, making more people aware of the goal and bringing in offers to help me achieve it. All that extra help just for asking!
Show Up
Visibility can be crucial to making the right connections with the right people to help you with your dreams. Remember, you need people to help and people actually want to help you, but it’s your responsibility to show up. If you like to paint, show up at the local art fair and start meeting other artists. Join an online forum for women scientists if you are fascinated by chemistry. Oftentimes, you don’t have to do anything other than show up. People will notice you are there, strike up a conversation and the rest is history.
What other ways can you think of to put out a signal? I’d love to hear them!
1 comment
gretchen
On a side note: My kids are very vocal about what they want to be when they grow up. Kirstie is deciding between a veterinarian, a cheerleader, a rock star, a baseball player and a farmer. Katie wants to be an artist, a marine biologist, a surgeon or a family doctor. I have repeatedly told them they don’t have to choose just one interest. Interests can be combined and there are ways to have two careers at once with careful balance and laser-like focus. Because they have made us aware of their interests, we are on the look out for anything that will help them learn about those area. For example, since both of my kids love science and animals, we watch a lot of Animal Planet at our house. They learn about all kinds of jobs they can have that involve animals and science.