What do you want to be when you grow up?

Pretty common question when you are young, isn’t it? I usually had a variety of different answers when I was a kid. The first one I remember vividly was “archeologist.” No idea where that came from. I do remember why it ended up on the cutting room floor…someone told me I would have to fly a lot. Apparently, that was not a selling point to an eight-year-old. The next was “computer systems analyst.” I know exactly where that came from. The piano teacher I had in third grade who lived in my neighborhood. She mentioned they made a lot of money, good enough for me! I am not really sure when that one went by the wayside but oddly enough, I did spend almost a decade at a tech company, so interesting how life works out.

Needless to say, most of us remember having this conversation with someone. Teachers, parents, friends, you name it. As an adult, I looked at that question today with fresh eyes. You know what jumped out at me for probably the first time? The fact that somehow the idea of being “grown up” is a destination, an end game. That somehow you wake up one morning at Point A, you make a few decisions along the way and surprise, you wake up at Point B, a grownup, boom! Didn’t we all get the manual that was supposed to be the sure key to our happiness? Two problems with that approach. 1) There is no manual! Gasp…what craziness is this? 2) The true part of growing up is the journey. It is what you become along the way to grownupland, not what or who you are when you get there. And isn’t that the crux of the problem for many people these days? That we are so busy pushing to that Point B, that nebulous spot on the horizon, that when we get there and it doesn’t make us thinner, smarter, nicer, richer, needless to say, we are not happy.

Wild Lilies is how I hope to change that for as many of you who want to come along for the ride. Is there a dream you have always had brewing somewhere in the back of your mind? It doesn’t need to be an idea for a new business, it could be an amazing personal goal that is just for you. You have always wanted to run a half marathon? Speak Spanish? Do ten pullups without stopping? Keep reading!

There is a quote from Michaelangelo that drives me at this stage of my life, “The greatest danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it.”

Do you ever feel like that sums up your life on occasion? Are you guilty of the "If only"?...If only I had the time, money, support, etc., I would do (insert that thing here…in neon…and flashing lights). Well guess what? You already have everything you need with possibly the exception of one crucial thing, the thing that will absolutely stop you in your tracks before you even get started, it is the belief you can. Let me say that again..THE BELIEF YOU CAN. My beautiful flower friends, it really is that simple. There is magic in simple, there is purity in simple and most importantly, there is power in the most simple approach. If at the end of your time on Earth you look back and realize you never even reached out your hand in the general direction of your dream, how would you feel? It makes my heart hurt just thinking about it. I couldn't do it and just by virtue of you still reading along, I believe you are thinking the same thing. I really do want to impress upon you the value of what you learn on the journey to a goal can be just as fulfilling as hitting the goal itself. And just for grins, let’s say, your dream does involve starting some sort of business. You might say to me, oh but Dawn, my idea is already out in the marketplace, someone beat me to it. To which I say, so what? Is there only one restaurant chain in the world? Only one car manufacturer or musician? Heck no. And that is because their audiences demand choices. You are unique. No one can bring "you" to the table like you can. Not one damn person. But again, you have got to believe it like you believe that 2 + 2 = 4. Your brain is the most powerful tool you have...but it can also be your worst enemy. Decide to use it for good. And keep in mind, Wild Lilies are not necessarily entrepreneurs, they certainly can be, but it is just as important to reach for those things you have always wanted to do, doesn't matter if you ever make a dime. You get to decide what success looks like. But if you want to make many, many dimes, your fellow Wild Lilies are clapping just as loudly. Flowchart your idea. Get it on paper. Don't worry about the how, worry about the what. What are the basics I need in order to answer that "What's next?" question. Ready? Let’s go!