eBook
Related collections and offers
Overview
In Put Your Dream to the Test, Dr. John Maxwell asks you ten powerful questions to determine how your dream can become reality. Now, in My Dream Map, he helps you create a detailed plan with interactive exercises and opportunities for personal exploration that will challenge, inspire, and direct you. This companion to Put Your Dream to the Test will help you uncover, perhaps for the first time, specific steps you can take to stop merely thinking about your dream and start living it.
If you want to dig in and do substantial work to make your dream happen, My Dream Map will jumpstart your process. Inside you will find:
- Innovative exercises and resources to help you achieve your dream
- An expanded version of the Dream Test found in Put Your Dream to the Test
- Questions and prompts to guide your steps toward the best path to your dream
- Reading and interview suggestions for further information and inspiration
- Journaling space to gather your thoughts and plans all in one place
Sometimes all you need to achieve a dream are the belief that you can, the resolve that you will, and the plan to make it happen. You have the dream. This volume can help you create the plan. Use it, develop it, and keep it with you as your guide as you make your dream come true.
Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9781418576226 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | HarperCollins Leadership |
| Publication date: | 03/30/2009 |
| Sold by: | HarperCollins Publishing |
| Format: | eBook |
| Pages: | 240 |
| File size: | 190 KB |
About the Author
John C. Maxwell is a #1 New York Times bestselling author, coach, and speaker who has sold more than 33 million books in fifty languages. He has been identified as the #1 leader in business and the most influential leadership expert in the world. His organizations - the John Maxwell Company, The John Maxwell Team, EQUIP, and the John Maxwell Leadership Foundation - have translated his teachings into seventy languages and used them to train millions of leaders from every country of the world. A recipient of the Horatio Alger Award, as well as the Mother Teresa Prize for Global Peace and Leadership from the Luminary Leadership Network, Dr. Maxwell influences Fortune 500 CEOs, the presidents of nations, and entrepreneurs worldwide. For more information about him visit JohnMaxwell.com.
Read an Excerpt
MY DREAM MAP
An Interactive Companion to Put Your Dream to the TestBy John C. Maxwell
Thomas Nelson
Copyright © 2009 John C. MaxwellAll right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4002-0256-0
Chapter One
The Ownership QuestionIs My Dream Really My Dream?
Everybody has to start somewhere. Even the greatest dreams, the most earth-shaking achievements, began as a mere concept, an idea in the mind of some individual.
What makes a dream worthy? It has to be yours. The achievability of a dream doesn't depend primarily on its size or scope, nor does it rely on the individual dreamer's talent as much as it does on that person's ownership of it. Show me a dream achieved and I'll show you a dreamer who owned it-heart and soul. You have a chance of getting where you want to go only if you truly own your dream.
YOU ARE HERE
What was your score for the ownership section of the Dream Test? That number (out of a possible 10) represents your level of ownership for your dream. What is your reaction to that? Take some time to reflect on it, and write about what it means as your starting point.
_____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________
SURVEYING THE TERRAIN
Write a first draft of your dream. You don't need to make it pretty or perfect-just get the basic idea down on paper and be as specific as you can be.
_____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________
ASKING FOR DIRECTIONS
While you are working your way through the dream questions and creating your dream map, one of the things you will be asked to do is to talk with people who are far ahead of you in the journey. If I had to point to a single action most responsible for my success, especially early in my career, it would be interviewing successful people so that I could learn from them. I strongly recommend that you follow through with my suggestions concerning interviews. If you do, by the time you've gone through every chapter of My Dream Map, you will have interviewed ten or more people whose achievements you highly respect.
For the Ownership Question, make an appointment with someone who has accomplished a dream. Write here the questions you will ask. Be sure to ask questions regarding his ownership of the dream, especially during the early stages of his journey. Take notes on his answers in the space provided.
_____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________
GIVING LIFE TO THE MAP
Start reading a biography of someone who accomplished a dream in an area similar to yours. (You may want to make reading biographies a regular practice in the coming year.) Record important observations from what you read here.
_____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________
JOURNALING
Spend the next several days or weeks wrestling through the ownership issue. Make sure that as you reflect and write, you answer the following questions:
Why do you want to accomplish this dream?
Why are you the right person for this dream, and why is this dream right for you?
What specific talents, strengths, and personality traits will help you achieve this dream?
What kind of research have you done on your dream?
What is your earliest recollection of knowing you wanted to achieve this dream?
Does anyone else in your life or personal history also share this dream for you? If so, who would be happier if you achieved this dream-you or the other people? (Note: If you answer that some other person would be happier, that is a red flag. Your dream very well may not be your dream.)
What would happen to you if you were not able to pursue this dream?
What would happen to you if you pursued it and failed to achieve it?
What would change in your life if you accomplished this dream?
_____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________
OBSERVATIONS AND CONCLUSIONS
What have you learned about yourself, your dream, and the ownership issue from journaling?
_____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________
PLOTTING YOUR COURSE
What must you change in order to take yourself to a 10 in the area of ownership? Write it down, and integrate it into your calendar and daily work habits.
_____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________
Chapter Two
The Clarity QuestionDo I Clearly See My Dream?
There are people who say, "If you can see it, you can seize it." That's not always true. However, what is true is that if you cannot see it, you will not seize it. You will be able to achieve a dream only if you can see it clearly!
Bringing clarity to the dream can be very difficult and time consuming. This section of My Dream Map may take you the longest to complete. That's okay. Accomplishing your dream may take you many years. Taking days, weeks, or even months to clarify it first won't slow you down. It will actually speed you toward your dream. You cannot reach an uncertain destination. Besides, if you allow your dream to remain fuzzy and undefined, you won't be able to do much of the other work that is necessary to make it become a reality. If a dream is worth doing, it's worth defining. Take the time now to make it clear.
YOU ARE HERE
What was your score for the clarity section of the Dream Test? That number (out of a possible 10) represents how clear your dream is to you. Do you think your score on the test was fair and representative of your dream's clarity? If your score was lower than 9, then write about why you think you lack clarity.
_____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________
SURVEYING THE TERRAIN
It's time to take the vision of your dream to the next level. Describe your dream in as much detail as possible. Think big, but also be specific. Paint a picture using words. Use numbers if appropriate. Describe what the achievement of your dream looks like. Describe how it makes you feel. Capture as much of the scope, texture, and detail as possible.
_____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________
ASKING FOR DIRECTIONS
For the Clarity Question, make an appointment with a person who has accomplished a dream that you consider to have been nearly impossible. Write here the questions you will ask, paying particular attention to how clear the dream was to her before it was realized. Ask her if she had any special way of keeping the vision for the dream in view. Take notes on her answers in the space provided.
_____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________
GIVING LIFE TO THE MAP
Think about the most audacious dreams that have been accomplished in human history. Which stands out to you as the most remarkable or interesting? Spend some time doing research about the person who had the dream and brought it to fruition. Pay particular attention to when the dream became clear to him or her and how that affected the process of achieving it. Record your observations here.
_____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________
JOURNALING
Spend the next several weeks thinking about your dream and giving it as much detail as you can. As you reflect and write, make sure you answer the following questions:
Does your dream make the most of your circumstances and opportunities?
What are your emotions telling you about your dream? Is it on target?
What does your intuition tell you about the rightness of your dream?
How does your dream align with your life purpose?
If it doesn't, how can you adjust your dream so that there is alignment?
Do your unique life experiences come into play in the creation of your dream?
Have you allowed the things that inspire you-music, books, movies, memories, photographs, quotes, and so on-to contribute positively to the creation of your dream?
Have you talked to other people who have accomplished similar dreams?
If not, can you find a way to do that?
How can you add more detail to your picture of the dream?
_____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________
OBSERVATIONS AND CONCLUSIONS
What have you learned about yourself, your dream, and the Clarity Question from journaling?
_____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________
PLOTTING YOUR COURSE
Now that you have spent time journaling, talked to successful people, and done some research, it's time to rewrite your dream. Though this may seem tedious, do not skip this step! Your goal is to express your dream on the following pages in two different ways:
First, describe it in great detail with specific goals or objectives, similar to the way that Mike Hyatt did. (Reread "The Clarity Question" in Put Your Dream to the Test if needed.)
Second, describe your dream in a single concise sentence that you can easily write on the back of a business card. The idea is that if you were on an elevator and your hero got on and asked you your dream, you would be able to state it before the elevator reached its destination.
After doing these two things, put a written copy of your dream someplace where you will see it every day.
_____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________
Chapter Three
The Reality QuestionAm I Depending on Factors Within My Control to Achieve My Dream?
People who accomplish great things are both dreamers and realists. They see and own a vision that may be unbelievable to everyone in the world but them. At the same time, they find a way to deal with the reality of who and where they are, looking the facts straight in the eye without blinking.
This part of My Dream Map will require you to take a hard look at yourself. You will need to honestly assess not only your personal strengths, but also where you currently fall short. You cannot ignore reality and achieve your dream. However, you cannot allow reality to discourage you if your dream is the right one for you. It's a fine line to walk, but it's a skill you must acquire to get where you ultimately want to go.
YOU ARE HERE
What was your score for the reality section of the Dream Test? That number (out of a possible 10) represents how realistic you currently are when it comes to your dream. If your score was high, you may not have very much work to do. If it was especially low, you will need to engage in a development process that will probably take time. This chapter will merely be your starting point, but that's okay. Hard work is part of the reality of achieving a dream.
In writing, explain the place you are starting from in the pursuit of your dream, and describe the gap that you see between where you are and where you want to be. What obstacles do you expect to have to overcome to get where you want to go?
_____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________
SURVEYING THE TERRAIN
The first step in facing reality is assessing your strengths and weaknesses. If you haven't done that in the last two years (or if you have never done it), do it now. I highly recommend that you start with StrengthsFinder and a personality test such as Myers-Briggs or DISC. If your dream requires leadership, take the 21 Laws Leadership Evaluation, which you can find in the revised and updated version of The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership. If you are a Christian, I recommend that you take a spiritual gifts test. If your dream is related to your profession and there are assessments or evaluations available related to it, take them. You get the idea. Don't rule out anything that may help you.
Once you have done some exploring in this area, write a summary of yourself incorporating all of the information. Be sure to identify your top three to seven strengths, and make note of the areas where you are weakest.
_____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________
ASKING FOR DIRECTIONS
Contact the most accomplished person in your circle of acquaintances who knows you and your work well. Ask the individual to assess your strengths and weaknesses. Give the person the following questions far enough ahead of time before you meet so that he can think about the answers.
1. What have you observed to be my greatest strengths (name at least three)? 2. In what areas do you think I have been most productive? 3. What skill or talent makes me unique in my ability to achieve success either personally or professionally? 4. If I had to narrow my focus to just one area in the future, which one would you say has the greatest potential? 5. In what ways do I add value to other people? 6. In what ways do you think I need to improve when working with people? 7. What are my greatest weaknesses (name three)? 8. Do you think any of those weaknesses could derail my career or personal life? 9. On a scale of 1 to 10 (with 10 being the highest), how tenacious have I been to learn and grow? 10. What one piece of advice would you give me that would most help me to achieve my dream?
When you meet, review each question and then listen to the person's answers. If you need more clarification about some of the answers he gives you, you may ask follow-up questions. However, you are not to defend yourself or give excuses for your past actions. Otherwise, you may not get honest feedback. If you are a highly emotional person, during the interview pretend you are playing poker and you don't want the person you're interviewing to know what you are thinking and feeling. The point is to listen and learn.
Take notes on the answers in the space provided. If you feel that you haven't received enough information or accurate information, schedule meetings with other people, and repeat the process.
_____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________
GIVING LIFE TO THE MAP
One secret of successful people is that they build upon their strengths. The older they get, the more focused they become. (Early in my career, it felt as if I did everything. Today in my professional life, I do only four things: communicate, create, network, and lead.)
To close the gap between who you are now and who you must become to achieve your dream, you must create and follow a personal growth plan. Start by identifying your top five strengths. Next, describe how these strengths relate to the achievement of your dream. Note whether there are any weaknesses in your abilities that would be difficult or impossible to strengthen. If there are, you will need to address them when you work on the People Question by finding others to complement your strengths
Now, in the space below create a one-year growth plan for building on the five strengths. In the coming year, read two books related to each strength. Plan one interview with an expert in your number one strength. Listen to one podcast or lesson on CD every week related to any of your top five strengths.
You'll notice that your growth plan is always to be focused on your strengths. However, there is one exception to this rule. Character flaws can prevent you from achieving success. If one of the weaknesses that you identified during this discovery process was related to character, you need to find and enlist a mentor to help you work through the issue. You cannot successfully tackle character issues on your own.
_____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________
JOURNALING
Spend the next several days or weeks working through the reality issue. Make sure that as you reflect and write, you answer the following questions:
What are the qualities needed in a person who desires to accomplish your dream?
What background and what kinds of experiences does that kind of person usually possess?
What skills do you need to acquire to be able to bridge the gap to your dream?
How long will it take you to acquire those skills?
What will it cost you to possess those experiences and acquire those skills?
What habits must you begin cultivating today in order to become someone who can achieve this dream?
Do people whom you respect affirm that you either are or have the potential to become someone who can achieve this dream?
What do you expect to be the greatest obstacle you will face while working to achieve your dream?
How long do you expect the accomplishment of your dream to take?
How much work will it require?
_____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________
OBSERVATIONS AND CONCLUSIONS
What have you learned about yourself, your dream, and the reality issue from journaling? What habits do you need to cultivate to develop into someone who can accomplish your dream? Write them here.
_____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________
(Continues...)
Excerpted from MY DREAM MAP by John C. Maxwell Copyright © 2009 by John C. Maxwell. Excerpted by permission.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.
Table of Contents
Contents
Acknowledgments....................ixCreating a Map for Your Dream....................xi
THE DREAM TEST....................1
CHAPTER 1 The Ownership Question Is My Dream Really My Dream?....................7
CHAPTER 2 The Clarity Question Do I Clearly See My Dream?....................25
CHAPTER 3 The Reality Question Am I Depending on Factors Within My Control to Achieve My Dream?....................47
CHAPTER 4 The Passion Question Does My Dream Compel Me to Follow It?....................71
CHAPTER 5 The Pathway Question Do I Have a Strategy to Reach My Dream?....................91
CHAPTER 6 The People Question Have I Included the People I Need to Realize My Dream?....................117
CHAPTER 7 The Cost Question Am I Willing to Pay the Price for My Dream?....................137
CHAPTER 8 The Tenacity Question Am I Moving Closer to My Dream?....................159
CHAPTER 9 The Fulfillment Question Does Working Toward My Dream Bring Satisfaction?....................177
CHAPTER 10 The Significance Question Does My Dream Benefit Others?....................199
Conclusion....................217
About the Author....................219