Chasing Dreams with Aimee J.

Maybe you envision being a stay-at-home mom and have no desire to continue in a career after children come to your family---or maybe you want to keep working a full-time job outside the home and the thought of spending all day at home with kids scares you to death. The real problem here is that most of us don’t think there is another option other than one end of the spectrum or the other. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to be able to do both and be successful in both roles? There is good news and a third option, and my guest today is here to talk about it.

 Shannnon Miles is a master delegator. She and her husband, Bryan, grew a two-person operation into a staff of 60 corporate team members by seeing where they were the strongest, and delegating the rest. They lead with trust and have built a thriving business on the premise that adults are adults and can handle their business. The pair are also visionaries of the virtual workplace. Shannon’s passion, in addition to helping others realize the freedom they receive from delegating, is to bring to light the challenges women face in the workplace. From finding the courage to ask your boss for a flexible schedule to deciding if there’s an option for you outside 100% full-time, on-site office work, and 100% full-time, stay-at-home mom. Shannon has walked the walk and is here to lead other women on their journey to finding their own third option, which happens to be the title of her book, The Third Option.  

TWEET: Chasing your dreams is not a binary choice - there is a third option that you can feel better about! #chasingdreams @shannonkmiles

The hybrid model

Don’t we all want a way to “have it all”? Shannon found a hybrid way to have it all, but it didn’t look like she thought it would. She had to readjust her thinking and mindset about what she wanted long-term and figure out how to get there in the short-term. It meant taking a humbling career change and setting aside her ego and pride. She found that there was so much space available as a third option between full-time on-site work and full-time stay-at-home mom. 

TWEET: Having it all doesn’t look the same for everyone. You can find the “all” that works for you without feeling guilty! #chasingdreams @shannonkmiles

Going ALL IN

How are you at taking risks? Shannon and her husband both had an overwhelming urge to “do something big,” but they knew it would require a big risk and a big move. They cashed in their 401(k)’s, left their jobs, and started their own business. With two young kids, it was scary and terrifying, but they were so compelled that the drive overtook the fear. Their individual corporate experiences and skillsets helped in launching the new company. Shannon says that you can leverage all your background for the next season and the next journey. They both knew this was something they couldn’t dip their toes in gradually, but would have to go ALL IN.

TWEET: Big moves require big risks so it’s important to move past your fear into action! #chasingdreams @shannonkmiles

Let’s talk delegation

Have you ever thought about delegation in regards to how it helps OTHER people pursue their dreams? It’s hard to let go and have others step in to help, and there is a certain amount of guilt associated with delegation. There are so many myths that we tell ourselves about why delegation is a weakness. It’s simply one of the limiting beliefs that keeps us from pursuing our dreams. 

TWEET: Our limiting beliefs are the main thing that keeps us from pursuing our dreams. #chasingdreams @shannonkmiles

Guest Recommendation: ONE action for a dream chaser--”Get very comfortable with not having it all figured out. You will not have all the answers to all of your questions before you make the leap to pursue your dreams.”

OUTLINE OF THIS...

Are you the kind of person who always knew you wanted to help people, make a difference, and be an influencer? Most of the time, these characteristics are evident even in young children, and that’s certainly true for today’s guest. She’s helping others in numerous ways as she chases her dreams and watches out for the dream killers along the way.

Rana Campbell is a fellow Chief Dream Chaser. She is the founder, host, and Chief Dream Driver of the Dreams in Drive podcast. She’s a storyteller at heart and loves helping others figure out how to shine and put their goals into action. Her work has been featured in Elle, The Jimmy Fallon Show, Huffington Post, MadamNoire, xoNecole, Fox 5, and more. Rana is a proud graduate of Princeton University and an Emma Bowen Foundation media program alum.

Dreams that shaped a life

Have you always had dreams of inspiring and influencing others? Young Rana always loved reading others’ stories, being the person with the ideas, and making sure other people believed in themselves. As she grew up, she saw stories and the potential for stories everywhere. In high school, she was drawn to dance and playwriting, and she continued that dance focus in college. It was there, in a communications and marketing internship, that she realized how much she loved talking to people. Pretty fitting for a future podcast host, huh?

TWEET: Self-work is the best work. @rainshineluv #chasingdreams

Fear of success?

Most people fear failure, but have you ever feared success? Rana shares how she questioned success and said, “If I make it, will I want it?” That kind of fear can still hold us back. Rana never wanted to be famous, but it’s been a back and forth struggle in how she views success. She says, “I want to be Oprah, but I don’t want to be Oprah.” Through it all, the driving force behind the fear and the self-work is the overriding desire to help people.

TWEET: Know if you’re doubting yourself, you’re not alone. Everyone’s journey is filled with those moments. @rainshineluv #chasingdreams

Watch out for dream killers!

Do you live YOUR life? There is so much more to life than we can touch. We limit ourselves most often because we allow others to define what we SHOULD be doing. Rana learned the lesson to define her own life and create her own rules. Her advice is to be cautious about the advice you receive from others, because sometimes their advice is based on their own fears. These people are dream killers. A lot of us aren’t moving forward because other people are telling us we shouldn’t. 

TWEET: As a kid, I loved making sure other people believed in themselves. @rainshineluv #chasingdreams

Guest Recommendation: ONE action for a dream chaser to take--”You need to be real with yourself about what your dream is. We have dreams that we tell people, but those may not be our REAL dreams. Be clear and real with yourself, because that will be your inner steering wheel.”

OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE:

• [:30] How the Dreams in Drive podcast came about
• [3:40] Young Rana’s dreams to inspire and influence
• [5:10] The interesting outcome of Rana’s appearance on The Jimmy Fallon Show
• [9:30] Selling the Dreams in Drive brand
• [12:00] Before Dreams in Drive
• [15:40] A lesson learned
• [17:16] Over 150 guests and episodes so far!
• [19:47] The importance of self-work
• [21:57] Walking through life without living it
• [24:21] Watch out for dream killers!
• [28:19] Finding rejuvenation outside your comfort zone
• [33:15] Celebrities are people, too
• [38:09] ONE action for a dream chaser

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE:

Rana’s Website 

Rana on

Is the struggle for perfection squelching your creative energy? Before you are tempted to say NO, you need to listen to today’s show. We are hearing a personal story of a spiritual awakening, freedom from perfection, and the power of creative energy as a vehicle in cultivating self-worth.

Emily Pereira was once entrenched in the corporate world, searching for happiness and fulfillment everywhere except for where it really exists. Emily had a breakdown that became an astonishing breakthrough. After discovering a treasure trove of passion and magic living inside her to which she was previously blind, she’s now helping other women attract soul-affirming love into their lives by showing them how to gain access to their magnetic, radiant selves via one-on-one coaching and transformational Costa Rica retreats. Her ebook, Unstoppable Woman, is available on Amazon, and her 300-page memoir, The Quest, is in the wings. A mom-preneur living her dream life in Costa Rica, Emily is giving other women a map for how to manifest the life that aligns with their heart. She’s here today to tell her amazing story.

Living the dream

Isn’t that what most people want---the dream? For Emily, her original dream was to be a teacher, but she found herself in pharmaceutical sales, a job she describes as having “golden handcuffs.” She lived a comfortable lifestyle even though she didn’t have passion for the job, but the benefits were top-notch. Fast forward five years when a life crisis caused her world to come crashing down in her late 20’s. Nothing was bringing her happiness, even though she had all the “stuff.” 

TWEET: It can look like you “have it all” to everyone else and still be completely unhappy with your life. It’s not the stuff that makes you happy - it’s following your dreams. @bethebeginner

The biggest illusion

What is the biggest illusion in your life? When Emily connected to a spiritual teacher, he told her she had bought into illusions about herself and the way the world works, with the biggest one being that she had to be perfect in order to have approval, acceptance, and love. He said she was creative, but was freezing herself out of her natural creative passion with her attempt to be perfect. The result was that she was walking around in a constant state of judgment on herself. She says the key to finding freedom is giving yourself permission to be “the beginner” and taking on full radical personal responsibility.

TWEET: “Give yourself the freedom to be imperfect and to be the beginner.” @bethebeginner

“You’re a writer”

Has someone ever told you something about yourself that took you by surprise? When Emily’s spiritual teacher said, “You’re a writer,” it took her awhile to believe and know where to start. He challenged her to set an intention, be the beginner, and write her story. She found with amazement that when she suspended judgment, the words flowed freely. Sentences turned into paragraphs, then pages, then chapters---and she was transformed in the process. She began to play guitar, sing, write songs, paint paintings, do improv, and dance burlesque in an explosion of creative passion. The floodgates were opened and created a cascade of spiritual changes. 

TWEET: “Suspend judgement of yourself and finally be able to be in flow.” @bethebeginner

Guest Recommendation: ONE action for a dream chaser to take--”Be patient with yourself and find people who are a little ahead of you on the path who can help you. Permission leads to passion, and passion delivers you to your purpose.”

OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE:

• [:06] How she ended up in Costa Rica
• [3:40] What young Emily wanted to do with her life
• [8:05] The spiritual teacher who changed everything
• [9:10] Buying into the illusion
• [13:03] Full radical personal...

When you're a kid, people often ask, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" My answer was always, "I'd love to be an artist." I never considered the fact that I already was one. Somewhere along the line, Shanda Kay lost sight of her childhood passion for art. Today, however, she’s re-found her passion and is back to creating artwork that inspires the viewer to live life to the fullest. She is a fan of the podcast and I thought it would be fitting to have her on as we celebrate 3 years of Chasing Dreams this week.

Making changes

Do you remember what you loved most when you were young? For Shanda, it was always art, but she left it behind as she grew up. She didn’t go to college, because she never liked school that much. After working in the foodservice industry for awhile, she found a job at the local post office, where she has worked for 25 years. As she entered midlife, the inevitable crisis hit, and she even experienced some depressive symptoms that prompted her to look for a change. Shanda discovered the inspiration to be gained from listening to podcasts and then joined a Mastermind group.

TWEET: Rediscovering a long lost passion can be just what you need to lift your mood. #chasingdreams

Trying to feel normal again

What changes would you make to feel good about your life and “normal” again? Shanda was interested in something other than her post office job, even though it’s been a good job for her. It’s very physical and she knew her body was taking a hit, and even worse, she was feeling depressed and discouraged about the state of her life. She listened to a Chasing Dreams episode one day when the guest’s words pierced her heart and brought her to tears. It was only one year ago when she hired a business coach for help, because NOT doing something about chasing her dreams was bringing her down in every way.

TWEET: Not chasing your dreams can do more harm to you than the fear of chasing your dreams and failing. #chasingdreams

Making stuff

What plans would you put in place if you walked away from your job? Shanda had the lofty idea to open a bed and breakfast in her large home, but something about that just didn’t seem right. She went to a couple of business conferences and kept hearing forms of the “Work IN your business and not ON your business” mantra. Something kept telling her to “just make stuff and be creative,” so that’s what she has focused on. She is now inspiring people with her artwork. 

TWEET: Work ON your business, not IN your business. #chasingdreams

Guest Recommendation: ONE action for a dream chaser to take--”Focus. That is the name of my artwork for Art Prize this year.”

OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE:

• [1:42] How I connected with Shanda
• [6:20] Showing artistic ability
• [9:03] Why Shanda listened to podcasts
• [13:21] How Shanda found Chasing Dreams and was inspired
• [17:47] Using a business coach for help
• [21:40] Figuring out what to do
• [24:12] ONE action for a dream chaser

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE:

Shanda on Facebook - Simply Make It Count 

Shanda on Instagram 

Ellory Well's podcast episode Ten Questions You Should Ask Before You Hire a Coach [EWS6]

Kary Oberbrunner 

Shanda’s podcast

Art Prize 

Do you have a plan for what might come “after”? So often, we become hyper-focused on chasing a dream, with no real thought or plan for what might come next or how we need to pivot when circumstances change. My guest today was focused on her dream of being a gold medal Olympic athlete, but then she converted that ambition into other fields when her athlete days were done. 

Lauryn Williams, CFP, is a four-time Olympic medalist AND the first American woman to medal in both the Summer and Winter Olympic Games. While pursuing professional sports, Lauryn interacted with two financial advisors who didn’t provide the services she needed. She asked friends what they were doing about their finances, and the answers were vague and unsettling. Constantly looking for ways to make a difference in the lives of others, she decided to put her finance degree and MBA to use to fill the gap for young professionals. Eager to learn everything she could, she then pursued the Certified Financial Planner certification.

Her company, Worth Winning, offers virtual services to help young professionals get the answers to the financial questions that matter most to them. Whether that is creating a budget, figuring out a plan for paying off student loans, setting goals for savings, or understanding your 401(k), Worth Winning is ready to help with all things personal finance.

An athletic career doesn’t last forever

What do you do when one phase of a career is over? Lauryn had no idea what would come next for her. The truth is, when we chase one dream for a long time, we need to be prepared for what happens next. There is no shame in having a Plan B and knowing when to pivot to something else. Having a plan in place is a life skill that Lauryn encourages people to cultivate. Sometimes the transformation is tough when you have to find a new identity and a different dream to chase.

TWEET: “Having a back-up plan is NOT a bad thing.” @worth_winning

Making financial plans

How do you pay for college when your family has limited resources? With no trust fund and no savings for college, Lauryn wasn’t sure how she would pay for college. Even though she had been taught financial responsibility from a young age, she needed an expert to help make plans. People usually do business with someone they know, like, or trust----but Lauryn had none of those connections. The first financial planner she saw didn’t get to know her needs and wasn’t able to help her. What she really needed was someone to teach her financial literacy, which is what Lauryn seeks to do for her clients today.

TWEET: “Know how to pay yourself first.” @worth_winning

Choosing someone to help

Since anyone can proclaim themselves a “financial advisor,” many have a conflict of interest or seek to sell insurance or other services to people instead of helping them with what they really need. Lauryn’s advice is to look for a CFP (Certified Financial Planner) because no one can attach that title without going through the proper training and certification process. It’s important to know which questions to ask and whether the professional is commission-based or fee-only.

TWEET: “Time is on your side when you start while you’re young in planning your financial future.” @worth_winning

OUTLINE OF THE EPISODE:

• [:33] Lauryn’s interesting background
• [1:43] The intersection of academics and athletics
• [5:43] Becoming a bobsledder
• [10:08] The average “life span” of an athlete
• [11:23] What comes after the athletic career?
• [16:20] Using her financial degrees
• [20:00] When to hire a financial planner
• [25:26] How to find a true CFP
• [32:08] What we need to know about using Lauryn’s “Four Buckets” for budgeting

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THE SHOW:

Lauryn’s

Many times in life we are pressed into action because of a life circumstance. Ironically, there are times when it’s the kindness of others that spurs us to pass along that loving action to others. There is no occasion when those actions speak louder than when you’re facing a crisis in life, and--on the flip side--when you can reciprocate by making someone else’s tough time a little brighter. Today’s show explores how we can be effective in helping others through difficulties.

Sarah Beckman inspires people on the stage and from the page. She is the bestselling author of Alongside: A Practical Guide for Loving Your Neighbor in their Time of Trial, which is filled with practical tools to love people well in the rough patches of life. Sarah speaks to audiences across the country on topics such as loving your neighbor, sharing your faith, safeguarding your marriage, and digging up your talents.

Stepping out as a speaker

Do you envision yourself as a speaker? Young Sarah saw herself as a famous advertising executive, until she realized that was a tough business to break into. When she finally decided to step out as a speaker, she decided to cover what she was living at the time. Her first topic was provision, which meant she discussed the places God had provided for her and her family. When she attended a speaking training class, she came up with other topic ideas, one of the main ones being using your gifts and “digging up your talents,” which comes from the Bible. The universal lesson is that we aren’t supposed to operate out of fear, which is the main thing that sidetracks our dreams. 

TWEET: “Fear is the main hurdle that sidetracks our dreams.” @sarahbeckman14 #chasingdreams

Having faith

Have you ever wanted to throw in the towel and do something else? Most people would probably answer YES to that, because tough days come and we are not always sure about our purpose or the dreams we are chasing. There were many times that Sarah wanted to “cash it all in” and go get a 9-5 job. She learned a big lesson in that what she was doing was not about the money, but about the message. It’s easy to get caught up in the social media numbers and compare yourself to others---and then you get discouraged. It takes faith to keep going, but others won’t be helped or served if you quit.

TWEET: “Others need you to chase your dreams. You can’t serve their needs if you give up and quit.” @sarahbeckman14 #chasingdreams

Why the book?

If you’ve been the recipient of special kindness during a particularly trying time, then you know how refreshing and valuable those actions can be. Sarah walked through difficulties with her third pregnancy, and there were numerous community members, friends, and neighbors who pitched in to help their family. Subsequently, Sarah faced four back surgeries and had four friends who faced life or death situations. Before she realized it, people were turning to her from everywhere, wondering how they could help these families and asking for her advice. One major recurring theme was how to overcome the insecurity of doing or saying the wrong thing. These experiences snowballed into the impetus for Sarah’s book, Alongside. 

TWEET: "Our job is to multiply what we’ve been given.” @sarahbeckman14 #chasingdreams

OUTLINE OF THE EPISODE:

• [:08] Sarah’s work in speaking and writing
• [1:20] Young Sarah, who wanted to be famous
• [2:35] Why she wanted to write the book
• [3:52] Sarah’s favorite speaking topics
• [5:38] Lessons from the Biblical “talents” story
• [9:36] Learning to pivot, add on, and use talents
• [14:10] “Faithful in few things”
• [15:50] Moments that make you want to stop
• [22:16] Steering your “moving boat”
• [24:06] Why the book?
• [29:50] Choosing wise words and knowing how to...

How do you hold onto the passion to follow your dreams? What if you are young and are following an unconventional path? It takes confidence in who you are and in your truth to pursue your passion to make a difference in the world. Today’s guest is well on her way to accomplishing many of her fantastic dreams, and she shares some practical tips that can help others do the same.

Alexis Parris has been introduced to the world of personal development, which has molded her into the millennial, entrepreneur, speaker, and author that she is today----and, she’s only 22! From her personal transformation, she has formed the deep belief that personal development is an irreplaceable ingredient to success, which is an important lesson that many still have to learn. The implementation of this belief has helped Alexis create her present success. Within a two-year period, she self-published her book, Why I Quit College to Learn, hosted a summit in Lagos, Nigeria, released her podcast, The Empowered Millennial Podcast, and has founded her digital media agency, HD Media Masters. 

TWEET: “The more you do something outside your comfort zone, the more boldness you form.” #chasingdreams

A passion for podcasting

What does it take to push you forward? Alexis has accomplished much at a young age, but she isn’t ready to dwell or stop there. When I met her at Podcast Movement, she started her jam-packed session with dancing, which has been her passion for 15 years, and is still what calms and relaxes her. She invited the guests into her “home space” to create a cool connection. From early plans of being a professional dancer, she discovered that personal development was the key to opening her dreams. Alexis is always pushing into the next phase of chasing her dreams, refusing to let anything stand in her way.

TWEET: “I want to inspire people to live the best version of their lives and leave the world a better place than they found it.” #chasingdreams

A brave decision

Is college mandatory for success? We would probably say it’s not, but yet there is so much stigma attached for those who don’t pursue a college degree. Alexis started college, but then quit. Fear was a factor, since she was going “against the grain,” and many people advised her against leaving college. She had a strong sense from her inner voice and her parents and family members were very supportive, because she comes from a strong entrepreneurial background. Alexis asked for advice from older adults and NOT her peers. As she looks back, she has no regrets, has peace about her path, and is excited about what’s to come in her future!

TWEET: “Choose wisely and be picky about the people you surround yourself with.” #chasingdreams

Your inner circle

What happens when you need to let people go? We’ve all heard how the people in our lives affect us, but we have to be vigilant about our inner circle. The people around you are either assets or liabilities; they either help you grow and add to your value or they slow you down on your journey. Alexis shares how she had to surround herself with entrepreneurs who think big and support her dreams, even though that means she’s not as close with some former “besties” as she was in the past. Alexis learned from Tyler Perry once that some people are leaves---they are around for a season and then they transition away. Others are like branches because they stay longer. Still others are roots that help keep us grounded always.

TWEET: “My responsibility as an older sister and an influencer help keep me in line when stupid ideas cross my mind.” #chasingdreams

Guest Recommendation: ONE action for a dream chaser to take--”Do everything that you are afraid to do. It’s how you’ll grow the most.”

OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE:

• [:05] Alexis’ passion for podcasting
• [4:23]...

What is progress? What does it mean to you? How do you measure it? On this final solo episode of August, we are discussing all things progress. Join us to learn more.

What it takes to chase your dream

Are you willing to put in the work? No dream happens with the snap of your fingers. Any dream requires work to be done and steps to be taken. First, acknowledge your dream, and then put in the work to get the results. Many times you have to figure out what work you need to do to accomplish the goals you desire. Sometimes you may see others who have a seemingly easy time accomplishing the things you may struggle with---it’s frustrating. Remember this: there is no feeling so awesome as knowing your hard work has paid off.

TWEET: Don’t compare your “Chapter 1” to someone else’s “Chapter 20.” #chasingdreams

Run your own race

Are you comparing yourselves to others? Everyone has to run their own race. What I accomplish or don’t accomplish doesn’t affect other people. If its MY goal, then it’s up to me to figure out how to balance life and responsibilities to focus on my goals. When you get past the struggle to get to the goal, then you can learn the lessons that are there for you. You can look back and see what you did right and what you could have done better. Don’t compare yourself to someone else, because you don’t know what their story and their struggles have been.

TWEET: Everyone has to run their own race. #chasingdreams

The myth of overnight success

Have you ever thought that someone was “an overnight success”? The term is a myth. We may think someone has overnight success, but we don’t know the background story and we do them a disservice and dismiss their hard work when we call them an overnight success. Everyone has to pay their dues and your path may deviate from the one someone else took. Don’t put the pressure on yourself to mimic someone else’s progress. You have it within you to accomplish YOUR progress and run YOUR race at your pace. 

OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE:

• [1:06] What progress means
• [3:51} When it’s “A or Bust”
• [8:00] My experience with the CA Bar Exam
• [11:30] Lessons learned and goals accomplished
• [14:37] Don’t compare chapters
• [15:39] Why “overnight success” is a myth
• [17:28] My high school experience and how it differed from college
• [23:06] Don’t mimic someone else’s story

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE:

Aimee on Facebook

Aimee on Twitter

Aimee on Instagram

Subscribe to Chasing Dreams 

TWEETS YOU CAN USE:

TWEET: The first step is to acknowledge your dream. Then you have to do the work. #chasingdreams

TWEET: It’s not just about the end goal, but it’s about the journey. #chasingdreams

TWEET: If you can say you did your best, then be happy with your results. #chasingdreams

https://youtu.be/mbGbvdoFDy4

Who are your friends that you hang out with the most? What are they like? Do they help you in your dream chase? Today’s solo episode is designed to make you think about these questions and more. Are YOU the kind of friend who is supportive to others who are chasing their dreams?

Jim Rohn famously said, “You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” It’s true! Think about your circle of friends and how they affect you--and let’s talk about it.

Relationships will change over time

Who are your “five friends”? Relationships will ebb and flow in the changing seasons of life. Dynamics change about the people you once held dear---and they might not be as close as they once were. One thing that doesn’t change, though, is the way our friends affect us. We need different types of personalities with different strengths and weaknesses in our circle, and we tend to group them according to specific similarities or where we met them.

TWEET: Jim Rohn famously said, “You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” How does your circle measure up? #chasingdreams

The friends you need

Do your friends support you? They may not always know what’s going on or what your difficulties are, but you want them to have your back and be the person you can call at 3 am. You don’t want people around you who are always YES people, but you don’t want those around you to always be negative either. If you’ve ever spent any amount of time with a complaining, negative person, then you know they will wear you down and depress you. Who wants to be around that person all day?

TWEET: You don’t want people around you who are always YES people, but you don’t want those around you to always be negative either. Choose wisely. #chasingdreams

A two-way friendship

Do you surround yourself with people whom you can support? Friendships and relationships go both ways. Be careful not to suck up someone’s support without giving it back to them. Watch out for those who take, take, take! Surround yourself with givers, and not just takers. Look for friends you can count on and those who have ambition to be good leaders and be their best selves. 

TWEET: Be careful not to suck up someone’s support without giving it back to them. #chasingdreams

OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE:

• [1:48] Who are you hanging with?
• [4:48] How we group our friends
• [8:40] Why you don’t want YES people
• [10:17] How negative people wear you down
• [13:33] Who should you surround yourself with?
• [15:40] Be kind in your honesty
• [17:35] Look for friends with ambition
• [18:58] Are your friends leaders?
• [19:25] Some good examples of good friends
• [23:48] Respectful, supportive cheerleaders
• [24:58] Don’t be a moocher!

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE:

Facebook: aimeej21.com/facebook

Twitter: aimeej21.com/twitter

Instagram: aimeej21.com/instagram

Chasing Dreams - https://aimeej21.com/subscribe/

TWEETS YOU CAN USE:

TWEET: “You want a friend who will hold out their hand, walk with you, and say, ‘Let’s do this together’.” #chasingdreams

TWEET: Being around a negative person will make you feel down and depressed. #chasingdreams

TWEET: I don’t have good things in my life if I surround myself with negative people. #chasingdreams

https://youtu.be/ivujKLKUIRo

What keeps you from chasing your dreams? Are you waiting for someone to give you permission to chase your dreams? Many of us do that, not realizing that we don’t need anyone’s permission. Just like last week’s show that reminded us that we are each important and unique, we need to be reminded that we don’t need to wait for anyone’s permission. Let’s explore this topic in today’s special episode with me, myself, and I.

Why are you waiting for permission?

Think about all the things you ask permission for in your life. The one thing you DON’T need permission for is to chase your dreams. Don’t waste your time waiting for permission! We’ve had over 150 guests on the show who have chased their happiness and are better for it. It may not always be easy, but it’s a fulfilling journey. Don’t stay in an unhappy place. It’s YOUR life and YOUR experience and only YOU are responsible for it.

My interesting background

I’ve been chasing dreams my whole life, and it hasn’t been a straight path. I worked at NASA as a computer engineer, but I didn’t feel challenged. I went to law school because I thought it would give me a greater opportunity to help people. I knew I could pursue anything I wanted.

Work-life balance

How important is work-life balance to you? It’s hugely important in my life and has been the impetus behind many decisions I’ve made. I left my job as a patent lawyer and became a contract manager at Comcast, where I learned many skills about making deals and negotiating. I’m happy with my journey and have no regrets. I learned that I’m a team player and I love helping people. Now I’m ready to help my family as my dad has surgery in a couple of weeks. I’ve always given myself permission to chase my dreams, but it wasn’t overnight success.

OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE:

[:50] - Today’s special episode

[1:45] - A recap of last week’s episode

[3:28] - Why we wait for permission to chase our dreams

[6:42] - Chasing happiness isn’t easy

[8:30] - My life of chasing dreams

[8:40] - My interesting background

[11:18] - Finding work-life balance

[13:22] - A good time is NOW

[16:44] - Overnight success is a misunderstood concept

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE:

www.duopix

www.aimeej21.com/duopix

TWEETS YOU CAN USE:

TWEET: “Some of us are so busy waiting for permission that we’re missing out on chasing our dreams.” #chasingdreams

TWEET: ”I would rather work hard for something that makes me happy than take the easy route and be depressed.” #chasing-dreams

TWEET: “I don’t regret any of my career decisions.” #chasingdreams

https://youtu.be/k6wAtMJwcVc