Ngahi Bidois: New ideas... then dream on

I was talking to a speaker buddy about goals and objectives when our conversation turned to dreams and aspirations. He took me through a process to see how good my dreams were, which I would now like to take you through if you are willing to do so.

Think of one of your dreams. A new house, car, career, invention ...

Keeping your dream in mind, I would like you to answer yes or no to these questions to determine how SMART your dream is:

Is your dream specific? Can it be clearly defined and is it simple?

Is your dream measurable? Can it be measured in time, value, money or hours?

Is your dream achievable? Can you attain your dream? Is it actionable?

Is your dream realistic? Can you resource it and is it reachable?

Is your dream timely? Is it tangible, trackable and time-framed?

If you answered yes to any of the above questions in relation to your dream then I am sorry to inform you that your dream has failed the dream test and you may be pleased to know that you are not a dreamer.

If you answered no to all of the questions above then your dream is a good one and congratulations because in my opinion the world needs more dreamers.

When it comes to dreamers think of people such as Steve Jobs or Richard Branson. They are two examples of dreamers who thought outside the box creatively and brought us incredible technology along with the ability for people to fly into space without having to be qualified astronauts.

As an international leadership speaker, I am privileged to meet many dreamers who have made their dreams a reality. People like Mark Ingles, who climbed Mount Everest with no legs, or Sir Ray Avery, 2010 New Zealander of the Year, who will help millions of blind people to see.

So how are your dreams going? If you failed the above test I encourage you to dream bigger.

Just remember, when it comes to dreaming, it pays not to be too SMART.

Ngahihi o te ra is from Te Arawa and is an international speaker, author and consultant. His book is available at Mcleods book store and the Lakeside café in Rotorua. His website can be viewed at www.ngahibidois.com