BOLD & SAVVY Magazine September-October Issue | Page 5

Since 2011, I have been encouraging you to “Make A BOLD Move.” We emphasize the word BOLD, because to do something spectacular -- that thing we’ve dreamed of doing, will take extraordinary, courageous BOLD action. The dream is there. The skills and network may be there. But if no forward movement is made, the BOLD Move is nothing more than selling wolf tickets.

Perhaps you are not familiar with the term, “selling wolf tickets.” Let me define it for you. According to the online dictionary of slang (yes, there is such a thing), to sell wolf tickets is defined as:

Verb: to not tell the truth. Origin: the boy who cried wolf. Term was used in N.Y.C. in the Seventies. It means "Talking TOUGH!" Trying to intimidate through the use of words. (http://onlineslangdictionary.com/meaning-definition-of/sell-wolf-tickets).

Is this what you’re doing when you talk about your dreams? If so, I’m asking you to stop. Perhaps you aren’t aware that’s what you’ve been doing, so here are three symptoms that might indicate you have been selling wolf tickets:

1. There is a life changing dream that is urgent and must be completed right away that

suddenly turns trivial.

2.You have perfected a sales script but not the follow through or product development.

3.Your supporters ignore your urgent requests for help, just like the boy in the story.

The cure: Treat your dream like it matters. Develop a plan.

A. Decide what the dream really is – outside of others opinions or your little girl fantasy (ouch). What is it that you want to accomplish before you leave this earth?

B. Create a time line starting with today and ending with the accomplishment of said dream that includes any skills you need to add or enhance, and that makes allowances for delays or setbacks. Those things are a part of the process and if you’ve made allowances for them you won’t be discouraged by the delay.

C.Build your team on paper. Objectively who you will need to help you (and yes you will need help). Will that person/those people be paid? Will you look for someone you can barter with? (I don’t advise doing too much of that). What can you offer those people to help you build your dream? What’s in it for them if you don’t have money to pay?

D.Anticipate objections from potential and develop your product or service to overcome those objections. If you need to do a focus group with family or friends, put together an informal gathering and ask for the truth about the product or service you offer.

If you have been selling wolf tickets and you know it, you have probably lost some faith in yourself. We don’t just sell wolf tickets to other people; we sell them to ourselves too. Honestly evaluate the reason behind your failure to follow through on your dreams. If the dream you are pursuing is not your dream but that of someone else, return it to them with an offer of support, if you can while you pursue what you were created to do.

But What's Your Plan?

Michele Aikens

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