If you’ve ever had a big dream, you’ve probably wanted to shout it from the rooftops. But if you’ve also had experiences with people telling you that you’re silly or that you’re being unrealistic, chances are high that you are more interesting in keeping your new dreams to yourself. Is this the right thing to do? In terms of motivation, having as many people as possible involved in your goals can help you keep your motivation high when you’re having troubles sticking to the plan. However, the question becomes: is there a better time to start spreading the news?
Are You Really Ready?
The first thing you need to keep in mind when you are getting ready to start a dream plan is that you need to have the right tools in place. For example, if you’re planning on starting a business, you need to have the research done and the initial ideas on paper. This will help you not only know your direction for your dream, but also this will help you with any questions that come up from those you tell. Having a plan also provides motivation that you’re on the right track at any point in the process.
Have You Already Begun?
The problem many people run into when they are deciding to tell others about their plans is that they typically haven’t started anything yet, so when others show their displeasure in an idea, it can prevent the plans from even beginning. Instead, wait until you’re a few steps into your goal process so that you can show that you have already gotten some results and that you have already moved into a new direction for your life.
Spreading the word will make you accountable, but it can also be terrifying when you’re trying to make big changes in your life. Instead of trying to tell everyone you know, start by getting things going – and then people can celebrate your success instead of questioning it.
Have a most outstanding day
Sean Rasmussen
Success Communicator
SeanRasmussen.com © 2004 – 2008
{ 12 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi Sean,
I just found your blog today via BlogCatalog.com. Love it! This post is so important that every person considering their own business should read it. In fact as I scrolled through all of your recent posts, I see such great information here. And in nice little bite-sized chunks that don’t overwhelm. Terrific!
With appreciation,
Tracy
Thank you Tracy! It’s always nice to hear from people who show their appreciation. I look forward to hearing from you (and others) again.
Regards Sean
Hi! Your Post “To Start Spreading the News” is very interesting for me. Unfortunately my written English is not so good so I write in German: Dir, meinem liebsten, geh
I definitely agree with this post. Telling people about goals is a great way to motivate and keep oneself accountable. It is one thing to let a goal drift off and never be fulfilled if nobody else knows about it. However, once someone knows about it then there is much more incentive to achieve that goal.
But you are also right in pointing out that it is important to take action before spreading the news about one’s goals. There is always a risk when sharing goals that the people being told about a goal will try to sabotage that goal, whether by criticising the abilities of the person making the goal, or questioning whether the goal itself can be achieved by anyone.
Having the initial steps already taken care of before sharing a goal not only enables them to help celebrate in the steps taken so far, but even more importantly helps to prevent doubt from creeping in. This doubt could otherwise steal the dreams before they even start to become reality. Plus if the goal is really audacious, then having already started working towards that goal makes it sound bit more credible, rather than some sort of far fetched idea.
Tom McEwin´s last blog ..Getting Targeted Internet Traffic and a Hungry Crowd
That is definitely the right attitude Tom.
For a long time I refused to tell anybody about any of my true wants or vision for my future due to the fear of either being ridiculed or giving into any doubt that I would attract from others who knew my dreams.
Cemil´s last blog ..Masterchef Australia Winner
I started singing when I read the title of this post. I wanted to join with Frank Sinatra in singing “New York, New York”.
When is the best time to spread the news? When you have made a decision and are ready to make a commitment. There is a subtle difference between talking to people for research and fact/opinion finding and spreading the word. If a person “spreads the word” and then changes their mind then clearly they weren’t really committed.
I once told a boss what my vision was and I didn’t get another promotion after that until my boss retired. Then I did quite well. But that experience stopped me from sharing my vision with others. So much so that when I was promoted to managerial positions and I did courses with other managers, I found I was surrounded by dozens of high achieving people from many aspects of life, and then there was me with nothing to say, and no achievements to put on the table. Yet I have since excelled in my field in which I specialize. But I had passion, an inner fire, so I didn’t need help from others to stay motivated.
Wal Heinrich´s last blog ..Internet Marketing Why? How?
Hi Sean,
This post reminds me of a story I once read about Arnold Schwarzenegger. I remember reading that he was unhappy with how one particular part of his body looked. I can’t quite remember if it was his calves, but I think it was.
Anyhow, the point is that he stopped hiding this part of his body and made a point of making it noticeable. Obviously he copped a lot of flack from his friends. But, he said that the constant ridicule forced him to work on it until it was no longer an issue.
I think you’d have to be pretty strong emotionally to try this but if you realize why you’re doing it, it might just be the most effective thing ever.
I have read the same thing Jazz. I remember that he actually cut off all of his pants at the knee to bring that extra attention to it. I guess this was his way of forcing him into action.
Cemil´s last blog ..Masterchef Australia Winner
Great point here.
I’ve not been one to ’spread the news’, and here’s another paradigm to dissolve. Thank you
Jo Carey-Bradshaw´s last blog ..Empowering Mindset – Mindfulness
Hey Sean,
I would say that the best time to start ’spreading the word’ is definitely after you have started and found yourself with the first crumbs of success and progress. That way, as you said, you can shoot down any opposition’s negativity with results.
However, another reason to hold of, is so that you can give people the chance to question YOU about what you are doing, rather than having to tell them. That way, they are asking out of genuine interest, which is far more supportive and encouraging. Once you’ve started on your path, it will obviously take up time, and those around you will become curious as to what it is that you are doing with your time.
With regard to Wal’s post, while I don’t know what the details of his work, his vision and his position was, it sounds like his boss may have found his vision a threat, which could have accounted for the lack of promotion until that boss retired. My assumption is that Wal may not have explained his vision in a manner which demonstrated how it would be a win/win for both Wal and his boss (assuming this vision was a work related one).
Cheers,
Pete
Pete´s last blog ..peteboyr: @bullhunter Thanks, Sean. Just reviewing the webinar, and will get to your blogs after that. Big night ahead, pizza on the way!
Thanks Sean,
This is great advice as I have the same view with what I am doing here with internet marketing. There is nothing worse than having your bubble burst by skeptics before you have even got your ideas & plans off the ground so sometimes I feel it is better to get a few results before rushing off to spread the news of what your doing.
jeremy´s last blog ..jlagatule- RT @tonyrobbins For you night owls still upCome be the first to have a sneak peak of R Breakthrough insiders site http-bitly-caSRxw