About a week ago I had an idea that was the biggest, boldest idea I’ve ever had. It came to me in a flash of inspiration during a visioning session with my husband. This idea came from asking ourselves questions like, “How can we make the biggest difference in the world? If we absolutely knew we couldn’t fail, what would we do?”
Very big questions birth very big outrageous answers. If you don’t believe me, ask yourself the same questions. What could you do to make a huge positive impact on the world, knowing that you can’t possibly fail?
When you look at your life with such a big purpose, monumental things are going to happen. Suddenly the mundane things that you were stressing over yesterday seem to disappear and your life is consumed by a greater passion and a bigger purpose.
During the last week while in the incubation stage, I’ve shared our idea with several friends. One good friend commented, “Who are you to do something like this; you’re not Oprah”. At first I was stunned by her comment but the more I thought about it, the more determined I became to make this happen BECAUSE I’m not Oprah! The whole purpose of our idea is to empower others to make a difference in their own way.
If everyone in the world asked himself or herself what they could do to make a positive difference in the world, all kinds of answers would spring forth. The problem occurs when the fear is greater than the faith and those ideas are put on hold because they’re just too audacious, too big and too scary.
Who am I to have a goal this big? Who am I NOT to have a goal this big! I have a good friend that had a huge goal. Instead of questioning herself with “who am I to do this”, she rationalized it by telling herself that someone has to do it, and questioned why she shouldn’t be that someone. She put PostIt notes throughout her house with three little words with one big meaning- “Why Not Me?”. From that, her dream moved into action and within two years she generated over 7.4 million dollars which she donated 100% to orphan charities.
Big things can only happen from big ideas. Those big ideas are gifts, given to us for a reason. And that reason isn’t to put them in our someday bucket along with all the other things we’re going to do “someday”. It’s to take action and move on them today not tomorrow.
Your ideas and your dreams are yours and yours alone. They came to you and not someone else because you’re the one to give them life. Even when you can’t see it, you’ll be shown the way. For with the idea, also comes the inspiration, and from that, the path will be shown.
The fun thing is we don’t have to know the how. Just like this great big idea that I’ll be sharing with you soon… I have no idea how we’re going to pull this off. I just know that we will. The answers will be shown to us. Friends will rally behind this to help us make a difference. Team members with needed talents will be compelled to join us. I could not consciously line up the coincidences that the Universe will unleash in my path. I’ve already seen it in action and I’ve learned not to question it anymore. And the more that I believe this, the faster it works.
I’m doing my part in following the nudges from that inner voice. I know the Universe is also doing its part in unseen ways that will wow and astound me. Does this mean it isn’t scary at all? No, it just means I’m learning to channel scary into exciting and step off the ledge not knowing where I’m going to land. It means that I know I’m a small piece of a much bigger plan, and I intend to show up and do my part to create the beautiful puzzle of life.
What could you do to make a huge positive impact on the world, knowing that you can’t possibly fail? Please share it with me below so we can support you. Then, go do it!
p.s. I promise to share our idea with you very soon!
Gail, I love your site and your message. I wanted to comment because I wanted to twist this idea around a bit. There’s a lot I would do if I knew I would not fail. However, I’d like to suggest that we ask, what would you do even if failure is not only possible, that it is likely? In other words, what would you do that is so worthy and would so expand your world and the world around you – you would do it even if failure was 99%. Isn’t it still worth it? We teach a concept called Go for No – it means that to get what you want, to achieve big things – we are going to get a lot of “no’s” and we are going to fail. If we are growing and pushing, probably the last thing we do in our lives will be failure rather than a success. I know that whatever idea you are exploring (whether it succeeds or fails) will make a massive impact on you and many others and so is totally and completely worthwhile.
I would take our non-profit ReCreation Camp (www.ReCreationCampoc.com) nationwide providing amazing opportunities for happiness, independence and growth for children and adults with disabilities and the youth that volunteer with them. All would benefit. In fact, even if I do fail, I will go out trying. There is too much good to be had from this idea and I must make it happen. I must. And I know that if I can tell enough people about it, let enough people experience it, they too will understand the joy it brings and will in turn believe in our dream and want to make it a reality and failure will beome less and less of an option. Thank you for asking this question.
Dream Big.
M.
Gail, I started following you today on Twitter and I love your site. We all can’t be Oprah and there is something to be said for not being Oprah. I want to be my own person and have my own success and my talents are different than Oprah’s. Three years ago I decided to go back to consulting but as an independent instead of working for someone else. There was a mortgage and car payments to consider and I didn’t have a really good business plan. Just knew I had to do something different that I was doing. I only worked a couple of small jobs and spoke once in 1st 6 weeks. Haven’t had time to hardly stand still since. What a blessing to have choices and be able to do what you like doing. My success has enabled me to support the different causes that I am involved in and provided me with the financial freedom I have been craving for a number of years.
One of my favorite quotes is “Life is a journey, not a destination”. I am enjoying my wild, crazy life, hectic travel schedule and all. Keep up the good work.
That’s a very impressive question and one that is incredibly powerful. It has made me think in a new way. It clarifies a lot of things and helps focus attention and energy. Thank you for asking that question and sharing your thoughts. You’re right, why not me? Honestly, there’s not a good answer why I shouldn’t try for more, much more.
If failure were not an option:
– I would build up a fabulously interesting blog (or two) and create a web presence to be proud of
– I would finish – and publish – my novels. No, I would become known as a great and loved writer
My dreams are simple. I want people to read and love my words. And me. Yea, I’d kinda like them to love me, too.
I would become the Ambassador of Self Esteem for the World
AND
I would rescue all teenage prostitutes around the globe through my non-profit
Terrific question from your wonderful blog!
– I would move to St John (away from LA) in the USVI and start a Raw Food Private Chef service with my hubby. Plus film daily vidcasts about abundance. Both things would be in the hopes of creating a more peaceful planet.
Wow. Your question brought the answer to me so quickly. Amazing!
Gail, Excellent post! I am so excited for you! “Who am I not to have a goal this big” is still ringing in my head. I believe I can achieve anything I desire if I simply make the decision to do so. My big goal or I Am Statement which I read every day is: “I am positively affecting the lives of millions of people through humanitarian projects I personally create, fund, or participate in”. I absolutely know I will achieve this goal and look forward to the moment when I realize this has happened. until then I am always looking for new ways to continue on this path knowing everything I am doing now is leading to my next project on my journey.
Wow the possibilities would really be endless! There are so many things that I usually talk myself out of because I convince myself that I’ll fail. Very Inspiring. Thank you!