Make Your Dreams Come True
By: Barbara Johnson

We often make the mistake of looking outside ourselves for approval. The problem is that outside approval is fickle, fleeting and very often superficial at best. Worse, as we chase after external measures of our success we often create a false persona who bears little relationship to who we truly are. Just whose dreams are we making come true anyway? How can we reclaim our own dreams and live a successful life that is based on our inner convictions? Four Kansas City women tell how they are successfully making their own dreams come true.

Elaine persevered through a series of formidable obstacles to become a highly acclaimed professional TV editor. She won two regional Emmys for documentary editing, the national MDA music video award, and the Gabriel award for documentary editing. A few years ago she left her secure and successful corporate career to embark on her own path as president and owner of the very successful and growing video and television production company, Vision Teleproduction, Inc.

Elaine’s mother passed away when she was 15 years old and by 16, Elaine already had a child. At 18 she was living on her own with few means of support. At 28, she watched a dear friend die at a very young age of Sickle Cell Anemia. She says that what accounts for her success despite difficult odds: “I have learned what is really important from loss. Life itself is the miracle. I also know that every stride you make, every inch you crawl strengthens you. Each effort put forth adds up and makes the difference between success and failure. Early in life I started praying and literally saying to myself, “I dare you.” Once I started figuring out that there are much larger forces in the universe supporting me, getting me through and saving me, I came to believe that when I deny myself challenges I am denying the life force itself, my God-given ability. I have also discovered that giving-up is required too. Anger, hatred and resentment must be faced and unmasked as debilitating impediments. In the willingness to meet fear and let go, a new and abundant life emerges.”

At 55, Sharyl left everything she knew behind to move to a new state and establish the very successful Horizon Academy, a private school that enables children with learning disabilities to reach their fullest potential. It was a turning point in her life to start something big, and leave old patterns and limitations behind. Sharyl is now the executive director of a school that has far exceeded everyone’s expectations, and has received wide public acclaim.

Sharyl grew up severely challenged by dyslexia. She couldn’t read until she was in 6th grade. She learned to derive great strength from her suffering. Her method of overcoming obstacles to personal success: “When you are dyslexic you are failing all the time, so it becomes not about failure anymore. If you want to call it failure, then I say, failure is not devastating to me anymore. With all the mistakes I make, I can’t afford the luxury of taking myself so seriously. I also make a point of listening to ’the still small voice within’ and use this as my compass. Life to me is a process where your core can become stronger and stronger. I have found post-midlife fertile ground for asking the deep and profound questions: What is my purpose? Have I fulfilled my purpose?”

PamelaÕs life reflects her strong belief that when you live your life from inner conviction, many doors open. In the corporate world she pioneered an innovative part-time career track that allowed her to balance work and family while keeping her benefits and advancing her career. Recently, she cut a new model for all the women in her family, being the first to start her own business.

Early in her life, Pamela realized that she needed to act on what she believed was right for her rather than orchestrate her life decisions to gain approval from others. “This was the beginning of my statement, this is who I am.” Many years into her successful corporate career, Pamela forged a new way by acting from this inner conviction. She knew that when she began her family, she wanted to work part-time, while continuing to progress in her career and retain benefits. This career track was not an option in her company. However, Pamela made her desire a reality. Her keys to success are vision, determination, and a willingness to stand up to corporate traditions. She recalls, “I was so clear and resolute that others decided to see if I could make it work. In my part-time capacity, I continued to advance in my career and lead teams with the same effectiveness as I had in my full-time capacity. In addition, I was able to retain my benefits. I pioneered a way of making this model work.” Recently, she has founded her own business, Clarity For You, where she offers models for dynamically rethinking business strategies. “At first I was not making much money but I just kept putting one foot in front of the other and relaxing into trusting the process of life on a much deeper level than I ever had before. I came to know at the core of my being that the universe provides absolutely. In very short order, I had enough business and was making a lot more money than I ever had.”

Several years ago, Cheryl masterminded a successful not-for-profit that uses innovative techniques to assist youth as they pass from childhood to adulthood, the Earth School. Cheryl has been a pioneer throughout much of her career, breaking new ground on all levels by developing powerful, lucrative, and service oriented business models. Presently, she is Vice President of Client Services for CSG Partners, a career transition firm in Kansas City.