What is a DreamMaker?

My passion for spotlighting DreamMakers is born out of my belief that we all are extraordinary and together we can change the world. My upbringing, education, career choices and my personal journey have convinced me that we all have the capacity to become DreamMakers. My personal mission is to share these “pockets of hope” wherever and however I can, to inspire us to transform our lives, organizations, institutions, and our communities to create a better world.

My Work: I work with leadership teams of organizations to help them to mobilize their people and stakeholders around a shared vision and shared values and to tap into the minds, hearts and imagination of their people to transform their vision and values into reality. I have seen them accomplish amazing results, by any measure.

My First Book: DreamMakers: Putting Vision & Values To Work was published in 1998. It was translated into Portuguese and published by Qualitymark in Brazil in 2002. It features 13 stories of people around the world - leaders of corporations, stories of community leaders and stories about individuals, who made their hopes and dreams come true against tremendous obstacles. People like Joe Brodecki, who led the fundraising to build the Holocaust Museum. He raised nearly 200 million dollars from 300,000 contributors. “People of all ages, from every conceivable race, religion, industry and occupation supported the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum – Campaign to Remember". It also features the Leaders of Surry County who transformed their working class community into one of the best communities for young people and families. They put a strong focus on education, health and recreation. Their work has been sustainable over the past 12 years, in spite of the economic challenges and changing times. In 2010, this largely African American community was selected by America’s Promise Alliance and ING Financial Corporation to join the nation’s 100 Best Communities for Young People. “100 Best, honors communities large and small, rural and urban, that are making progress to help young people achieve their potential, which includes earning a high school diploma, securing a good job, and playing an active, productive role in America's economic vitality”. This book also spotlights the Country of Aruba. They mobilized their citizens and created a shared vision for their country that articulated their highest aspirations for their; people, environment, leadership, education system, businesses, and even their physical, mental and spiritual development.

My Second Book: DreamMakers: Agentes de Transformação (Agents of Transformation) features The Center For Digital Inclusion. The CDI story is extraordinary! This story is without question, the most remarkable example of people transforming lives and communities I have seen anywhere in the world. That is why I spent so much time and attention sharing their story in this blog.

The DreamMakers Documentary: This film tells the very personal stories of an individual, a family and two communities who put their compelling shared vision and values to work to transform their lives. The film tells the stories of people like Mario Rocha, who was sentenced to two consecutive life sentences for a crime he did not commit. During the 10 years he served in the California prison system, he wrote plays and poetry and was known for his optimistic attitude and beautiful spirit. His plays and poetry were performed and read at Berkley and in communities throughout California.  He also inspired many Hispanic men in his neighborhood back home, to dream big. As his brother stated in the film, “If he has the courage to dream in there, what are we doing out here”. Mario Rocha’s sentence was overturned in 2008 and he was released from prison and he is now living his dream, He won a four-year scholarship to George Washington University and is now a social justice advocate.

We all know about famous DreamMakers who have influenced our lives and lifted our spirits: Thomas Jefferson, Albert Einstein, Mahatma Gandhi, Rosa Parks, Helen Keller, Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King, Mother Teresa and many more recognizable figures. The people I call DreamMakers are not those we read about in the headlines every day. They are not necessarily, nor would they identify themselves as heroes or celebrities. They have however discovered and tapped into the extraordinary nature and power we all have within us to change our reality.

Their secret seems to be their attitude; how they think about themselves and the world around them. All of the DreamMakers I have met share some common characteristics. Although they are highly diverse and unique in their own right, they embrace some shared values and perceptions – a way of looking at life that transcends time, culture, ethnic origins, geography, institutions, or circumstances:


Shared Characteristics of DreamMakers

     “As I interviewed people for my books it seemed
     I was always talking to the same person.”

How they see the world: DreamMakers share a sense of responsibility beyond their own lives. They take responsibility for the world they live in and are committed to making it better. They share a characteristic I call “practical optimism.” Although they clearly perceive current reality, they unflinchingly confront it. They have a deep belief that any challenge can be overcome. Their visions are large, deep, and unaffected by cynicism.

How they treat people: DreamMakers share a deep faith in people, their capabilities, potential, and their basic goodness. Interpersonal relationships are precious to them and at the heart of everything they do. They therefore lead their lives, organizations and communities with a reverence for all relationships.

How they make decisions: DreamMakers feel deeply about things. They trust the knowledge and judgment of others. They also trust their own intuition. They sense the benefits and the consequences of their actions. They seem to make decisions with their hearts as well as their minds. And when their logic and their feeling are at odds, they go with their heart.

How they build teams: DreamMakers understand that we are all flawed; nevertheless, they focus on people’s talents and strengths. They build teams that fill our weak spots, allowing us to focus on our strengths and allowing others to compliment us with theirs. They understand the value of collaboration and cooperation in accomplishing goals, getting superior results, and fulfilling our basic human desire for a sense of belonging.

How they use creativity: DreamMakers allow creativity to soar. They share a spirit of invention, believing that any breakthrough idea or product requires an environment that fosters diverse perspectives, experimentation, risk, and play.

How they act: DreamMakers are out of step with the norm, ahead of their time. They succeed not because they lead us to reconcile ourselves with reality but because they help us see we can change it. They share a sense of freedom – freedom to choose their own path and an inability to accept conformity. As Joseph Campbell said, they “follow their bliss.”

How they respond to “failure”: DreamMakers are courageous and resilient. They have all faced tremendous challenges, made mistakes, and “failed”. They have also been able to learn from their “failures” and come back quicker, stronger, and wiser. Indeed, they use their lessons learned to fuel their visions.

How they deal with “fear”: DreamMakers stay focused on their purpose, their vision and values. When feelings of insecurity and anxiousness emerge, they use their compelling vision to lift their minds to their higher purpose. They use their values to remind them of what is truly important in life.

How they learn and grow: DreamMakers have an insatiable appetite for new information and different perspectives. They look to everyone and every situation to learn and grow. They are multidimensional - deeply involved in and with their family, their community, the arts, and the environment, as well as their work. They derive their knowledge and wisdom from all these sources, so their diverse experiences provide them with a rich array of choices and ideas.

How they are anchored: DreamMakers all express their spirituality. They believe they are a part of something much greater and grander than themselves. Some call it God, some call it an “invisible wholeness,” and others refer to it as a “field of energy.” Regardless of what they call it, they sense the deep connection between everyone and everything. They therefore, make decisions and take actions in light of their impact on the world. They feel deeply connected to a higher purpose and a higher power and they see their work as an expression of divine spirit.

All the DreamMakers I have spotlighted have unleashed their gifts of tapping into their creative genius to make their dreams come true. These visionary leaders accomplish extraordinary results, and make a positive difference in people’s lives and in their organizations and communities. They teach us that our future does not depend on our past, or our current circumstances, but rather on discovering who we can become when we follow our passion and fiercely hold on to our dreams.

In short, DreamMakers are people who put their powerful positive vision and values to work to help create a better world.


May all your beautiful hopes and dreams come true!

Michele
Transformation Catalyst
www.dreammakers.org