As an athlete, you know how important practice is. Without practice, you’d never be ready to compete at your very best during game time. That’s why I spent four months practicing for my first marathon by running mile after mile after mile.

Even after all that practice, though, I was still scared I wouldn’t be able to finish the marathon on race day because I had never competed in any kind of race before. (Last week I told you about the scary nightmares I had for several nights before the race.)

So when it came time to step up to the starting line the morning of the race, I was still scared. Strangely enough, however, that fear slowly went away as I started actually running the marathon.

My parents waved me on at mile two and mile four. I knew I wouldn’t see them again until the halfway point, so I smiled, waved and kept going, counting down the miles.

Each time I passed a mile-marker, I was more motivated to find the next one. But as much as I loved watching the numbers grow, I looked forward to the water stations the most. (The water stations were set up every two miles along the course.) I gulped a cup of water or All Sport at each one. The urge to hug the volunteers handing me the fabulous liquids grew stronger with each station.

I reached mile 13.1 faster than I expected to. My breathing was normal. My pace was steady. And I only had half the original distance ahead of me. The race was going better than I could have ever imagined. Even if I took a little longer to run the second half, I’d still finish in my goal of four hours and thirty minutes. I’d even be able to sprint the final stretch like I had always dreamed of doing.

For an added boost of confidence, I spotted my parents in the crowd and waved. They waved back, and I kept running with only 13.1 miles to go.

What I didn’t know was that the real challenges were about to begin.

At mile 15, my feet started complaining. Then both my knees started to hurt. My muscles didn’t want to be left out and started doing some complaining of their own.

I was sore. I was tired. I was ready to quit. Especially when I didn’t see the mile-marker for mile 16 where I thought it was supposed to be. I figured my pace had gotten super duper slow and that I would never be able to make it to the finish line. Until I finally saw the marker for mile 17. (I somehow missed the 16 mark altogether.)

I was so happy to see the number 17 on that sign that tears of joy filled my eyes. I was making progress after all. Slowly and painfully, I was making progress.

The pain, torture and agony stuck with me throughout the next six miles. Up hills. Down hills. Around curves. Through grass. I was starting to believe that even if that finish line did really exist, I was now running way to slow to ever find it.

And sprinting the final stretch? What a fantasy. I was going to be thrilled just to be able to cross the finish line on my hands and knees.

Suddenly, 23 appeared on a sign beside the road. The war between my muscles to decide what part of me hurt the most quieted knowing I only had three miles left.

Then two.

Then one.

I was almost done.

More people lined the streets the closer I got to the finish line. They clapped and yelled and cheered. They still thought I was a runner. Maybe they were right. Maybe I’d prove it.

As I closed in on the finish, my feet and knees and muscles banded together for one last burst. I passed other weary runners.

The crowd noticed.

They called out my number.

I sprinted faster.

The finish came in to view.

A few more yards.

A few more feet.

Done.

I was done.

I finished a marathon.

It took me four hours and thirty-one minutes, but I was done. I just made a dream I once believed impossible come true because I kept going even though I was scared, doubted myself and just plain hurt the last half of the race.

When it comes to living your dreams “on the field” or off, you simply need to keep going. That’s how you reveal the CHAMPION in you.

To your sports dreams,
Bonnie Jean

Last week we talked about making your characters seem as real as possible.  I explained that one way to do that is to give them a past by writing some super short stories about things that have happened to your characters before the story starts.  These aren’t stories anyone will read; they’re stories to write so YOU get to know your characters better.

The better you know your characters, the more real they’ll seem in your story.

Which is why today we’ll talk about another way to make your characters seem more real:  give them a future.  In other words, set some goals for your characters.

Here are five goal-setting ideas to get you started:

1. What is your character’s BIG DREAM?  Why?

2. Who is someone your character would like to meet?  Why?

3. What is one thing your character wants to do that she’s never done before?  Why?

4. Where is a place your character would like to visit?  Why?

5. What is one thing your character would like to have?  Why?

The more you know about what she wants and why, the more real she will seem in the main story you want to tell.

It’s ACTION time. Go write something about your character’s future.  (While you’re at it, answer those five questions about yourself, too!)

To your writing dreams,
Bonnie Jean

Did you make a great grade on a test or project?  Did you meet a new friend?  Did you help a friend? 

Did you FIND a WAY to DO what you DREAM?

Leave a comment and share one, two, three or ten of your top successes this week!

To your dreams,
Bonnie Jean

P.S.  Here are my top three successes:

1.  I visited a friend in the hospital and made dinner for his family.
2.  I wrote 19 pages of an ebook that shows you the 7 steps to unshakable confidence, unbreakable dreams and unstoppable success (I plan to finish the ebook for you next week!).
3.  I passed my test and became a certified shift supervisor for my job at Starbucks.

Last week we talked about the first of three questions you should ask when starting a business: WHY do you want to start a business?

Ready for question number 2? Good, because here it is…

WHO do you want help?

If you can’t help make someone’s life a little better with your business, you won’t be very successful. But if you can add super value to someone’s life through what you offer in your business, you’ll be super successful.

So who can benefit from your business?

Business is all about the people you can help, so the more clear you are about who you can help, the better chance you have to make your business work.

Take 10-15 minutes right now to brainstorm ideas about your ideal customer. Consider questions like:

• How old is she?
• What activities does she like to do?
• What kinds of things frustrate her, worry her or make her scared?
• What kinds of things does she want and make her happy?
• How will your business improve her life?

The more focused you are on your customer, the more successful you will be in business at any age!

To your business dreams,
Bonnie Jean

Last week I shared some of the fears and doubts I had when training for my first marathon.  (Click here to read it.)

But even after four intense months of training, my fears and doubts never went away.  If anything, they got worse.

Because once my training was done, the nightmares started. The Thursday night before the Sunday race, I dreamt I did not make it to Raleigh because I forgot about the marathon.  That meant all my training was now worthless.

Friday night, I dreamt I made it to Raleigh but couldn’t find the starting line on the day of the race. I asked people where to go. They kept pointing me in different directions. I never made it to the starting line. I never got to run.

Even though my dreams left me feeling quite uneasy, I traveled to Raleigh with my parents on Saturday. Being in the city meant my first nightmare wouldn’t come true.  But I was still worried about the second one. 

I was also worried I would oversleep, so I woke up several times throughout the night.  If I overslept, I wouldn’t have time to eat my banana and bagel for breakfast, and I wouldn’t be able to follow any fellow runners to the starting line. They would all be there by the time I woke up and I would get lost.

When the alarm finally sounded early Sunday morning, I gladly got out of bed and went through my normal morning routine. Then my parents and I walked out of the hotel and followed the crowd to the starting line.

Thousands of people with numbers pinned to their shirts and timing chips attached to their shoelaces stretched and jogged and milled around waiting for the race to begin. I looked down at my own shirt and my own shoelace. I looked like everyone else. I looked like a runner.

That’s when the doubts kicked in.

I was sure everyone knew I was just pretending. Didn’t they know I didn’t belong? They’d know when the race began. They’d pass me and laugh and wonder why I was trying to be something I had never been before, something I couldn’t be today: a runner.

Before I had a chance to cry or run away, a man ordered all the runners to the starting line. I took my place among the other numbered shirts. I was here. My second nightmare couldn’t come true. So what was going to keep me from running?  I was sure something wouldn’t keep me from living my dream of running a marathon.

It wouldn’t be an early December snowstorm. The sun shining in the clear blue sky made it warm enough for me to be comfortable in my short-sleeved shirt and shorts.

So what would it be? I wasn’t sick. I wasn’t hurt. I wasn’t–the starting gun exploded.

I was scared.  I was TERRIFIED.  But I reacted anyway.  I surged forward with the crowd and began competing in my very first race.

Next week I’ll share how the actual race went and let you know if I was able to overcome my fears and doubts and live my dream of finishing a marathon.

In the meantime, think about what kinds of things make you feel scared and doubtful when you’re about to compete. 

Do you let those feelings stop you from taking action? 

Why or why not? 

Please share your answers in the comment section.

To your sports dreams,
Bonnie Jean

One of the most important parts of writing a story is writing about characters who seem like real people. Then your readers will enjoy reading your story because they’ll want to know more about who your characters are and what they are going to do next.

A way to help YOU believe your characters are real is to give them a past. What do I mean by that?

Well, write a few super short stories about things that have happened to your characters before your story starts.

Here are five ideas to get you started:

1. Write about the day your character spoke his first word. How old was he? What did he say? Who heard him say the word?

2. Write about your character’s first day of kindergarten. What was his teacher’s name? Was he excited, scared, happy or sad?

3. Write about your character’s 7^th birthday. Who was at his party? What gifts did he get? What did his cake taste like?

4. Write about a time your character broke his arm. How old was he? Which arm did he break? What was he doing that caused him to get hurt?

5. Write about your character’s biggest success in the fourth grade. Did he win some sort of contest? Did he learn how to play a new sport? Did he get on the news for rescuing a hurt animal?

You can write about any of the above story ideas or come up with some creative ideas of your own. The purpose is just to give you a chance to get to know your character.

The more you know about his background, the more real he will seem in the main story you want to tell.

It’s ACTION time. Go write something about your character’s past!

To your writing dreams,
Bonnie Jean

It could be something simple like keeping your room clean or turning all your homework in on time.  Or it could be something big like the actions you took to FIND a WAY to DO what you DREAM.

Focus on all the good, positive things you did this week, then leave a comment and share one, two, three or ten of your top successes!

To your dreams,
Bonnie Jean

Starting a business at any age is an exciting adventure. It’s so exciting that you’re probably eager to dive right in and start selling something so you can start making money.

But if you jump in without a plan, your chances of success go way down. Like with any goal you’re chasing, it’s important to plan first, then DO the things you planned.

Before you even start writing your plan, though, you should ask yourself three very simple, very important questions:

• Why?
• Who?
• What?

We’ll start with the first question today: WHY?

Why do you want to start a business?

Spend about 10-15 minutes brainstorming answers to this question…without using the word money.

Of course you want to make money because money is important, but don’t let that be your main reason for being in business. Your reason for starting a business should come from the heart. It should be something you’re passionate about and express how you want to make a difference in this world.

For example, I started a business called Dream Doers Publishing because I want to publish books, cds, videos and other information type products that teach you how to always find a way to do what you dream when you stick to your strengths.

The main part of my business right now is this Dream Doer League. And the purpose of the Dream Doer League is to shape a community of young adult Dream Doers who live with unshakable confidence, chase their unbreakable dreams and experience unstoppable success as they grow to become leaders in the home, the church, the business world and the political world.

I am in business to help you DO what you DREAM.

So why do you want to start your business? Leave a comment and let me know!

To your dreams,
Bonnie Jean

The athlete in me sees an Olympic gold medalist. Or the winners of the World Series. Or a state championship team.

In other words, the athlete in me sees a person or team who wins and experiences that awesome feeling of conquering the competition. Of being the best.

At least that’s what I used to see. Until I started coaching sports and running road races.

When I first started coaching high school softball, I saw a team of athletes that I wanted to turn into champions. To me, that meant beating the competition. Winning games.

But I had a problem. All I saw were athletes, competitors who wanted to be pushed to their limits to win games.

So I pushed them.

And they didn’t much like the way I coached.

See, I didn’t take the time to figure out who they were as people. I didn’t take the time to figure out why they liked to play softball and what they wanted to accomplish that season.

After the end of that frustrating, miserable, losing season, I decided I never wanted to coach again.

Those girls didn’t become champions because I didn’t understand what a champion really is.

I stayed away from coaching high school for two years.

In the meantime, I ran a marathon.

Deciding to run the marathon was a tough choice because I knew with my super slow Schaefer speed that I had no chance of winning.

None.  Zero.  Zip.  Nada.

Why would I want to compete in something where the chances of me winning were zero? It didn’t make sense to me to want to run. Because I wanted to be a champion. I wanted to win.

Then at the end of one of my training runs, it hit me. I wasn’t competing against the other runners. I was competing against me.

As long as I finished that marathon, I would beat me. Because 26.2 miles was a longer distance than I had ever run before. And because it was a dream of mine.

SO….I believe a champion is someone who pursues a dream or goal or objective–no matter how big or how small. A champion is someone who TAKES ACTION toward their dreams.  A champion is someone who enjoys working hard, never makes excuses and finds a way to do what she dreams. 

That’s my definition of a champion. What’s yours? Please leave a comment and let me know.

To your dreams,
Bonnie Jean

Then you’ll want to pay special attention to the Thursday posts.  This is where I’ll be sharing what I’m doing to reach my business goals, show you how to start and succeed in your own business and teach you important money management tips.

By the way, you can be a kid and an entrepreneur at the same time.  Want proof?  Then check out this cool site to meet all kinds of kids who have started all kinds of successful businesses.

So…what kind of business do you want to start?

To your dreams,
Bonnie Jean