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

If you’re a strong Dreamer, imagining those great things is easy for you. You love to imagine who you can be. What you can do. Where you can go.

In the imagination of a Dreamer, anything is possible.

But fear makes it tough to live your dreams. Fear of the unknown. Fear of failure. Fear of success.

As long as you let that fear stop you and prevent you from becoming all that God put you on earth to become, you’ll remain just a Dreamer and never become an unshakable, unbreakable, unstoppable champion Dream Doer.

When you choose to be satisfied with who you are and just dream about the things that are possible, you’ll never find a way to do what you dream.

Maybe, however, you’re a strong Doer. For you, taking action is easy. You’re always on the go and doing something. You are constantly busy.

But you may not always be busy doing something productive because of distractions. Lack of focus. No concentration.

Because even though you do things, you don’t really get anywhere. You just move from one thing to the next without planning or stopping to really dream of the possibilities life has to offer.

So Dreamers dream but get nothing done.

Doers do but get nowhere.

But a Dream Doer? Now you’re talking success.

A Dream Doer has the courage to imagine great things AND take action.

A Dream Doer makes the most out of life. A Dream Doer sees what she wants, believes she can get it and takes action to achieve her dreams.

A Dream Doer is a Champion.

So what about you? Are you a Dreamer? A Doer? Or a Champion Dream Doer?

To your dreams,
Bonnie Jean

I’m doing something about all of those dreams right now.  Which is why I’ll be sharing my progress with you along the way.  My goal is to be your coach so you can learn how to find a way to DO what you DREAM, too.

Speaking of your dreams, what is it you want?

Who do you want to be?

What do you want to do?

What do you want to have?

Why?

And what questions do you have about gaining confidence?  Chasing your dreams?  Being successful?

Please leave your questions in the comment section below.  I promise to answer any question you ask to the best of my knowledge and ability.  (I may even highlight your question in a future Friday post!)

To your dreams,
Bonnie Jean

Ever feel like you have no control over your own life?  Like you have no freedom?  Like you have to spend your time doing what other people tell you to, not what YOU want to do?

I had one of those days today.

After I got home from work, I spent the rest of my day working on a project for work that had to be done by 6:00 tomorrow morning.

I wanted to spend the rest of my day writing and editing a script so that I could be ready to record a video for you tomorrow that reveals my super simple confidence building formula. 

But by the time I finished my work project, I was too tired to get any quality writing or editing done on the script.  Grrr…

Still, I wanted to find a way to do something I WANTED TO DO today, something I had control over, something I chose to do that would be a way for me to live my dreams.

Otherwise I would go to bed all frustrated.  Then I would wake up feeling all grumpy.  And that would be a lousy start to a fresh new day.

So I made a choice to write this blog entry.  This is what I consider fun and enjoyable.  This is me living my dreams. 

And now that I’m coming to the end of this entry, I no longer feel out of control, frustrated and annoyed that I had to spend my day doing what my boss needed me to do.  I remembered that I am a Champion Dream Doer, and that I always find a way to do what I dream—no matter what.

So how did you find a way to live your dreams today?

To your dreams,
Bonnie Jean

Today was just a regular, ordinary day.  I went to work, came home, did a workout.  Nothing special.  Then I did some reading to learn more about how to set and achieve goals.  (Learning is so much fun!)

After a late dinner, I finally buckled down and spent an hour writing my book.  I wrote six pages in that hour and got to exactly the place in the story I wanted to get to.

I didn’t have to write today.  Nobody told me I had to write a certain amount of words or a certain amount of pages.  Nobody is checking up on me to see if hit my writing goal.  Nobody is even going to read the words I wrote today.  (This draft will go through A LOT of editing before anybody would even want to read it!)

So why did I write when it would have been easier to do nothing?

Because I have made a choice to do something about my dream of being an author.  This dream ‘fits’ me because it allows me to use my natural strengths and abilities.  That’s what makes writing fun for me. 

You have the power to make that same choice.  You have the power to choose to do what you dream every regular ordinary day.  You don’t have to wait for someone to give you permission.  You don’t have to wait until you’re old enough.  You don’t have to wait until you know enough. 

You can start NOW.  You can always find a way to do what you dream when you stick to your strengths.

So go.  Find something you love to do and go do it.  Turn your regular ordinary day into a Dream Doer Day!

To your dreams,
Bonnie Jean

When I got home from my job at Starbucks this afternoon, I had a horrible, horrible headache.  All I wanted to do what curl up and take a nap and make the headache go away.

But I really want to be able to run an 8:00 mile on Saturday, so I needed to practice running some sprints today.  That’s why I got into my running gear, laced up my sneakers and made myself run.

I did what I didn’t want to do because I knew it would help me reach my running goal for this week.  When you do what you don’t want to do because you know it’s the right thing for you to do, that, my friend, is called ‘Champion Time.’ 

Champion Time is the time you spend out of your comfort zone pushing yourself to be a little bit better and a little bit stronger than you believed you could be. 

Champion Time is the time you spend being passionate, being disciplined, being focused, being courageous and being consistent.

Champion Time is the time you spend finding a way to live your dreams.

For instance, my headache did not go away after my run.  Still, I knew I wanted to write at least five pages of my novel today to help me get closer to my weekly goal of writing 25 pages of my novel.

So even though I once again didn’t feel like doing what I knew I should do—writing—I sat down at my computer and wrote anyway.

That’s when the strangest thing happened.  When I was in the ‘Champion Zone’ as a writer, I got so absorbed in my story that I forgot about my headache.  That’s how I ended up writing nine pages of my novel in 90 minutes.  What fun progress!

Did you set aside some Champion Time for you today?  How did you find a way to live your dreams?

To your dreams,
Bonnie Jean

How did you find a way to live your dreams today?

Even though I didn’t hit my target of writing 3,000 words on my novel today, I did write 1,254 words.  I may not have gotten the results I wanted, but at least I made some progress.

I didn’t make writing a priority today, which is why I missed my target.  I let other little things get in my way and keep me from writing.  Although I love to write, it does require energy and effort.  That’s why I kept putting off my writing time.  Because I procrastinated, I ran out of time at the end of the day.

I am the one who is responsible for not achieving my goal.  I didn’t give my best focus and commitment today; that’s why I missed my target.  So instead of making excuses, I’m going to take responsibility and learn from my mistakes.

What can I do differently tomorrow to make sure I hit my target of writing 3,000 words in a day?  I can make sure I block out enough time to write 3,000 words.  If I focus, I know I can write that many words of a really bad draft in two hours.

So my plan for tomorrow is to block out two hours in the afternoon (once I get home from working at Starbucks) to write.  I know that’s what it will take to hit my target; now I just need to follow through.

I’ll check back in with you tomorrow to let you know how I do.

In the meantime, let me know how YOU are doing.  Are you finding a way to live your dreams everyday?  Leave a comment and share your story with me!

To your dreams,
Bonnie Jean

That’s why I’m making achieving my goals—like writing my second novel—into a sport.  I get to practice my writing.  I get to play games with my writing.  I get to earn points for my writing. 

And the sport of Dream Doing begins today.  Game on!

But it’s not going to be much fun if I don’t get to be part of a team.  After all, belonging to a team is the best part of any sport.  Your teammates encourage you, support you and challenge you to always be better.

As a team, you get to work together to achieve your goals.  That’s what being part of the Dream Doer Team is all about…belonging to a group of people who want to help you make your dreams happen.

If you’re reading this blog right now, you’re my Dream Doer Teammate.  Our team’s mission is to find a way to do what we dream every day.

Your dream to do something about can be anything you want it to be.  You also don’t have to wait to live your dreams.  No matter how old you are, you can find a way to do something you enjoy doing every day.

I enjoy writing, so my personal mission is to work on my novel every day.  Except Sundays.  I’ll take a break from writing on Sundays to keep from getting burned out.

Between now and January 28, I want to complete a very bad first draft of my second novel.  To get me closer to that target, I wrote a very basic outline of half the story today.

I like to outline on index cards, so I put the major action of each chapter at the top of the index card.  I now have 28 cards with a one-line summary of each chapter.

Then what I like to do is summarize the action in that chapter on the card.  I find the system that works best for me is to write out the action of about five chapters at a time.  Then I’ll write the actual story, summarize the next five chapters, write, etc.

I filled out five index cards today and plan to write those five chapters tomorrow. 

That’s how I did something about my dream of writing my second novel today.

How did YOU find a way to live your dreams today?  Leave a comment and let me know!

To your dreams,
Bonnie Jean

I’m still scared to tell you because it’s so embarrassing, but it’s time to swallow my pride and just admit the truth…I’m not a Champion Dream Doer!

I know what it takes to be a Champion Dream Doer because I have been before. I did publish a novel, which was a big dream come true for me. Since then, however, I’ve been living like a coward, not a champion.

Here’s what I mean.

After my novel became an Amazon bestseller in June 2008, I started writing the sequel.

I worked on that sequel every day for months. I was doing something about my dream of being a writer.

But something nagged me as I wrote. I envisioned this exciting, action-packed, adventure-filled story. Only somewhere between the story I saw in my mind and the words I typed on the computer, the action and adventure turned into dull and boring.

I got frustrated with myself and my writing because I wasn’t willing to write a bad draft first. I wanted to write a great sequel, but I knew the draft I was writing was far from great. So I set it aside for almost an entire year.

That doesn’t mean I quit or gave up or forgot about it. I set it aside knowing I would one day sit down and finish the story I started.

Which is why I kept thinking about my story even though I wasn’t actually writing any words to it.

When I finally did sit down and start writing again this past fall, I scrapped what I had already written and started over. I didn’t get very far before I realized something important was missing: confidence.

You see, I doubted everything I wrote. Would Alex really do this? Would Tyler really say that? Is this what the setting really looks like? Is this really what happens next? Are all the new characters really interesting enough to be in the story?

I finally got so worn out doubting my characters and my story that I stopped writing altogether. Although I love to write and know I am good at it, I’ve lost my confidence in my storytelling ability.

Without believing in this core strength of mine, I’m blocked as a writer. So the prospect of writing my second novel scares me. I want to make it bigger and better than the first book, which is why Alex and Tyler are in a whole new setting with a whole new set of friends facing a whole new major challenge.

Thinking about the story and what these characters get to experience excites me; getting the story out of my head and onto the computer terrifies me.

So it’s a good thing I’ve discovered a formula for building self-confidence. (I’ll reveal the formula on Monday.) I’ve been testing the formula in my second job as a Starbucks barista and find that it works amazingly well.

Now I’m going to apply it to my life as a writer, as an athlete and as a coach.

I’m going to build confidence in myself as a writer by taking action and letting myself write a really bad first draft of my second novel.

I’m going to build confidence in myself as an athlete by challenging myself to do something I’m not certain I’m physically capable of achieving: running a six-minute mile. I’ve never run a mile anywhere close to that fast before, but I’m curious. Is that possible for me? I won’t know until I try.

And I’m going to build confidence in myself as a coach by challenging you push yourself and live your dreams.

That’s why I’ve made some major changes for the Dream Doer League. The League now has two teams: The Dream Doer Team and The Champion Challenge Team. The objective of both teams is the same: gain unshakable self-confidence, dream unbreakable dreams and live with unstoppable success.

The standing mission for both teams is also the same: find a way to do what you dream every single day.

In other words, your mission is simply to do one little thing every day that you love to do and are passionate about. Fun, right?

For the Dream Doer Team (FREE registration opens Monday), I’ll share my Dream Doer progress with you through daily Monday-Saturday email updates and blog posts.

When I have a lousy day, I’ll tell you about it. When I have a great day, I’ll tell you about it. When I make a mistake, I’ll share it with you. When I succeed, I’ll share that with you, too. And I’ll always be sharing tips I learn as I learn them to help you gain confidence and live your dreams.

And since we’re teammates, I want to hear about your days in return. So use that comment section on the blog to share with me your successes and mistakes and ways you’re finding to live your dreams.

Since I’m your coach, you can also use the comment section on the blog to ask me your questions. I’m here to help you live your dreams, so please let me know how I can help you by communicating with me either on the blog or through email. (What I miss the most about playing sports and coaching sports is the people on my teams. Just because I’m no longer a college athlete or high school coach is no reason to give up being part of a team!)

For those of you looking for more of a challenge, I have also developed the Champion Challenge Team. (If you participated in the Children Into Champions Tele-Contest, you’re automatically upgraded to this team as your prize.)

On this team, you’ll be challenged to complete a short, specific mission each day. Then we’ll get together via telephone every Saturday to play the Champion Creator Game of the Week.

Our team project will be working together to write The Dream Doers and the Champion Challenge. In other words, I’ll seek your ideas and expertise as I write, edit and publish this second book in The Dream Doers series. This book can be great if we make writing it a team effort!

Oh, and as a team, we’ll vote on which charity we should donate the royalties to once it’s published. Plus you’ll be named as a contributing author in the published book.

Alex and Tyler have some intense challenges to face in the story, and as a member of the Champion Challenge Team, you’ll get to help them figure out a way to become Champion Dream Doers.

The best part is that you’ll learn how to be a Champion Dream Doer along the way.

Now before I can coach you, I have to first prove to myself that I remember how to be a Champion Dream Doer. So starting now, I have until noon on January 28 to write a complete draft of the entire book. (It’s going to be terrible; that’s why I’ll need you on my team to help make it great.)

When I hit that target, I’ll start allowing sign-ups for the Champion Challenge Team. Registration will close on January 30, and play will officially begin on February 1.

I’ll keep you posted on my progress and will be releasing more details about how to join the Champion Challenge Team over the next three weeks.

Until then, please enjoy being a part of the new Dream Doer Team!

So while I’m working on my really bad rough draft, what dream will you be doing something about?

Visit the blog and leave a comment to let me know.

To your dreams,
Bonnie Jean

P.S. If gaining self-confidence, living your dreams and being successful doesn’t interest you, please don’t join The Dream Doer Team.

Finding a way to do what you dream starts with you being a person of great character. Being a person of great character involves being trustworthy, being passionate and being focused.

To be trustworthy, passionate and focused, you must develop 12 core ‘champion’ traits. In the previous episode, we talked about clarifying your focus.

Today, we’re going to continue the four part series on Cool Dream Doer Rule #4: Be Focused. That brings us to the core champion trait of ENERGY.

Why should you concentrate your energy?

You can be the most energetic kid in the world, but if you don’t know how to use that energy to make your dreams happen, it doesn’t do you a lot of good. That’s why you must learn how to concentrate your energy.

When you concentrate your energy, you take action that leads you closer to your dreams instead of taking action that distracts you from living your dreams.

What is energy?

Energy is the habit of vigorous activity. When you’re energetic, you’re active, spirited and full of life.

And when you’re an energetic Dream Doer, you’re able to focus your energy to chase your dreams. You make the mental choice to overcome fatigue and take relentless physical action to do what you dream.

You accomplish the most when you act with extreme concentration and focus.

How can you concentrate your energy?

To help you concentrate your energy, answer these questions:

1. What is one thing I do that excites me and makes me feel energetic?
2. What three things distract me from taking the action that makes me feel energetic?
3. What can I do to stop letting these things distract me from taking action that makes me feel energetic?

What can you do NOW to concentrate your energy?

Choose to be energetic right now. Do something—anything—that requires you to move. Here are some ideas for you: do 10 jumping jacks, take the trash out or go for a walk with your mom or dad.

It doesn’t matter what you do. Just DO something to get in the habit of taking energetic action.

Whatever action you take, though, concentrate only on that one action. For instance, if you choose to do jumping jacks, only think about doing jumping jacks; don’t think about taking the trash out or going for a walk while you’re in the middle of doing jumping jacks.

Focusing on only one thing at one time is how you concentrate your energy.

Concentrating your energy is a lot easier to do when you act with discipline. So next week we’ll talk more about Dream Doer Rule #4: free yourself with DISCIPLINE.

Until next time, remember that you always find a way to do what you dream when you stick to your strengths.

To Your Dreams,
Bonnie Jean

P.S. Have you signed up for your FREE audio novel yet and your FREE 14-day Dream Doer Crash Course? If not, CLICK HERE now!