If money, time, expertise, or other limiting factors were not an issue, what would you choose to do? In other words, if you could do exactly what you wish to do, what would it be?
Too often, we get hung up on reasons we cannot do something. It takes too long to learn how to do it. It doesn’t pay enough to support me full time (or is too expensive for a hobby). I’m not good enough, or there are too many people who are better than I am.
As a thought experiment, what would you do if none of that mattered?
Listen to a podcast where Michael and Lee discuss the related question: ‘How do you define success?’ We also discuss a bonus question: ‘Is happiness the most important purpose in life?’
Obviously, some of these things do matter. If, for example, your dream is to play basketball in the NBA and you are 5’5″ and 50 years old, your dreams simply aren’t realistic.
Some hurdles are insurmountable. But most aren’t, and it is important to know the difference.
A big part of that is narrowing down what you really want to be doing. If you dream of being a rock star and playing in sold out arenas, is your dream to play music, to entertain people, or to be famous? The answer could change what the obstacles are to achieving your dream, and could point you in the direction to start.
But the very first step is to dream. In your dream, with no one or no thing standing in your way, how do you see yourself? What do you wish you were doing?
Related questions: What makes you the happiest? What do you want? To what should we aspire? What do you do with a day off work?
First, my calling is to make sure everyone in Minnesota is housed — safely, stably, and affordably housed. I would engage in advocacy for this purpose if I were paid to do it or not. In fact, if I were not employed to advance housing justice, I would, no doubt, have more freedom to highlight my beliefs on how we could achieve this end.
Second, I would buy some land to sustainably grow a huge diversity of heirloom vegetables and flowers. I’d want a good bit of resulting food, but I’d also give some away. In addition, I’d use the land for tours and educational purposes. A free book”store” and educational kitchen on the premises would help people see how they could sustainably grow and preserve their own food in their own yards or in community gardens. I’d need small staff to run the whole operation.
Third, I’d travel more.
At what point would it be OK for you to follow your dream, even if the homeless situation in MN remains unsolved?
Ending homelessness is part of my dream. One part of the dream doesn’t preclude the other. I can walk and chew gum at the same time. On a personal level, buying land and using it to promote sustainable, heirloom gardening is incredibly risky. I’d only do so if money weren’t an issue, which the question, thankfully, allows. Lastly, I’d add that political advocacy would be part of my garden venture. I’m never content to just pursue change on a personal level. Nearly everything fits in a system that promotes the status quo, which for gardening and farming is often exploitative, extractive, and promotes the concentration of wealth.
Able to take a 5/6 year sabbatical from my current job, get my PhD via full stipend and still have a job at my current company afterwards. And teach undergrad part-time.
I would be leading tours in a pretty, historical location with great views.
Alternatively, playing poker online for profit in such a location.
Yes, the location is the most important part of this dream! 😉