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I have the dream, now what?
How do you go from the vision in your heart to a tangible realization of it? After you dream and plan, and flesh out the dream, what is the next step? How do you turn it into a workable idea people will invest in? How do you take it from paper to the community?
My dreams and visions, ideas and concepts seem so huge in comparison to my ability to realize them. As a single mother without many resources, how should I proceed? How can I set an example to others in my position that maybe you don't have to have many resources to get your dream off the ground?
Steven Hsieh
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gz3ccuRNAM&feature=etp-pd-nxx-93
http://www.balloonguyentertainment.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=34&Itemid=2
Rachel Pool
Rachel Pool
Mitch SMith 50+
You cannot sell a dream. You can only live it.
I suggest you stop expecting personal gratification up-front.
That expectation is blocking you from enacting your dream.
Just do it.
Reza Ghiabi 50+
Steven Hsieh
You need to do is find people that believes what you believe in.
greg dahlen 20+
Curious, are you employed, Rachel? What do you do? Do you like it, what do you like about it? What would you do if you could do anything? (It's okay to say sit around and eat chocolate if that's the truth.) If you don't know what you want to do, many colleges and universities have courses where you can explore careers and aptitudes. What did you think of my idea of becoming a children's party organizer, or a children's party entertainer? Those seem like jobs where you could touch people's imaginations. Is there enough call for those jobs in your area that you could make a living?
I don't always have a computer, and I see your thread is closing soon. If you feel like it, write me back via my profile.
greg dahlen 20+
If you're really into this, some people do make a career out of designing museums. But you'd have to go to architecture school, or design school, or such.
Just out of curiosity, are you employed? What do you do? Do you like it? What do you like about it? If you could do anything in the world, what would you do (it's okay to say you'd sit around and eat chocolates if that's what you really feel). If you don't know what you want to do, there's ways to pinpoint it, for example, many colleges and universities offer courses where you can explore different careers and your aptitudes.
Rachel Pool
I am indeed. I'm a childcare provider and educational tutor. At least, that's what I get paid for, I also spend quite a bit of time working with those in need, delivering basic necessities and such. I love children, I love watching them play and discover, and helping them be creative. If I could do anything in the world............i'd imagine all day. :) I am a dreamer down to the soles of my feet. If I could sit around and dream and have someone bring my dreams to life I'd be the happiest person in the world. :D
greg dahlen 20+
Do you really think you'd be happy just imagining all day, every day? Imagination is great, and it also feels good to do tangible things, hands-using.
When you imagine things, do you find that your imaginations tend to cluster around a certain subject? For example, do you find yourself always imagining stories? Perhaps you could be a writer, or a screenwriter. Do you usually find yourself imagining pictures? Perhaps you could be a painter.
If you became a writer, maybe you could write a story taking place in your imaginarium. Or a story about a girl who's living in a town she thinks is boring, and what she does to try to make it better.
I don't know if I'll get to a computer before your conversation runs out. If you feel like it, email me via my profile.
Rachel Pool
To give you a better idea, I'll describe it a bit, and maybe it'll help me figure out the clearest way to express my vision.
The Imaginarium is a great big museum where people of all ages can come to freely immerse themselves in a magical and whimsical world. The building itself and everything in it is beautiful and interesting, and everything from the floors to the doorknobs, to the art on the walls, to the panes of the windows are meant to be touched, explored, and played with. It's like stepping into a tangible representation of your own imagination. In the main lobby there are a series of doors, each of which leads to a different world. An ornately handcrafted wrought iron door with a clef note handle leads to the hall of music where you can play every manner of instrument. A heavy wooden door with a carved tree leads to an enchanted playland, where you can climb a beanstalk into a loft of clouds and pick play apples off realistic trees. You can watch a fairytale theater or slay a dragon and rescue the damsel in the tower of the scaleable tower. Behind another door is a Da Vinci style workshop, where (with qualified supervision) you can build a shelf, a box, or even a chair from sustainable and reclaimed wood. You can turn the lever on the wall of huge interconnecting wooden gears, or you can explore the workings of a recreation of Da Vinci's flying machines. Another leads to an atrium where you can learn how to grow plants and produce, hands on demonstrations of compost, vermiculture, and sustainable agriculture. You can even decorate a flower pot, plant a seed, and take it home. Yet another leads to the art exhibit, where you can try your hand at sculpting, painting, express your artistic vision on a graffiti wall, or add to the vast and ever changing communal art mural. I haven't even mentioned the observatory, the walkabout, or the games and sculptures on the grounds. It's incredible. :D
Steven Hsieh
want to join with you
greg dahlen 20+
Also, with a big project it's good to research whether it's been done before, where, how successful was it? If other cities have centers like yours, maybe you could visit them, or at least reach out to them by email or phone. See how their centers are similar to and different from yours. Find out how their center was financed. Maybe they'll put you in touch with the real founders of the center.
Be open to the idea that you may change your mind. You may decide that Amarillo cannot support this center. But maybe you can take some of the same ideas and use them in a smaller-scale private business. I wonder if you would make a good organizer of children's parties, turn that into a career? Or an entertainer at children's parties?
Rachel Pool
I have indeed introduced the idea to family and close friends. They all think it's fantastic and agree that our town needs an interesting place which is open year round. We have a few things here like a small amusement park, a small zoo, small water park, but they are all only open in the summer.
I hadn't considered privatizing before, but it is an interesting suggestion. I'll have to give that some more thought. :)
Robert Winner 50+
There are a number of realities. It will never be the Rachel Pool Museum ... you will become a footnote. You need to start at a lower level ... little guys do not get appointment with the shakers and movers. Most companies have a community relations department use it. Bill Gates has a foundation for thing just like this. Warren Buffet and Gates have been giving money to causes for a long time. Contact their foundations. Michael Dell in Austin, Ross Periot in Dallas, the Walton foundations, the Koch Bothers, and the list goes on. Contact the museum of science and natural history in Dallas and talk to them about expanding to the Panhandle and plant the seeds with their board about the needs of the Panhandle. Have you talked to the Parks and Recreation department in your city? They may have plans .. they also may be able to line up money ... again you are a footnote. The important thing is that you do all you can to see it happen.
Sorry to be so blunt but such are the realities of the business world. I would be less than honest if I told you no problem carry on. The road is rough but do not give up on your dream.
I wish you well. Bob.
Rachel Pool
Yes, Stanley Marsh III. :)
And I have no delusions of grandeur when it comes to this project. The most important thing to me is that it exists. I don't expect to get rich, or famous, but I also have no wish to hand my vision over to someone else. I do expect to have input and the majority of creative control. That's the artist in me I suppose. I am confidant that the person or persons who take on this project with me would understand that and an agreement would be reached in that respect.
I have indeed spoken with the Parks department in my city. Unofficially I have been told they do not have the funds currently to assist in unscheduled projects. They are currently in the midst of a huge "Downtown Revitalization" project involving a new baseball stadium and improving the more frequently attended parks. I do remain in contact though.
Thank you for the suggestions as to potential financiers! I will certainly be researching those options in depth. And blunt or not, input and ideas from others are how ideas grow and evolve and are made better, and I am grateful for everyone who takes the time to offer thoughtful advice. :)
Salim Solaiman 50+
Only EXECUTION makes vision a reality
Steven Hsieh
Tell me it in one sentence.
Rachel Pool
A huge interactive play museum complex integrated with sustainability technology capable of generating the power to run itself, and featuring exhibits that foster creative discovery in people of all ages.
It's a run on sentence, but there you go. That's about the bones of it. Is that too vague?
Colleen Steen 500+
Rachel Pool
Colleen Steen 500+
http://www.massvacation.com/find/details.php?oid=533
In my other comment, I suggested that you did not need non-profit status until you started actually dealing with finances, but if they are not even going to speak to you without non-profit status, why not apply for it now?
Rachel Pool
As to non-profit status, I am having trouble finding anyone qualified for a board. In my state you must have 3 members, and it has been exceedingly difficult so far.
pat gilbert 50+
Why will the customer want to exchange with you?
Gail . 50+
2. Break your goal down into tiny steps and begin walking the path.
3. Understand that you will have to face your fears to do it. Doors will probably not open before you until you open the first door, and that can be rather intimidating.
4. Develop social networks that are a diverse as you can think of. this includes, but is not limited to social networking sites such as your facebook site.
Someone today posted a commentary here ( http://www.ted.com/conversations/14832/what_would_you_do_if_you_were.html ) Look to those who have done something like what you are trying to do and learn from them.
Learn how to sell your product/service/idea. Take your Facebook page for instance. I like what I see, but you have not told me enough. You haven't even asked for help in articulating your vision and your page makes it appear that you don't really have a clear vision. That means that you haven't taken the first step yet. You can dream of distant lands all day, but a journey of ten thousand miles begins with a single step.
Skip Pat Gilbert's advice unless your goal is to establish a traditional for-profit business venture, and it looks like you don't.
Rachel Pool
I've found this quite helpful indeed. As for the Facebook page, I'm afraid I've neglected it. I ended up using the majority of my time and resources helping individuals directly as I navigate the business and legal pitfalls of realizing my projects. I learned very quickly that this was much too large an endeavor to accomplish by myself.
You are correct in that my goal is not a traditional business venture. I don't think the business model I envision even exists at this point, and working with traditional models and an extremely traditional and conservative city government in an effort to establish my own is much more complicated than I anticipated.
I have a very clear vision, it's a plan that I don't have. I have notebooks full of fleshed out ideas, drawings, businesses and vendors I'd like to work with. It's the next logical step I am struggling with. With my largest project specifically. Without going into too much detail, it is a massive interactive museum and activity center. Now, in my city there are only a few attractions suitable for families, and these are predominantly seasonal. I know that if this complex was built it would be a huge draw, not only locally but regionally. In addition, there are programs built into the business model addressing local issues such as unemployment, poverty, youth crime, veteran and senior employment, and environmental concerns. I don't know what my next step ought to be. Do I fundraise my little heart out until I have the means? Do I trade equity for a backer? Do I start with the smallest fraction and just build it up as time progresses? Do I need a business license? Do I need non profit status? As you said, I can dream of the finished product all day long down to the design of the doorknobs, but the practical steps elude me.
All of the advice I have found here has been very helpful, and I am so grateful for a group of visionaries, thinkers and innovators to help me along the way, :)
Colleen Steen 500+
Ok....you say your vision is for a "massive interactive museum and activity center". Are you envisioning this as private? Funded and operated by the municipality? That may make a difference regarding who you may want to get involved in the planning stage.
I've been working recently, with a group of people on getting approval for a new municipal building in our community, I've served on local and regional planning commissions and development review boards, so that is where my information is coming from.
First of all, you need to create interest in your project. If you do not have enough supporters, you do not have a project. If you are seeking municipal funding, you need to have the local governing boards working with you. If you are not seeking municipal funding, either you need to be very rich, or you need to get financial supporters. The very first step, is to create support and interest in your project.
The project will need local approval by the permitting boards, no matter if it is privately funded, funded by the municipality, or both. Fundraising your "little heart out" will do no good unless you have the support of the municipality. You get permits when there is a plan ready to go, and non profit status when you're actually dealing with finances.
The first step is really to create interest....talk with your friends, relatives, people in the community, the governing boards....ask what they think of the project. You might want to scale it down a little? Proposing a MASSIVE project causes the thought of massive $$$, which turns a lot of people off these days.
With the planning of the municipal complex I've been involved with, it has been put before the voters 3 times...turned down the first two times because of expense, location, etc. FINALLY, our committee came up with an acceptable plan....right location, scaled down building and expense. It is NOT an easy task my friend.....good luck. You can e-mail me through TED if you wish.
Rachel Pool
My first plan of attack was going to be to present the idea to a very wealthy and "eccentric" philanthropic man here in my city, the creator of The Cadillac Ranch. Unfortunately, before I could get a meeting with him, he's become involved in a very controversial scandal and it likely will not be possible at all now. And even other potential investors that as a rule do not sign NDAs and I really don't want to be put in a position to have my idea taken and perverted. I guess that's my big problem showing it to others. As for the non-profit, my original plan was to create this museum for-profit, and then run the non-profit as a division of the original project, but I have since learned that there are problems with that approach regarding the IRS and it is not recommended that I do so.
And massive.....that's about right, unfortunately. The Imaginarium complex is designed to encompass many, many exhibits, including (but there is much, much more) a music conservatory, a building workshop, and a very large atrium with an interactive garden. The whole thing is highly immersive, very inclusive, very sensory. My slogan has been that it is "unabashedly magical, and unapologetically whimsical". Even the building architecture is whimsical. The whole thing is designed to reawaken that feeling of wonder and magic that we lose as we move along in an increasingly consumer driven world. I don't expect it to be cheap, not in the least, but there would be nothing like it anywhere else in the world. :)
pat gilbert 50+
Gail . 50+
Times, they are a-changing. Younger people who look into the future with hope and a desire to make their world a better place have different values and visions than those who came before. We've handed them a very different world than the one we were handed. New business models for the new age must reflect this while working from the current system. The old way is dying, just as serfdom died and as apprenticeship is no longer the only way to learn skills.
The research of the past few years is shedding whole new light on motivation - be it of workers or consumers or supporters. Dan Pink's talk about motivation speaks of how the current business model is not adapting to reality. It speaks of a new paradigm.
I see our culture as being at the fulcrum point. It's very exciting. I'm convinced that the new cultural value system that is so much more gentle and loving than the old cannot be suppressed. I'm a strong supporter of those who dare walk toward their dreams, even if their dreams do not fit within the traditional business model.
pat gilbert 50+
Does the non traditional business model include government subsidies?
The way I see it the purpose of a business is to serve the customer. The customer does not care if the business makes money they only care if what they offer helps them.
This is what motivates the business owner and his employees this is how they survive. And it is very Moral. Why does Mr Pink think that that is new?
A business based off of charity or subsidies is more likely to be Immoral. As with ADM, Solyndra, GM, the big banks, the defense contractors, Acorn, etc etc etc
Yes we all want autonomy or at least think we do. This is afforded as one demonstrates an ability to make good decisions.
Since Mr Pink was a speech writer for Al Gore his own caricature, I will take what he says with a large grain of salt.
Gail . 50+
How can you take my words "New business models for the new age must reflect this while working from the current system" and say that I state that these two models are mutually exclusive?
Where did you get the idea that a non-traditional start-up might depend on government subsidies?
You can take Mr. Pink with a grain of salt, but if you also take legitimate research and throw it away because Mr. Pink was a speech writer for a political figure, that is just silly and willfully ignorant. He didn't do the research. He simply reported on it for the benefit of those who want to run successful businesses. The same research is available through other sources.
You say, "The customer does not care if the business makes money they only care if what they offer helps them. ... And it is very Moral". Here is the part that you do not understand. You and I disagree on issues of morality. It is, in large part, why the old business model is under attack. That view is perceived as unethical and harmful.
The age of the white male dominance (good ol' boy's club) is in decline. It is possible that before you die, white people will be a minority in this country, and white males a significant minority. The most recent election showed us that Republicans lost every single demographic except white males, the minority group of Tea Partiers, and people who eat at Olive Garden. Because of this, business models will change naturally - as will the Republican Party.
Like it or not, the world is changing. If you were to take the time to understand how it is changing, you might not be such a hard-liner in your opinions. The new worldview is a much kinder, gentler, and inclusive worldview.
Or is it the inclusivity that offends you?
pat gilbert 50+
If you understood business principles you would see that none of this new.
Gail . 50+
Again you take my comments, twist them, introduce what I have not asked and did not imply, and accuse me, with my resume, of being ignorant because I disagree with you? Pat, you have a career in military and the police. I repeat (after your 2ce claiming that no one here has owned a business), I have climbed the corporate ladder and then established my own business. I have helped my husband run his own business. I took my business into a different business model. My Dear, I do know what I'm talking about, and your questions demonstrate very loudly that you do not.
I request that you treat me with more respect. I deserve it, as do we all. I have seen that I am not the only one that you treat so badly.
pat gilbert 50+
Have a nice day.
Steven Hsieh
pat gilbert 50+
The thing about vision/purposes is that they are superfluous without goals. The thing about goals is that they are superfluous without plans the thing about plans is they are superfluous without targets.
So what are your goals?
No offense but dreams are not in short supply the ability to make them real is. I doubt anyone on this thread has ever had a business as it is not a ambiguous endeavor.
You should talk to some people who have been in business. I would recommend SCORE as they are old bastards who know how to navigate the business world. They will tell you to do a business plan. If you can't do that then what you have is mental masturbation, and that is as close as you are going to get to reality as 80% of business fail after 1 year and 80% of those fail in the next 5 so you have 4% will succeed after 5yr. The knowledge of this does not come from academia, government employees, or private sector employees it is strictly the domain of small businessmen and I would recommend SCORE as that is what they are.
Entropy Driven
Lejan . 30+
http://thechoosybeggar.wordpress.com/about-me/
She has been on this TED Conversations as well, but I can't find her profile.
All video links below are copied out of her September 2012 archive:
Part 1: Contracting, consulting, and starting a small business abroad
http://youtu.be/Xj-1MPByaZw
Part 2 : Contracting, consulting, and starting a small business abroad
http://youtu.be/Bh_fwfXktTI
Part 3 : Not all money is good money $$$
http://youtu.be/J6VK03HCYdo
Part 4 : Getting clients
http://youtu.be/9zDnxZafwTo
Part 5 : Providing Value before asking for value
http://youtu.be/QA2GfAIVKAU
Part 6 : Wrapping up Contracting/Consulting work
http://youtu.be/bI2NUdotMj8
Even though it is no perfect match on your topic, I hope you'll enjoy it.
Rachel Pool
hcdoitsu gotweed
foo
Lejan . 30+
If the realisation of your dream requires a budged which do you not have yourself, this your question is key and quite simple to answer:
Convince them!
That's it. That's all what it takes. Any further questions? :o)
I am afraid this answer is as long of no or just little help to you until the 'how to' issue get's answered as well.
Unfortunately this 'how to' is also 'key', actually 'multiple keys' and the only way to find the matching ones is to try them out.
You have to transport your dream to others in ways they are able to resonate with it. And resonance is just the beginning. Crucial, yet not even half way through. This first resonance got to be amplified, which is quite individual to each 'potential investor', but usually adresses 'emotions', 'facts' and 'benefits' to make them understand, that the 'risk' they are taking in 'your idea' is worth trying.
Because this final 'resonant frequency' is individual, it is of help, if your approach in convincing people is 'flexible' too, but at the same time genuine, honest and thrilling.
This is the difficult part. It takes a lot of effort and talking and returns a lot of frustration and disappointment.
But each rejection will become a valuable point in your learning curve, to find out more about your dream, yourself and other people. And with a little bit of luck - as luck also IS part of the equation - you find the right people, their frequencies to share your dream with them and to make it become true, together.
This concept will not be new to you, I assume, yet if you need a budged you don't have yourself, this is the only way to go for it ...
Good luck!
Fritzie Reisner 100+
I will recommend one valuable free resource (with which I have no commercial connection). The website Lateral Action, run by the highly competent creative entrepreneur and former management consultant, Mark McGuinness, offers a free six month long online course called Creative Pathfinder. There are no strings attached. It is very unlike most of the lay coaching out there, with typically very narrow and predictable tropes.
It is very concrete and practical. There is no salespersonship involved on his part.
You will, I think, not be disappointed.