Throughout the month so far I’ve been participating in the #Trust30 initiative organized by The Domino Project. It’s been powerful to say the least, in the first week inspiring be to finally commit to writing the book I’ve wanted to write for years (now it’s just a matter of actually doing it).
Today I have the honor of sharing my prompt with you (below). You can also check it out on the official site.
In short, I want you to be bold. I’m daring you to be bold. But I want you to be smart about it.
This is how I’ve arrived at where I am today. This is how I make important decisions. I understand that it takes bold leaps of faith to achieve greatness. But I also appreciate the value in planning and thinking things through. I’m not going to tell you to quit your job today or that you should move across the country tomorrow.
Instead, I want you to start with one obstacle. One challenge. One thing standing in your way. Think big. Start small.
I encourage you all to respond to my prompt below – and to get involved with the #trust30 challenge the rest of the month. I can’t wait to read how each of you will take bold steps to achieving your dreams, starting today.
Dare to be Bold
Our arts, our occupations, our marriages, our religion, we have not chosen, but society has chosen for us. We are parlour soldiers. We shun the rugged battle of fate, where strength is born. – Ralph Waldo Emerson
“Next to Resistance, rational thought is the artist or entrepreneurs worst enemy. Bad things happen when we employ rational thought, because rational thought comes from the ego. Instead, we want to work from the Self, that is, from instinct and intuition, from the unconscious.
A child has no trouble believing the unbelievable, nor does the genius or the madman. Its only you and I, with our big brains and our tiny hearts, who doubt and overthink and hesitate.” - Steven Pressfield, Do the Work
The idea of “being realistic” holds all of us back. From starting a business or quitting a job to dating someone who may not be our type or moving to a new place – getting “real” often means putting your dreams on hold.
Today, let’s take a step away from rational thought and dare to be bold. What’s one thing you’ve always wanted to accomplish but have been afraid to pursue? Write it down. Also write down the obstacles in your way of reaching your goal. Finally, write down a tangible plan to overcome each obstacle.
The only thing left is to, you know, actually go make it happen. What are you waiting for?
I empower visionaries and hustlers to do the work they want to do and live the life they want to live. A self-made entrepreneur, brand-expert, writer, speaker, thinker, creator, doer, and Saved by the Bell aficionado, I examine life through a "less restricted" lens and frequently get nostalgic about the 90's. 
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I have been involved with the challenge from the start and was very pleased to receive your prompt this morning. I does reflect on my own mottos in life, and daring to be bold – and unconventional, which equates to pushing aside the rational thinking you are referring to obviously – has proven successful always.nnFear is a place from the ego for sure, and stepping aside from it takes courage. Did you know that the word “courage” is rooted in the same ethymology as the word “core”, the essence of the being? nnI will find time to post an entry on your prompt later, but wanted to thank you very much for offering it!
My pleasure, Otir. Thank you for coming by to comment here – and I hope you’ll stop by again to share a link to your response. Cheers!
Thanks for a great post. One of the philosophies that I live by is “ask forgiveness instead of permission” sometimes you have to break the “rules” and be bold. The old cowboy style (or in my case – cowgirl). Doing things that are worth doing take risk. Another favorite quote is “If you were brave, what would you do?” Great food for thought.u00a0n-Marynhttp://marycrimmins.com/http://twitter.com/#!/Mary_Crimmins
Exactly. You wouldn’t get very far if you weren’t willing to take a few risks.u00a0nnPS, we’re both in Nashville, which means we need to grab a cup of coffee sometime. Let’s make it happen!
Great prompt, Matt! I love this one. I should have known you wouldn’t let me off with an easy post.
Thanks, Jen!
This post has had me thinking all day! I will graduate college soon this December with debt just like everyone else. BUT I will not let money define my dreams and goals as what I do or where I will go. Now I just have to finish writing my steps to make sure I can overcome this obstacle! Thanks for the post and advice Matt
Writing the steps will help BIG TIME but it sounds like you have a great head on your shoulders. One of the most important pieces of advice I can give is “don’t chase money”. Find something you love, and do everything you can to make a living doing that – don’t sell your soul for a sexy paycheck.