How dreams can make a difference to who you become

I just flew seven times in two days on business around New Zealand and enjoyed every minute of it. For some people flying that many times over a month would be a nightmare let alone over two days, but I really enjoy flying.

To read the full article, members please log in here. To subscribe please click here.

My love of flying goes back to when I was very young and I would watch the air force jets blast overhead. Peter Ustinov said “Since we are destined to live out our lives in the prison of our minds, our one duty is to furnish it well.” I would furnish mine by dreaming of flying one day.

After many years my dream came true, however I thought we were going to crash on my very first flight! My uncle had shouted me a flight from Auckland to Rotorua and we started circling a paddock. I was sure we were about to crash land only for the pilot to inform us that we were about to land at the Matamata airport to pick up another passenger.

Since then I have flown around the world several times for business and am constantly flying between New Zealand and Australia as well as the length and breadth of our beautiful country. I am living my dream.

I also had an opportunity to learn to pilot a plane. My wife and kids shouted me a flying lesson. One of the best Fathers’ Day gifts I have received. I recall the conversation with the instructor at the end of the lesson.

“Well did you enjoy that Ngahi?” I think he saw the gleam in my eye and could spot another potential flying student.

“Yep, I really, really enjoyed that thanks.” “Do you reckon you will be back for another lesson?”

This time the gleam was in his eye, but it quickly disappeared with my reply, “Nope, definitely not.”

He was surprised and enquired why I would not be returning. “Well, if I do have another lesson I am afraid that I might not be able to stop and that would not be a good thing.”

He smiled and I could see that he understood my logic.

So while I might not be piloting a plane my dream of flying continues to be a reality. Flying is fantastic and I also have a small boutique VIP hosting business where I get to fly in helicopters as well.

So how have you furnished your mind? Do you still have childhood dreams you want to fulfill? How about the people in your care? Do you help them to furnish their minds well with dreams that may one day come true for them? My work with leaders has shown me that all leaders dream, turn those dreams into goals and achieve them one step at a time or in my case, one flight at a time.

Turning dreams into reality may not always be easy and requires the right attitude as well as high quality hard work. The guys at Google are a good example. Google founder, Larry Page was studying for a PHD at Stanford University and dreamed that he could download the entire Web onto his computer in a week. Well… after a year, he had managed to download a portion of it! However he persevered with his dream and now the rest is history and one of his favorite Google quotes is “You have to have a healthy disregard for the impossible.”

Do you have a healthy disregard for the impossible? One of our popular Maori proverbs ‘Whaia te iti kahurangi Ki te tuohu koe, me he maunga teitei’ encourages us to pursue our dreams and if we stop then let it be to a lofty mountain. So I encourage you to keep dreaming and keep creating dreams for the ones in your care. As Disney says “When you wish upon a star it makes no difference who you are…” So keep wishing on your star because it may not matter who you are, but it could make a big difference to who you become.

Related Posts

Reframe To Reduce Stress And Reclaim Your Power

Reframe To Reduce Stress And Reclaim Your Power

Nutrient Boosting for Fussy Eaters – Part 2

Nutrient Boosting for Fussy Eaters – Part 2

School Leadership & Navy SEALs

School Leadership & Navy SEALs

Move Over Boring!

Move Over Boring!

Ngahi Bidois


Ngahihi o te ra Bidois
Ngahihi o te ra Bidois is an international keynote
speaker, businessman, author, husband, father,
columnist and MBA. A Maori Boy from Awahou.
For more information, visit:
www.ngahibidois.com