Wow...is it really August? You know when I think of summer, I think of lazy childhood days spent at the beach or pool, evenings spent chasing lightning bugs or roasting marshmallows over a bonfire at summer camp. Even as an adult, summer means, at least inside my mind, a time of slowing down, taking a break or vacation, and regrouping before life gets back to normal in the fall.

This summer has not been that way, although I am not complaining. My business has been growing steadily and new projects have been coming my way almost daily it seems. The summer I envisioned this year has only been in my dreams as I have been working hard to keep up with everything on my plate. But as I said I am not complaining.

I think my recent business has been a direct result of making the decision to achieve the goals I've declared and said I wanted. Up until the middle of May or so, I was talking about things I planned to do and achieve, but I'm not sure I was really committed to making them happen. But since then, after a long weekend spent with my fabulous professional mentor and colleague, Douglas Preston, I have been working diligently to take action and make my own dreams become a reality.

If you have goals or dreams that are unrealized, perhaps you need a little motivation or encouragement from your own mentor or cheerleader. Think about talking to someone you admire, your boss, or hire a coach to help you get pumped up about all the stuff on your wish list. Then begin taking steps toward what you want and watch the magic that unfolds in front of you.