My Gen Y Dreamer Story

I'm Angela, and I'm a Gen Y Dreamer.

You're probably thinking "Angela, I know you called yourself 'Your Brother in Real Estate' for a while, now you're saying you're 'Gen Y Dreamer'...what does that even mean?" I'm hear to tell you it may not be what you expect.

Generally speaking to be of "Gen Y" means that I'm a member of the demographic that happens to be one of the largest on the planet, and with over 80 million people may soon surpass the baby boomers. I grew up with both parents working and more disposable income than previous generations and have often been branded as overindulged, spoiled, and a disengaged "kid" that looks at the world through my prism of self interest and that I'm entitled to whatever I want. Having grown up with the internet, I'm also the first generation that's completely comfortable with technology and suffer from a case of immediate gratification disorder, so when I want to find whatever it is I'm looking for, I want it yesterday. If you worked with me at a job where I was unhappy you probably already know I'm leaving soon, because I've hopped around a bit. Now in order to get out the message and to find that next one that I'll take for granted as well, I'll make posts in my twitter or facebook feed while at the same time Skyping a friend overseas, listening to my ipod, and watching my favorite TV shows on HULU.

On the flip side, I have a HUGE social and economic impact on the world, and am one of the most optimistic people about the future. I'm now at the age where I'm shopping for my first house, getting married, and possibly even raising a "kid" of my own. I'm growing up and making choices that will affect the rest of my life and would like them to make a positive impact on the lives of those closest to me as well. I thrive and am driven toward success not in the place that promises to pay me the most money or get me the nice shiny car... I mean yeah those things are nice, but I want to be with an organization that is making a difference in the world - where things matter, where I know I'm part of something and people care about me. I care about finding a work-home balance, and I know that everything I was raised to believe about finding a dream job that makes me happy and doing something I love gives me faith that all my dreams will come true.

Now that you know about my generation...let me tell you about what makes me a dreamer. It started a few years ago when I was the first in my family to graduate college. Thanks to my parents who were always there for me, it would just be the beginning of my journey. Soon after, I would be living my dream of working in real estate at high rise buildings in the city and on my way to the top. And then the economy would hit and real estate would be the first to feel the slow. The company I was with at the time was awesome - and contrary to the job hopping that gen y is know for, I wouldn't have ever considered of leaving - that was until I would find myself following a new career path.

It was after attending a motivational seminar called the Turning Point retreat, that I would soon realize it was the turning point in my career. My journey in my dream continued as I would meet people that would change my life that year and inspire me to DREAM BIGGER than I ever thought I could - I could picture myself traveling from city to city on a stage inspiring others and changing lives, giving others a taste of the energy that I felt deep inside me. I knew that if I would make a change in my career that I would be up for a challenge, and if public speaking is the number one fear that it couldn't find a bigger one.

Still I didn't know a lot of things to begin my plan...or even WHAT I was going to do. Above all when I had this big dream, I definitely had no idea HOW I would make it happen.

Soon the WHAT came easy, the more I daydreamed and asked myself about my life's purpose my cards dealt me quote that stuck in my head, "Concentrate on SERVING a purpose, not FINDING one." When I thought of service, I only thought of one thing - my distinguished service award from my business fraternity. Somehow the more I thought about that organization and my core values the more my dream came alive. I realized the people I wanted to help most were my brothers, the college students that would soon be facing the same stereotypes I did entering the real world.

The plans continued as I shared my dream with a few close friends, but soon I was brainstorming with people around the country when I traveled on a 12 week cross-country adventure to begin my research and development. My WHAT was coming together as project consisting of a Road Rules meets The Apprentice dreamz team to travel from campus to campus in an RV to host large-scale dream workshops. In addition, there would be many companies supporting our endeavor because it offered a great value to connect with the students they would like to become part of their organizations, ones who also believed in following their dreams and making a difference in the world.

Yes, a few years ago when this started I was a multi-tasking, optimistic, young DREAMER who was thought she could do it all and then some....that year. As for the stereotype about Gen Y instant gratification, I believe is completely true; however I can attest that the experiences and risks I took helped shape who I am today, a DOER. I believe a dreamer and a doer are very similar and both are required to be an entrepreneur. In order for me to keep going on my journey the Doer must stay focused on developing more material for the workshops, recruiting more people to join the organization and establishing my company, A2Z. However, it is the dreamer in me who lives on to ensure that I stay in balance between work and play, who never lets me give up on what the D.R.E.A.M. originally meant to me - that I had Discovered my passions, Realized my Entrepreneurial Abilities and Manifested my Destiny.

Some may say I'm just a Gen Y Dreamer...that the things I dream about are impossible to accomplish, but isn't that what life is all about?...Doing the impossible and living life to the fullest? I am entitled...but so is everyone. You're entitled to dream whether you are 21 or 81, I'm just the messenger who believes in spreading the word that "Dreamz do come true!" and that is what makes me a Gen Y Dreamer.