Written by: Sarah Peppel
Featured on: Story of My Life
The hot air balloon rose in the air as Melissa's knuckles tightened on the sides of the basket which alone held her from plummeting to the ground as she floated higher and higher into the sky. After the initial fear passed, the exhilaration of the moment filled her soul – keeping her coming back for more, higher, farther. From there, nothing was impossible.
Riding in a hot air balloon was one of many impressive goals Melissa would accomplish once she put her mind to it. Her family didn't have the money for extras when she was in college so she decided that she would find a way. She was already working full-time to pay for her classes when she began calling hot air balloon companies.
“Can I work for you on the weekends in exchange for a hot-air balloon ride?”
“No.”
“Do you need help on the weekends?”
“No, thank you.”
“I am willing to work for a hot air balloon ride.”
“Okay, fine.”
Finally, a yes! For a couple of hours on the weekend, Melissa achieved her heart's desire -- two rides in one summer. She had let herself dream, believed in herself and took the steps to accomplish it. Pictures and diary entries would fill her journal as each new goal was achieved. From learning to crochet to going to Australia, the ideas just kept exploding in her head. The amazing sense of accomplishment grew with each new skill or adventure.
Finishing college, Melissa would step out of the world of the weekend hot air ballooning and onto the corporate ladder. She reached her desired position as manager in sales and marketing at a magazine. She was excited but something didn't feel right. What she thought was going to be “it” just wasn't. She loved what she did but there was something else waiting for her full attention.
All her life, she had made goals, written them down, accomplished each dream one-by-one. Maybe now it was time to give back. She always she knew she was meant to help people. When she was growing up, she loved participating in different services that gave back to the community. Maybe she could give to others her strategy for success, goal setting and journaling the steps.
Wanting to educate, Melissa gave a seminar to 6th graders about goal setting and achievement. The session went so well that she could feel the “aha” moment – the connection with the kids, their response and desire to learn, her desire to give the gift of what she knew could work. She loved speaking in schools. This was “it!” The light bulbs were going off. Her calling and life purpose finally became clear but it would be a couple of years before she would go out on her own.
“All her life, she had made goals, written them down, accomplished each dream one-by-one. Maybe now it was time to give back.”
Sharing with the students from her own childhood, Melissa would tell the story about watching her own father as he trained to run a marathon. Following his dream, she remembers going to the races and cheering him on. Sometimes they would participate in a family fun run and it was great to be a part of seeing him have a dream and work towards it. Later her parents decided to learn a new language. Again, she witnessed them setting goals and accomplishing them. The process of learning and growing stuck with her and she took it to the next level.
To the kids, she says, “You can do what you put your mind to. Some dreams can come true. You can apply yourself and make good grades. You can figure out a way to become a doctor, a veterinarian, a baseball player. . .You can do it by setting a goal, writing it down and taking the action steps to get here. If you are creative and willing to work for it; there is hope.”
Each grade Melissa works with has a different set of challenges. Seniors are career focused and know how to set goals. Fourth graders are still thinking about being a ninja or a superhero. But whatever outrageous thing they might be thinking, Melissa tells them it is okay to dream and figure out how to turn one's passion into a career some day. At the younger ages, goal planning skills come in handy for good grades and all aspects of their future life if they can see achievement now.
To adults, she asks “What do you want to do? What dreams do you want to accomplish that you haven't already?” Dream List Photo Journals have become a way Melissa can share with her audience the need to write down goals, make baby steps and achieve them one by one until the larger picture is achieved. Developing the final product took time but the journals have become an essential element of Melissa's presentation as she guides individuals in their own path towards success, large to small.
Stepping off the safe corporate ladder and into the lofty skies of entrepreneurship and risk, Melissa has big plans to take her workshops into schools nationwide, helping counselors and teachers work with students, one individual -- one dream at a time.
BIO: Melissa Borghorst is the founder of Dream List Media, a personal development company helping individuals reach their dreams and true potential. She is author of the Dream List Photo Journal series, host on Dream List Radio, life coach and most importantly, motivational speaker for kids, teens and educators. Outside her professional life, Melissa has achieved extraordinary feats—skydiving, rock climbing, white water rafting, backpacking across Europe, snorkeling the Great Barrier Reef, and singing, dancing and acting in a musical. To learn more see, www.dreamlistmedia.com