3 things you can do to fulfil your dreams – they are taking me to Necker Island

Today I board a plane that will take me to the USA on an incredible journey. I am making my way to Necker Island: Richard Branson’s private island paradise in the British Virgin Islands to spend fours days in a leadership program with 20 other women and Richard.

It seems totally surreal, not just to me, but also to so many people who have asked me, “how do YOU get to go to Necker Island?”

I can understand people are quizzing me about it.

From the videos, stories, photos and Necker documentary, the island is just …. AMAZING,  and frequented by politicians, actors and rock stars. It’s guest list boasts Desmond Tutu, Bono, Kate Winslet and various other illustrious people. It’s both a playground and conference location for the rich and famous.

Richard Branson bought Necker back in late 1970s when he was 28 years old and built a magnificent private island resort and his home.

And I’m just a gal from Newcastle, Australia, who is doing her best to bring about social change and support women in need with The Sista Code, photography and writing.

So I can understand that people are thinking, “who is she and how did she get to go.”

So I’ll tell you, because, well, it could be you going in the future if you want it to be. Actually, these three things have the potential to help you achieve whatever it is you want to do in your life!

1. SET AN INTENTION

Do you ever think about how you want to live your life? How do you want your life to look? Who do you want in your life? Where do you want to work? What hobbies do you want to be doing?

As many of you know, I had the breast cancer five years ago. I spent 12 months being treated for that cancer with surgery, chemotherapy and radiation treatment. After 13 months, I finally had my last treatment for cancer – my final round of Herceptin, a drug that I was given intravenously in the hospital every three weeks.

I had a lot of time to reflect during that 12 months. The first couple were very painful after my CANCER surgery and were followed by 4 months of ‘sickness’ from chemotherapy and 6 weeks of burning skin while I had my radiation treatment.

During that time, I spent hours, days and weeks, thinking about how I wanted to live my life. With limited time on this earth, how did I want to live?

There is a famous saying by Hunter S Thomson that goes,

“Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming “Wow! What a Ride!”

One of things I really wanted in my life was my family to be happy, lots of joy and good times, travel and adventure; and to show my gratitude for being alive by paying my good fortune forward and helping others.

So I set that intention.

2. BE OPEN AND SAY ‘YES’ TO OPPORTUNITIES

It’s funny and kinda mysterious that when you set an intention, opportunities start to appear. I love that!

Have you heard of Business Chicks? They are a dynamic network of some 35,000 women around Australia who come together at various events and retreats to learn, grow, connect and be inspired by other kick-ass gals! I love Business Chicks because, well, I love ‘chicks’ and I love ‘business’. Spending time with positive, women that uplift other women is one of my favourite things to do.

At it’s helm is Business Chicks CEO, Emma Isaacs. Emma herself has been to Necker previously and wanted to make it possible for Business Chicks members to experience Necker themselves. It was Emma that provided me and our posse of travellers with the opportunity to go to Necker and take part in a 4-day leadership program with international speakers and Richard Branson himself.

So how did I get to go Necker?

There was an opportunity to go and I said ‘yes’.

Like every other of the 35,000 members of Business Chicks, I received an email last November stating that their was an opportunity to participate in a four-day leadership program with 19 other women on Necker Island with Richard Branson.

Like 2000 other women, I filled out the application form to go. A few days later, we all received further details about the trip with a request to respond if we were serious about wanting to come. I replied immediately with a ‘yes’.

So when people ask how I got to go, it was first-in-best-dressed. I said YES, really quickly.

3. SAVE AND PLAN SO SAYING ‘YES’ IS AN OPTION

I had the money saved. Yes it is pretty expensive to go to Necker Island. But I knew I could go because I had the money saved in the bank.

About five years ago, I went to a conference in Sydney to see financial guru, Suze Orman, speak. It was a life-changing session. If you have ever seen Suze on TV or at an event, you know she is fierce! She is a tough talking, kind-hearted woman with a message for women, to become financially independent, to get-rid of credit debt and always make sure you are saving your money.

So that’s what I did.

Like a little kid making a weekly deposit in their bank account, I started doing that: I made sure I routinely put money in my savings account.

So when this opportunity came along, I knew I could go – I had a little stash in my savings account and another longer term investment account that gave me the freedom of choice and I chose to go to Necker Island.

That’s it.

I set an intention to live a life with travel and adventure.

I said yes.

I had saved the money and had the freedom to say ‘yes’.

Now it’s your turn…what do you want to bring into your life?

With love,

Mel xx