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6 min of reading 
DREAM – Is It Worth Insisting on an Unlikely Dream? Planning Is the Key to Success.
Insisting on a Dream – For a few years of my life, I embarked on some ventures let’s say… “quite different from each other” and without much, or any, connection. I worked as a martial arts teacher in various academies, taught computer classes in schools in the field, worked as an administrative assistant in a vehicle maintenance company, had my own computer businesses, etc. Well, none of that (like insisting on a dream) interests you, right?
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Without bricks, without cement, and without endless construction: the cardboard house that is assembled in modules and can be moved.
You must be thinking: “and what does that have to do with me?”
If it serves as motivation, and if you have the patience to read this small story to the end, it’s likely that it will inspire you a little more.
Phase 1 of the Selection – TECHNICAL TESTS.
In 2005, I participated in an internship interview, at the time at 34 years old, at a large metallurgical company in the copper sector. Competing with me were about 10 other people. They were all much younger than me, at most 25 years old. All those professionals told me, with a certain calmness, that they knew someone at that company. Whoa! I didn’t know anyone at that company. I thought I was wasting my time there, that I was called just to fill the quota of interviewees, and that the position was probably already secured for one of my competitors. Still, I decided to continue in the selection process.
Phase 2 of the Selection – THE INTERVIEW.
Out of the 11 competitors, only two people were called for an interview with the Occupational Safety managers the next day.
Guess what? Me and another guy.
Upon arriving for the interview, the guy immediately told me that his uncle worked at that company and that he was very calm and confident. It was as if he was warning me: “you’re wasting your time old man, the job is already mine”. In light of my forced smile, I wanted to “punch” that kid, but if I had made it this far, then I decided it wouldn’t be worth ruining everything, right?
My head was in a “knot,” and I thought: what am I doing here? Once again, I decided to move forward, and the guy lasted only 10 minutes in his interview. You might be thinking: “Well, Luis Franco… you’re out of this one.”
When it was my turn for the interview, I quickly asked if the engineers wanted the interview in English or Portuguese. In my head, I imagined: “Well, since I won’t be called anyway, I’ll show them the professional they lost.” They smiled and decided it would be in Portuguese after all.
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In response to the various questions I was asked, I believed that based on one of my answers, I would have been eliminated right then and there. The safety engineer asked me the following:
What is your biggest dream (like insisting on a dream), and how do you see yourself in 5 years? (Cliché interview question, isn’t it?).
>> I answered: “I see myself traveling for work around the world, experiencing various cultures, people, customs, trying the most diverse foreign cuisines, learning and understanding the different perspectives regarding my work, sharing knowledge with international colleagues, etc. To achieve this, I will have to work for an offshore company (working on board) and convince my bosses that I deserve such opportunities”.
Obviously, the engineer found that somewhat strange and responded (it was almost as if she were asking me, how dare you?
>> How do you have the nerve to answer that when you’re applying for a position at a metallurgical company that can’t offer you those opportunities for overseas travel? Are you telling us that as soon as you have the opportunity, you will leave the company even before starting? And what if you can’t achieve that dream?
I responded:
>> Well, this company doesn’t promise me a hire after the internship. I need the internship to get my professional registration. While I am working here, I will do the best I can for the company. As for my dream, I will indeed achieve it. I just don’t know when or how yet, but I will certainly get there. I will not give up.
I was dismissed from the interview at that moment, which had already lasted more than 45 minutes, and I went home with the certainty that I had lost that job for good. So I concluded my train of thought for the day with the following thought: “I think I blew it”, but at least I am at peace.
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The Call.
The next day, I received a call from the company telling me that I was hired. I won’t lie, I cried a lot that day. After all, I had left my computer company to take a risk on a formal job, and like a good number of Brazilians, I had been out of work for a while, without money and with a woman and a small child to support.
Job Secured.
I spent two years at this company, I was hired as an employee, technician, official after the internship, and then I was called to a large multinational in the oil drilling sector, earning more than double and with various advantages and benefits that I didn’t even know existed.
Dream Realized.
I traveled the world for work, visited over 15 countries, took courses and earned international certificates, and went to all corners of the planet. I have friends and colleagues from all over the world in my contacts, I have tried various foreign delicacies (some even exotic), and I had the opportunity to be part of the customs, beliefs, joys, and sorrows of people from various parts of this world. “Just the way I always dreamed”.
What I want to tell you is: don’t doubt your dreams
Don’t let them stop you. Don’t listen to those who will try, and certainly will try, to discourage you. “There are many more people in the gutter hoping that you fail than there are in the stands cheering for your journey”.
According to Henry Ford, “ There are more people who give up than people who fail”.
Even if it takes time to happen, keep your focus. The most important thing is to remember your goal every day. One tip so you don’t forget what you want is to write it down somewhere, put it in your planner, and schedule it to remind you every day, or every week. Nowadays, with the advancement of technology, you can use one of the many cell “apps” to have your dream “hammering” in your mind as if it were saying to you: “Hi, remember me? You will still achieve this”. Research what you want, learn whatever is necessary to get there.
Okay, okay, it’s not easy, I was scared too, I also wanted to give up, but the fear of “rowing, rowing, rowing, and not getting anywhere” was less than my desire for victory.
I was able to have, even without a single clue that it would work out, the enormous desire to experience everything that for years was only in my head.
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New Dreams.
At 46 years old today, I still have many dreams. Some of them are also difficult to reach and many would say that it’s already too late for me. You know what I think about that and about those who try to discourage me?
NADA. I just keep walking.
The app on my phone reminds me every day: “Hi, remember me? You will still achieve this.”
And You?
What is your dream (like insisting on a dream) in the long term and what have you been doing to achieve it?
You will also FEEL BETTER when reading this: Reframing Is Necessary. Taking Something Good from the Situation Will Strengthen You.
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