I have been journaling for a number of years and I am excited to now be able to share the experiences, insights and tips that I have captured to help you get what you want out of life!

One of the things I have learned is “putting it out there”.   A lot of people think that by wishing for something, will have it magically appear. However, most of the time, it will take a bit more than that to manifest your dreams.

Here is how it works – create an intention (what do you want), then line it up with action and produce the desired result.  The key is action, action, action and don’t stop until you get what you want.

Here is an example, a few years ago, was driving down to Windsor listening to an interview with Frank O’Dea.  If you don’t know Frank’s incredibly inspiring story, he was an alcoholic living on a park bench until he was 23 and one day said to himself, “I am either going to die out here or do something with my life”.  He picked himself up with the help of the Salvation Army and went on to be the co-founder of the Second Cup and co-founder of Street Kids International, Founding Chair of War Child (Canada) and Co-founder of Canadian Landmine Foundation and on and on…  At 23 he started out with nothing and look what he created!

I was so inspired by Frank story that I turned to Ailie (girlfriend at the time) and said: “I am going to meet with that man”. I had no clue where he lived or how I was going to meet him.  At that point, all I had was an intention.

My first step was to find out Frank’s contact info. Send him an incredibly compelling e-mail message that took forever to write.  No reply.  I then phoned his company and spoke to his brother (help build the Second Cup empire).  He told me that Frank was in Europe at a speaking engagement and got the impression from our very brief conversation, that it would be impossible to meet Frank. I did not stop there.

I then went around and every person I met, I asked: “Do they know Frank O’Dea?” I said to myself, someone out there had to know this man.

About 3 or 4 weeks later and about 50 or more people later, I was having lunch with a friend who I had not seen for sometime and I asked her do you know Frank O’Dea?  She said: “no, but I am meeting with his brother next week and I will put in a good word for you.  Unbelievable!

I met Frank’s brother two weeks later and I was really nervous.  My first intent was to get Frank to be the founding member of my Advisory Board and his brother said that would be impossible.  I then asked if he would like to join my board. Nope, he was too busy too.  At this point, I could have walked away saying: “I tried” but I didn’t stop there, I had an intention to fulfill.

I then said ok there has to be something we could work on together that could be of benefit to both of us?  I had to think fast on my feet and thought what else could I do to get to know Frank?

I asked if Frank could do a speech for us?  He thought about it for a minute and then said: “if the stars line up that just might work”.  You see, “it just so happened” that they were about to launch Frank’s book called Hope, Vision, Action and he saw the potential of tying the speech to his Toronto book launch.

2 weeks later, I got a call that it was a go!  Frank would fly in on his personal plane to speak at the “Great Leaders Who Inspire Greatness In All of Us” event for ideaNation.  My next job was to deliver a large audience…

To cut the story short, a month later I shared the podium with Frank O’Dea to a sold out audience of over 400 people at the Harbour Castle Westin.  Not only did I get to meet Frank but everyone in the audience had the opportunity to get a signed copy of Frank’s book and meet him too.

After the event, I was invited to Frank’s brothers house for pizza and Frank who was sitting across the table from me said: “David were you pleased?  I replied, Absolutely, thank you Frank!”

It was a truly amazing experience that I will never forget and was all created out of “putting it out there”, getting into action until I had what I wanted.

Intention + Action = Desired Result!

I also believe when you create a powerful intention and you show that you are willing to do what it takes, the universe will give you a little help along the way J

Until next time, go out and manifest your dreams!