Years ago, I met someone who was my first KNOWN dream stealer.  I had just written my first book and was very protective of it.   I named it, “Hire Me Secrets Of Job Interviewing.”  I didn’t know if it was well written or would be successful, but that really didn’t matter to me at the time. The sole purpose was to help people get job offers.

 

 I owned a Recruiting/Staffing firm in Phoenix Arizona. Every day it was my job to prepare our candidates to interview with our client companies for new career opportunities.  The book had all the ingredients necessary to show how to get in the game of interviewing, answer questions that most of our clients asked, get the job offer, and make a decision.

 

I didn’t market the book or even tell anyone about it.  Why??

 

Because I was so afraid that someone, especially someone in the same business I was in, would see it and make fun of me for writing it.

 

Be careful what you focus on.

 

 A couple of months after writing the book the dream stealer entered my office.  She picked up my book and said very sarcastically, “You have got to be kidding ...YOU wrote a book?”

 

Embarrassed I said, “Yes, all I am trying to do is help our clients get a job and to also be aware that interviewing is a game, so they shouldn’t take it personally.”

 

In response, she said,   “I am also writing a book about  interviewing.  At the present time it is all in my head.  It’s ok though because I have a mind like a computer.  All the chapters  are compartmentalized, I even have a clear picture of my cover.   I must say however MY book is MUCH thicker than yours and much  “meatier”   In fact, I noticed that  your  chapter on resumes is  just a few pages, mine has over 100 pages so far.”

 

I don’t know what came over me but I saw her for what she was in that instant.  A DREAM STEALER, AN INTIMIDATOR, A BULLY.

 

“You know the difference between your goal and mine???” I said.
 
“No what?” She replied.

 

“Your goal is still in your head.....I wrote mine down in the form of a book.”

 

Sweet revenge.............Is her book done to date........NO!  

 

Did my book get picked up by a major publisher because it was simple, easy to read, and could help thousands of people get a
job?   YES!

 

I tell you this story because I was reminded just weeks ago about all the Dream Stealers ™ that have come into my life over the years.  It was on this trip down memory lane that I realized

 

Dream Stealers ™ are everywhere!!!  We must be aware and prepared to run……… not walk away from them.  I knew I had to share with others that Dream Stealers ™ come in all varieties. Teachers, friends, associates, even family members.  They might even tell you very good reasons why you should listen to them because it is “for your own good”

 

My last dream stealer was the force behind this story.  Actually my last dream stealer I actually PAID.  That’s right I paid him $1000 to TRY to steal one of my dreams.

 

It happened in Las Vegas…….

 

My partner Debbie and I signed up for his seminar, paid our money, got on a plane, checked into a hotel, took a cab to his event and proceeded to have a dream stealer tell us what we can’t, shouldn’t and couldn’t do.

 

 When we decided to walk out on his training session after identifying him as a dream stealer we asked for our money back.
(something neither of us have ever done in our lives)  We were very uncomfortable with the situation but we promised each other that as soon as we got the money we would both buy items that would remind us of  future Dream Stealers ™.

 

Debbie bought a small but perfect diamond that would remind her not to let ANYONE take the “twinkle” out of her dreams.  My reminder was the famous BOSE  ear phones that would  remind me NEVER  listen to ANYONE who tries to steal your dreams through intimidation or wrong information.

 

If either of these stories rings a bell for you or reminds you of any of the Dream Stealers ™ that have been in your life so far, or are about to appear, get a reminder that works for you.  A reminder that will help you become aware everyday 

 

Go to www.makehits.com/testimonials.htm for stories that will amaze you and fill you full of hope for YOUR future.]

"Hi Dec

Incidentally, since I finished the  Master  Class I am meeting and producing bands as well as performing more, and my gig fees have risen from 500 per to 2500 per.  It's all thanks to you...
 
Randy Beck  [USA]"

Subscriber's Section:

Are you a guitar player?  Read on.......

Hi Dec

Just to let you know I will be joining you for the Master Class.

My band 'Glass' will be playing support to 80's success story 'All About Eve' and we are in negotiation with a record company at present. I put this down to the massively improved quality of our recordings, songwriting, production and my approach. The changes in me are fantastic.

Next week I am borrowing a gorgeous Brian Setzer signature model Gretch guitar (signed by Brian, from a guy I met last week, to do some recording.
 
Kind Regards ... D***       NET055****W

D***

Three things about that Brian Setzer signature model Gretch guitar:

MAKE ABSOLUTELY sure you put new strings on.

MAKE ABSOLUTELY sure that it is not falling apart. The glue on guitars literally stresses itself through the years and the guitar just falls apart. It will look alright but the sound will be dull and 'short'. [no sustain]

Do not be impressed by the name or the make, it's the 'sound' that is the important bit, the record will not have a picture of the guitar present when it's played on the radio, and also remember it's the guitar player that makes a guitar sound good...not the guitar!

MAKE ABSOLUTELY sure that you are using a great pre-amp module [Marshall JMP1 is currently, and has been for a long time the best]. You have little or no chance of creating a great guitar sound with a 'normal' guitar amp, even if you use a Marshall stack. The studio techniques are complex and take years to learn ['How To Make A $Million From Your Music' has them in detail]. Even when learned they can be 'iffy'. A valve driven module is always the best studio option today.

I would much prefer to hear you say that you are using a brand new Fender or Gibson Les Paul ... the Industry Standard .... all the top guys use them  ... that is exactly what I use ... and don't forget the new strings...the most essential part of the equation ... plus the playing technique. 

Regards

DEC [Cluskey]
mailto:dec@makehits.co.uk

"The worst crime is faking it" Kurt Cobain 

Regards

Dec 

You may use any part of this 'One Minute' in your own publications...we simply require you to add:

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'One Minute With Dec' is written each week by Dec Cluskey. Dec's advice?

Get in touch personally to discuss what you want to achieve in music dec@makehits.com

web: www.makehits.com or call +44 (0)1323.728005

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The gags:  [shall we have a rude one this week?]

A man and a woman were sitting beside each other in the first class section of an airplane. The woman sneezed, took out a tissue, gently wiped her nose, then visibly shuddered for ten to fifteen seconds.

The man went back to his reading. A few minutes later, the woman sneezed again, took a tissue, wiped her nose, then shuddered violently once more. Assuming that the woman might have a cold, the man was still curious about the shuddering. A few more minutes passed when the woman sneezed yet again. As before she took a tissue, wiped her nose, her body shaking even more than before.

Unable to restrain his curiosity, the man turned to the woman and said, "I couldn't help but notice that you've sneezed three times, wiped your nose and then shuddered violently. Are you ok?"

"I am sorry if I disturbed you, I have a very rare medical condition; whenever I sneeze I have an orgasm."

The man, more than a bit embarrassed, was still curious. "I have never heard of that condition before" he said. " Are you taking anything for it?"

 "Yes," the woman nodded. "Pepper."