Dream Year

Okay... bear with me. I'm going to run an idea by you.

What if you were part of a group of 30 people who...

1. Had a dream project they wanted to fulfill for 2010
2. And were open to collaborating with other dreamers

I'd serve as Dream Coach.
It would be called Dream Year.

We'd walk through a process of achieving the projects.
We'd start in January 2010 and go for 12 month.
We'd read 1 book a month together...
And enjoy other perks, like my events. =)
We'd collaborate on Google Wave.
We'd form smaller groups on-line that meshed well.
All assignments would be for our own projects...

But we'd collectivize our influence, connections, resources, talents, and ideas to make all 30 larger-than-life dreams become a reality by January 2011. Each year would be its own class of graduates... a fraternity if you will.

Would love your feedback...

• Would you apply to be a part of something like this?
• Does it scratch an itch for you?
• What criteria would you institute to determine the participants?
• Would you pay something to be a part of this to keep out the riff-raff? =)
• How much?
• Any other thoughts?

Comments

[stephanie beaty]

i am always fascinated by your ingenuity!

[Mike Anderson]

I'd be interested in hearing more. I have several huge projects, and I've always respected your go-get-it-ivity.

Is this something that you're planning on charging for, or is it more informal?

[Ben Lemery]

I think this would be a great way to connect and help others. It's almost like the group that CS Lewis and Tokien had.

The diversity of people would be important though, not just a bunch of like minded people. If you have any openings, I would love to consider being apart of it.

You rock Ben!

[Mike Anderson]

Depending on the depth of this I would pay a fee to be a part of it.

[Nolan Bobbitt]

Love the idea...I have three projects that I want to launch in 2010 and would love to have some collaborative feedback/critique as well as accountability to get them off the ground.

[AJ]

That would be AMAZING! I'm in!

[santos samayoa]

WOW! definitely sounds like a great idea, i would love to be a part of. It will be a stretch for me but at the same time if i want to get anywhere i would love to do it with another group of dreamers, so i would say i'm in but definitely need more info. Great idea Ben!

[chad mccallum]

Ben - love your blog and love this idea - would love to explore it more! Chad

[Chris]

Ben you have such a great vision and heart.
I would be interested in finding out more information on this.

[christy]

i've seen several people, ministry people, start coaching services for a premium. i understand the need for the money, and i understand the need to keep of the riff-raff but it certainly does stop some dreams from the start.

i would love the opportunity and the challenge. the travel demands that may be involved could be prohibitive (i have toddlers) but could swing a couple of dates.

i think people who are visionary in nature and creative also need opportunities to connect, to challenge, and to try to accomplish something. i have lots of ideas (dreams if you will) that never get finished for one reason or another.

great idea Ben! even if i can't be part, i look forward to hearing how it comes together and works out. but if you want to do something in memphis or hear from people in memphis that need this kind of connection, find me. i would love to do something like this on a local level.

[Ben Arment]

Christy, i was talking with a long-time event-salesperson for john maxwell the other day. And she said that she learned over 20 years of working for him that she could never offer free tickets to pastors to maxwell events - even though it was well within her means to do it - because at the last minute they never showed up. She said there was a direct correlation between cost and how much they valued it. Interesting.

[Chad M. Foster]

I think this is a great idea and would love to be involved in something of the sort. If money is required for admin I would understand but I am not sure about keeping out the "riff-raff." When Jesus was eating with the "tax collectors and sinners." He basically said that he came for the riff-raff.

Haven't we as the church done enough of making people feel that they aren't good enough to make a difference? If you are worried about the ideas why not use a rating system similar to digg and let the group feel out the ideas.

If this comes off harsh it is not my intention at all and I do apologize. I just think as much as we talk about building up young leaders to cast grand visions for the Church we should be open to all because that is really where the young people are. They might be the riff-raff or they yearn to be out with the riff-raff.

[daniel d]

Sounds like a winner. I think charging a fee to be a part of it is a must. It's not the fee so much but the intent of the exchange. Intellectual property from the right sources can prove extremely valuable. Your Maxwell example is perfect. Free always seems attractive but free can also create a diminished level of commitment since the recipient has nothing invested in the exchange. Time is valuable. For you to organize, facilitate, etc... it's more of your time than ours and we’d benefit from the ideas, networks and "how to's." Not knowing what you see involved (frequency of interactions, materials, direct access to you as well, etc)... I'd think the monthly rate could go anywhere from $100 on up past several hundred or more. For those who think an investment like this hinders the ability to get started, they just have to change their mindset. It costs (time, money, effort, sacrifice) for any business, ministry, or initiative to get launched. There are plenty of ways to raise the $ if people put their minds to it and are truly serious about making it work… and I’d suspect those are exactly the type of people that this type of program would work best for.

[Sam Mahlstadt]

Great idea, seems similar to the Dream Labs by Awaken. I would love something like this.
As part of a church-plant team, we are talking a bit about coaching networks, collaboration networks, etc. for this very thing.
Criteria could be: decision-makers and/or leaders in an area, which would also apply to self-employed. And those with some kind of platform in place, whether it be big or small (business, church, blog, web material, etc).
I would pay, because it would hold me accountable to the group and to my own dreams (a few hundred-ish?). I would love to be a part, anywhere in the process.

[Jim]

i'm interested

[Joshua Cryer]

Is 30 individuals too many? How about 21, with a significant "fraternity-fee"...it seems as though it could be a relationship beast with so many people.

I love the idea though. :D

...what about everybody getting a sweet ring at the end of the year?

[twitter.com/RG21]

Love this idea, and have a dream(s) that I'd love see in the mix. Count me in if this comes to fruition. Time to make something happen!

[twitter.com/RG21]

I'd pay, but the amount would depend upon the level of service, how much travel would be required, etc.
Criteria for selection could be an even distribution of several sectors including business and church and nonprof, or it could be based upon who you feel led to include based upon the story behind the dream(s).

[Matt Gregory]

Ben, I'm definitely interested. In fact, I just "googled" you so I could reconnect with you and get some coaching on some big goals for 2010.

[Kyle Reed]

Absolutely no doubt would I want to be apart of and apply for.
I am just bummed because it is such a good idea and a lot of people will want in that I probably have no shot.
But I would apply.

[Ben]

I definitely would like to know more info about this because I have a huge dream that isn't possible if done by myself!

I would pay, but not sure how much for this... just depends on what all it would include!

[Ben Arment]

thanks for the feedback. No travel is required at all. And the cost would be like a virtual "incubator" fee. i'm waiting on a certain number of peeps to comment before i move. my fleece if you will...

[Charles]

need a little more info, but interested.

[Aaron Cross]

intrigued

[bryan a]

Ben, I think you'd be great at this (in fact, i think i suggested it in a blog comment a while back). Seems like you have the ability to see the big picture AND have a knack for details, which is hard to find. Plus you are well connected and respected

Price is tough. Obviously needs to reflect the value of what is going into it. I cringed when I saw that someone put $100/month in an earlier comment, but the price would probably have to approach that i guess. Anything less than $50 a month would probably not be enough.

I would definitely consider it, but price would play a huge factor for sure.

[Jerel]

I'm interested in hearing more. Love the idea. (And hopefully I'm that last comment you needed to put you over the edge and off the cliff!)

Jerel

[Sam]

This definitely grabs my interest. The diversity of the group would add so many layers to each dream...WOW!!

[Joshua Cryer]

I would think that a 4000-5000 "program fee", for the year, would be appropriate.

...you would be paying for a "Dream Coach"...

The experience, networking connections, relationships, platform building, and combined Kingdom focus would be totally worth it.

Go for it Ben!!!

[jeff]

I would love to be a part of this. Our associate pastor put me on to this...Sounds great...

[Mark Flood]

Not sure my feedback will move the proverbial fleece, but i'm intrigued to say the least. I think coaching and mentoring are vital functions in kingdom work and would love the opportunity to interact with a field tested pioneer. My radar is up, i'll stay tuned for updates.

[Neil Essen]

This is a terrific opportunity and I am completely interested. The greatest benefit to me would be the mentorship from you on the front end. As you point out though the relational network that would be formed for each person would have a ripple effect that would push the realms of possibility way past 2011. Show me where to sign!

[emma]

I'd be interested, for sure, but again the price would be a factor for me. Since getting back from my trip to the States for Story, God's opened my eyes and pushed me out of my comfort zone (again!), and I'm committing to pursuing a few of my big dreams full-time. There goes any semblance of a regular pay check! Would definitely be interested in some coaching to help make it happen. Someone else commented on admiring your go-get-it-ness, which I couldn't agree more with.

[Terrace Crawford]

Love it.

--Terrace Crawford
www.terracecrawford.com
www.twitter.com/terracecrawford

[Ross]

The other day a buddy and I were talking about how great it would be if we could sit down with 15 to 20 of our friends and talk about some of the projects on our heart. So, as soon as I saw this I totally connected with it and would love to see how something like this would work.

[Michael Ehret]

This would be fantastic! Who doesn't have a dream?

[Michael Ehret]

oh, and yeah, I'd be willing to ante up...

[Chris W]

This definitely sounds interesting and resonates with me and with some of the things I am "wrestling" about. I am not certain what level of commitment I can make though I wonder if there are ways to make participation at a variety of levels? I am anxious to hear more about this!

[Wade]

B,

I'm interested as well. I have been taking a break from reading BLOGS to "act" instead of dream.
You have always been inspirational to me and it looks like I checked back in at just the right time.
Love ya man.

[Mike O'Dorney]

> Would you apply ...? Yes
> Does it scratch an itch ? Yes
> What criteria would you institute to determine the participants?

Not sure
> Would you pay something ? Yes
> How much? 10+10 reverse pot. In other words, ten bucks a month for you. Another ten goes into a pot. At the end, whoever is still left would split the pot. (No dropouts=120, half drop out = more)

I'd pay more if there were west coast people that I could have face time with.

[Ben Arment]

Mike, thanks for the reply, but it can't cost less than a Netflix account. Your dream... or Pirates of the Caribbean?

[Mike O'Dorney]

My netflix is only 6 bucks - I got in on the ground floor!

Seriously, it looks like something worth doing, and I can see how paying makes it something one would take seriously.

So, what's the consensus number?

I remember you from Reston (History Church) - where are you now?

[Chris Oakes]

I'm quite interested, and await more info this week.

I'm just getting into the game, and need some collaboration to kick things into the next gear.

I do have some comments about cash, but I'll save them until more details have been released.

[John]

I'd definitely be interested.