Dreams

When you leave school and spend several years unemployed or on government training schemes; when you return to education as a mature student; when you spend four years gaining an honours degree in philosophy: the dream of a well paid job grows ever larger.

When your boss fails to notice your talents but is quick to point out the smallest of mistakes; when you find yourself constantly thinking of ways the organisation could be run better but none of your suggestions will bring a pay rise or bonus; when you’re convinced you could do a better job yourself: the dream of independence grows ever larger.

With every condescending look you receive from those who believe the unemployed are scum of the earth; with every form you have to fill in to claim benefits to survive; with every rejection letter from your job applications: the dream of self employment grows ever larger.

When the bills are piling ever higher; when the orders are failing to materialise; when the idea of going to the office fills you with dread: the dream of a different business grows ever larger.

When you build a more successful business on the rubble of the first; when you become a respected figure in the business community; when you realise that you hate wearing a suit, handing out business cards with a firm handshake and missing your children growing up: the dream of selling up, moving house and writing the great novel grows ever larger.

When the savings you’ve been living on have all but disappeared; when the greatest novel never written lies abandoned in assorted files on the laptop; when your energy levels are drained by an unknown illness; the dream of finding success through a collection of blog posts grows ever larger.

Today is the 9th anniversary of becoming self employed, convinced I would be a millionaire within three years, and the 2nd anniversary of moving to this corner of Scotland, convinced I would be a best selling author with two.

Where would we be without our dreams?