by | October 17, 2015 · 1:35 am
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The best way to predict your future

The best way to predict your future is to create it.

Abraham Lincoln said that. Dude was a genius and a visionary. Today I was reminded just how important it is to follow this motto.

It’s been two years since I’ve started this blog. On a whim, I’ve decided to have a look at my very first post. I had to read it twice, and I was completely overcome by the complex emotions that could only be expressed by “OMG!” and “no way!”

My dream two years ago was for someone to read my not-yet-written book, close it, and want to read more. This is exactly what has happened: I’ve finished a novel, I’ve published it, and, according to Amazon reviews and comments on this blog, people want to read the next installment. Exactly as I have wished for/predicted in that very first post.

Be still, my heart, I have another wish to make:

By 16 October 2017, I want to quit my corporate job and become a full-time writer.

There. The power of intent, and all that. Thank you all for helping make my first dream come true – I gotta go start working on this next one.

Big, big hugs.

 

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50 responses to “The best way to predict your future”

  1. gmatt63
    October 17, 2015 at 1:41 am

    Congratulations, and good luck.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  2. Joggingproud
    October 17, 2015 at 1:42 am

    Great job!!! I too hope to find my way out of a day job someday. If I can find a way to have a self-sustaining income from writing, or whatever, I would move to the middle of the mountains. I don’t know how people live up there and commute to a city or something to work.

    Good luck. Look forward to reading your book.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  4. freakinjane
    October 17, 2015 at 1:45 am

    I’m right with you! You can do it!! Can I ask what your corporate job is? I’m always curious what routes creative people take in the corporate world. We only seem to be able to find certain niches that “work”.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • Ana Spoke
      October 17, 2015 at 10:20 am

      My regular job is a corporate middle management – all about drafting strategies and trying to crunch financials. In my previous life I was a scientist – I even have a Ph.D. I think I just get excited too easily and try things, then give them up. I was once a registered Landscape Architect, too 🙂 no focus in life, haha!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  5. crazyspoonfuls
    October 17, 2015 at 1:49 am

    Wishing you every success. Godspeed!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  6. olivia barrington
    October 17, 2015 at 1:56 am

    Your dream reminds me of Jim Carrey. He wrote himself a check for a million dollars and put a specific date on it when he first started his career to achieve his dream. By that date he had earned his first million. He still has that check to this day. If you write down your goals and dreams you will see them come to fruition. From what I have read on your blog there is no doubt you will achieve this goal and more. You have a gift for writing and I think you will take it far beyond this novel and character. You have a love for this craft and life that comes thru in your blog. You need to write a novel about your life because reading about what you have done in your blog is interesting and the writing is exceptional and the flow is natural. You have a gift and life is to short to waste it. Live your dream. I’ll be cheering for you!

    Liked by 2 people

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    • Allie P.
      October 17, 2015 at 2:25 am

      I’ve heard this same story. Back when I was just starting out in my career, my boss asked me where I saw myself in 5 years. I laughed and told him I would have his job. Almost 5 years to the day, I did (he left for other opportunities and the position opened up). I am a believer in that by naming our goals, they become easier to achieve. Good luck!

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply
    • poetryshack
      October 17, 2015 at 3:10 am

      Wow, that’s quite a story!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
    • Ana Spoke
      October 17, 2015 at 1:48 pm

      Thank you, Olivia! That’s amazing to hear – I won’t give up, and I do hope to become better and better. I also hope to inspire others to have fun with life and to dream big – I was 34 when I finally “got” that you can create your own reality, I hope I can prove to others, especially youngsters, that it’s true 🙂

      Like

      Reply
  7. Taara Donley
    October 17, 2015 at 1:57 am

    Never underestimate the power of writing down your dreams so that the universe will listen….. (FYI, I am inclined to believe that there is some truth to the law of attraction.) Congratulations! I’m looking forward to following your progress! 😉

    Like

    Reply
  8. readersandmore
    October 17, 2015 at 2:36 am

    Congrats! Wow that’s quite a dream. Follow your dreams and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  9. Taara Donley
    October 17, 2015 at 2:54 am

    Reblogged this on A Writing Mama's Journal and commented:
    I love this, so I had to share it. Ana’s story is an inspiring example of the law of attraction at work. Two years ago, this upcoming writer posted her first blog entry and clearly described her goals. Today, she has achieved her goals. Write down your dreams. Envision yourself achieving them. This can happen to you too. You go, Ana!!!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  10. poetryshack
    October 17, 2015 at 3:15 am

    I agree, you go girl!
    How inspiring is your story. Not a small feat to get a book published these days. And you did it! I have aspirations that are more like pipe dreams.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • Ana Spoke
      October 17, 2015 at 1:44 pm

      Thank you, and keep aspiring! They all feel like pipe dreams before you make them come true. My first one, twenty years ago was to win a scholarship to study abroad. I was in Ukraine, a nobody, and I kept coming close, but not getting the cigar. I persisted for a year, and finally won a fully paid scholarship to study in the US. My life was never the same after that. Was that a pipe dream? Yes, but I made it a reality.

      Like

      Reply
  11. NooryaK
    October 17, 2015 at 4:04 am

    This must be the best feeling 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  12. Annika Perry
    October 17, 2015 at 4:10 am

    This is inspiring to read and well done!! Absolutely brilliant and I’m sure you’ll get there by 2017.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  13. TobyRenman
    October 17, 2015 at 4:47 am

    Bravo. Clap Clap.
    I am exactly in the same situation that you were two years ago.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  14. Elizabeth Conrad
    October 17, 2015 at 6:09 am

    I hope you reach your goal!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  15. kphoenix1
    October 17, 2015 at 8:01 am

    Congrats to you and good luck!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  16. Pingback: DAY #22 : A Modified “NaNoWriMo” Challenge (Write 15 Minutes of Garbage Every Day) | A Writing Mama's Journal

  17. Pingback: On Writing and “The Law Of Attraction” | Taara Datta Donley

  18. poetryshack
    October 17, 2015 at 10:23 am

    I had to come back for another round here.

    I absolutely love the quote: “The best way to predict your future is to create it.”

    That says a lot. But its so true. We CAN create our own future. Ana you set your goal and went for it head first and came out on top. Not sure if I would’ve had the same amount of determination. How did you pull it off? I think a lot of us are dreamers. Yet those dreams seem to remain the same. Just dreams. Then there are those who make their dreams a reality. The bar is so high I don’t even want to jump. At this point, I just want to get the story out of my head onto the page/blog. Know what I mean?

    Happy writing!
    Benjamin

    Liked by 1 person

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    • Ana Spoke
      October 17, 2015 at 1:40 pm

      Hi, Benjamin! Thank you. You made me feel both happy and sad. Happy because it seems that my story is inspirational to you and others, and sad because while you are cheering for me, you are not cheering on yourself. I think the difference between dream just staying a dream, and it becoming a reality in a bit of self-belief, a plan, and (sorry, this is true), daily grind. I hope you make a plan for your dream. If it is to finish and publish a story, then the plan is deceptively simple – work on it every day for an hour or two. Doesnt matter if youre not inspired, or busy, or not sure what to write, just sit down and do it. Then edit. and edit. and edit some more. then format and publish. That’s the bones of it. It doesn’t even have to take two years – just start today 🙂

      Like

      Reply
  19. cb
    October 17, 2015 at 12:17 pm

    Get the next book written, then the next, then the next, then sign the movie contract and/or the TV series contract.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  20. Scarlett79
    October 17, 2015 at 1:40 pm

    My motto for life, “Write it down, Make it happen !!!” Blessings ❤

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  21. Small Talk Cards
    October 18, 2015 at 7:14 am

    The Power of Positive Thinking, Ana.
    Best,

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  22. xxalkos
    October 20, 2015 at 9:20 am

    Determined determinism! Good luck Ana.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  23. The Expression Project
    October 20, 2015 at 6:18 pm

    Awesome! It all starts with the thoughts. Best of thought ~

    Liked by 1 person

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