Who’s your peeps or on your squad? It’s a question not just about friends and teammates but maybe even family. World and family history tell us that living in America started for some migrating and others being brought against their will. Along the way we live our best life, often in the footsteps of those before us. We then get to write our own story and build on their legacy. Over time our dreams begin to level up.

My family history and career milestones helped write pages in my story and resolve the highs & lows of my journey. This connected with my True Calling that’s built around a dream to impact country and family. As with the Joseph story in scripture, there’ve been disappointments, delays, detours which meant turning pain into fresh purpose. Plus, a deep dive in faith & family, roots & culture helped in pushing through.

The journey forged a vision to make a difference beyond self in four growth areas that also show up as ‘keys’ across family generations. Those areas can be stepping-stones for what it takes to “turn up big” in life. It’s also about paying it forward for the next generation. In looking back on personal/family history, my journey became clearer and made more sense from connecting the ‘dream links and fam dots’.

As a teenager in Jamaica, I had a wish to study in college overseas. After sharing that with my parents, they reached out to family already living abroad to see what was possible. Other family/friends jumped-in where they could, which made traveling to and settling in the U.S. possible. Those who came before us had similar stories of packing their bags and starting over in a new land.

So, fast-forward 40+ years and a chance to take the next steps with this dream by using my story and the family tie-in that made things happen. Of course there’s my early career in telecommunications; the shift from employee to social entrepreneur. There’re those moments of writing, speaking, broadcasting, serving…and waiting. This brought new skills from reinventing and rebranding in work and life.

What were some of the takeaways you wonder? Well, here’s a quick look at a few that sunk in:

• What is for you will come to you as you do all the things to go through.

Dad used to tell us (in our native lingo), “what is fi you can’t be un-fi-you!” In one sense, that was a reminder that there’s a larger plan at stake that’s God’s to make. Moreover, as many have come to learn “don’t sweat the small stuff, so as not to drain your power to handle the big stuff”.

• When you live life forward but understand it backward, you’ll find alignment with your assignment.

There’s value in looking back to moving forward. In earlier days my outgoing voicemail message was, “WDOC FM 93 you’re on the air. Where do you see yourself 10 years from now… psych!” After leaving the job for my dream, the first thing that came my way was an interview on a local radio show.  

• “Success starts at home” by practicing in the shadows before you go out into the light.

The radio show was a lesson in public communication. But it also revealed that there’s value sometimes “in being heard without necessarily being seen.” That aha lit a fire under my passion for writing/blogging in the background. This then opened other doors in networking and marketing.

• Walk in the light that shines on your path and get to where you’re meant to be.

Imagine yourself in a dark tunnel trying to get back into the open view. You might turn on your phone’s light to see your way through. In life we get to party with style and purpose, live with joy and happiness and walk in the light that God shines on our path too. It’s about good times and a good life.

There’s that old story of the Chinese bamboo tree. Under normal circumstances a seed takes about 10 days to two weeks to germinate and break through the ground. But the Chinese bamboo tree is an exception. For the first four years there’s no visible sign of growth after the seed is planted. Then by year five something amazing happens. It can grow upwards of 80 feet tall in a few weeks.

The moral of the story is that sometimes it seems the dream is taking a long time to break through from the ground floor. This calls for patience, not worrying if all you’re doing isn’t showing results. But when the dream begins to level up, things can get on a fast track and rise to new heights. It’s all about developing faith muscles for the long haul, as well as four lifestyle areas to greater fulfillment.    

Add the lesson from Joseph’s story and you were being prepared for a higher purpose. It’s what he saw in his life when he went from prison to being prime minister. All the delays and disappointments were writing his backstory in advance of serving the nation. It’s what Nelson Mandela saw in his life too. So, whether it’s the Chinese Bamboo tree or the Joseph story, higher purpose is waiting in the wings for you.

Tracks: Damian ‘Jr Gong’ Marley – Wisemen – https://youtu.be/mCAPYPKgvOQ?si=9p-QChKHwrb9I8Gm

Ledisi – Sell Me No Dreams – https://youtu.be/QUQGE8eOZxY?si=aWUZar6kxwbjmehw