Former insurance professional Barbara Brekke didn’t have an ideal childhood.
The Land O’ Lakes woman said she grew up in a small town outside of Chicago in a household rocked by domestic violence.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photos)
When Brekke was 15, her mother suddenly announced that in two days she would be leaving the family to go live with another family in Chicago.
The teenager felt heartbroken.
In retrospect, however, “that really was a good change,” Brekke said. “It just didn’t feel like it.”
She went on to secure a high-ranking position in the insurance industry, overseeing large projects. For the last 10 years of her job, she commuted between Florida, Chicago and other places — overseeing employees and projects.
It was a job she loved and didn’t want to leave.
But, she knew she would never be able to pursue her other dreams, if she stayed in that job.
So, she spent a year finishing projects and training her replacement, then she set off to pursue new ventures in Florida.
Namely, she wanted to be a public speaker and a published author.
But as time went on, she also discovered the desire to become a certified life coach.
Brekke, who lives with husband Mark Dewlow, is already a public speaker.
She has written one book, “Dream Weaver, Goal Achiever,” and still aims to write a memoir and children’s books.
Her “Dream Weaver” book offers a step-by-step approach to help people convert their dreams into reality.
But, it’s not just about helping people’s dreams come true, Brekke said. It’s also about helping people who feel stuck to dislodge themselves from whatever is weighing them down.
Throughout her 15-chapter book, Brekke combines inspiring thoughts along with practical suggestions.
For instance, she urges readers to be true to themselves: “Honor and respect your dreams, regardless of the thoughts and opinions of others,” she writes.
She also helps them to set their priorities.
“If you only had six months to live, what would you spend those six months doing? What if it was one month? Even just a day? Make a list of everything that you would do and who you would spend time with. This will give you a picture of what is important to you right now — it will tell you what your priorities are today. You will also want to think further into the future at least three years.
“Be sure the things most important to you are respected in your planning and addressed in your goals, to ensure the most positive outcome,” she writes.
She also urges readers to take a page from the corporate handbook, and to write a mission statement for themselves.
“Creating a personal mission statement will help you organize your thoughts, priorities, direction and time. Make your mission statement short, clear and important so that is easy to focus on,” she writes.
It’s also wise to be realistic in setting a new direction, according to Brekke.
“Explore the risks, challenges, and obstacles that are currently interfering with your dream of living the life you want to live. Write all these down honestly. Include fears you haven’t faced and obstacles you haven’t overcome.
“Could a negative attitude be holding you back? Do you need to work on enhancing your health and getting rid of bad habits?”
“List specifically everything you want to be, have, do and share over the next three years. This will help you create goals, large and small,” she writes.
It’s also important to recognize that change often means giving up one thing, to pursue something else — like she did, when she left the job she loved to pursue desires she’d had for years.
“Sometimes, in order to grow, there are people, habits and things we must leave behind,” Brekke said.
For more information about Brekke’s book, or to line her up for a speaking engagement, call (813) 751-5420, or visit GoBeyondYourDreams.com.
Barbara Brekke’s tip for handling papers
Handle papers only once:
- Read it.
- If it’s not important, put it in the recycling immediately.
- If action is required, put it in your Action Folder to keep for the time you scheduled to work on those items.
- Determine if someone else can handle it, and if so, delegate.
- Consider the information. If it’s important, file it appropriately for later reference when you will be easily able to access it when needed. Keep in mind the majority of things filed for reference are later never looked at again. Do you really need it for future reference? If so, maybe it’s best to keep it in an online file. Scan it in, if necessary.
Published September 7, 2016
