Why Dreams Matter More Than Reality

I am a business owner. I enjoy what I do. I enjoy making decisions. I like the fact that people depend on the services I provide and the paychecks I sign. It's one of the most rewarding things I've ever done. One of the most rewarding. Not the most rewarding. 

I am, behind the entrepreneur/business owner facade, an artist. I am a writer. I am a performer. I enjoy getting up in front of a crowd and presenting whatever it is I'm presenting. I've been a corporate trainer. I taught a comedy class. I've done improvisational comedy. I've made corporate presentations. I've given political speeches and invocations.

If I had my druthers, I would write all morning and dazzle audiences all night. I haven't my druthers. I have... priorities. I have responsibilities and I have commitments. My dreams must continue to be on hold. This is a situation of my own making. I took a seat on this runaway train. I must remain seated until it runs out of steam or goes off the rails.

It's a sad feeling to know that you made the wrong turns. It's sad to know that you zigged when you should have zagged. There's no choice like no choice. I can't blame anyone else. I allowed it to happen. I was not just a passenger on the train. Oftentimes, I was the conductor. Make the decision now, before you're painted into a corner. Make the decision while the decision is still yours to make. If you allow the world to make it for you, it will probably be a decision you won't like.

The world is a screwy place. We don't know what tomorrow brings and we don't know if we'll be here to see it. We only know where we've been and where we are at the moment... sometimes. It's important to pursue your goals and keep dreaming your dreams. Pursue them, too. Make your dreams your goals. Or, at least, make your goals rest stops on the way to your dreams. Do it and you may get there. If you make it, that's great. If you don't, at least you'll have the satisfaction of knowing you did your best and that your life was spent in pursuit of attaining your highest purpose, not something as common as money. The pursuit of happiness is all that matters.

Adolfo Jimenez is an author, poet, and blogger. He lives in Hollywood, Florida. He has published ten books, which you can find here.

Carpe Potestatem

This past weekend, I worked an event. I met a couple of hundred people. Most of them I will probably never see again. The few I made connections which may prove very valuable.

I am a believer in win-win situations. I spoke to one of the people I met, who introduced me to someone else, with who I may be doing a substantial amount of business. I called this person with one idea and they gave me another, which I believe will grow my business while creating a new revenue source for my new friend. Win-win!

Often times we ignore opportunities because they show up dressed like work, or they are too complicated. We hope things will be a certain way and are discouraged when they are different. We do this at our peril. I am busy and I'm doing well, but I am not in a position to ignore opportunities. Not by a long shot. There's always room for more.

Opportunities are gifts, but not in the traditional sense. They are not easy. They almost always require lots of assembly and usually don't bring instructions. Sometimes they even bring the wrong instructions. You need to put on your thinking cap and make it happen.

The best way to find the right opportunities is to sift through the wrong ones. The more bad ones you get through, the more good ones you'll find. More opportunities, good or bad, equals more success.

Go get 'em!


Adolfo Jimenez is an executive coach, entrepreneur, consultant, book club nerd, and family man living in Hollywood, FL. He is the owner of Le Velo Macaron and other businesses.

You can find him on Instagram and LinkedIn

The Importance of Having a Dog

I love my dog. His name is Baxter. He's a good boy, yes he is. Sorry. I get carried away. Baxter is a silky terrier. He's a happy hyper little guy and he's a great source of exercise. I walk him in the morning and in the evening. It's good for him and it's good for me.

My doctor told me a couple of years ago that I'm allergic to dogs but Baxter was already in my life and he wasn't going anywhere. You never leave a man behind. It's funny because I would never call myself an animal lover. But I do love this little dog of mine,

I didn't write this to encourage people to adopt dogs although it's a nice thing to do. The point is that it's good to get out and do something distracting now and then. I take about 60-90 minutes a day to walk with my buddy. It's time well spent. I walk, which is healthy, and I listen to audiobooks on my iPhone, which is increasing my skills, my knowledge, and my value.

All because of this little dog, who by the way is a crimefighter. He goes out at night and defends Gotham City from the forces of evil. Oops! I wasn't supposed to tell you that. Pretend you didn't hear me!


Adolfo Jimenez is an executive coach, entrepreneur, book club nerd, and family man living in Hollywood, FL. He is the owner of Le Velo Macaron

You can find him on Instagram and LinkedIn

Kiss Me First

It happens every day. Either it happens to you or you're doing it to someone else, in which case, you should stop immediately.

You make a contact on LinkedIn or some other platform and the person immediately sends you a pre-written diatribe on how their business can help you. Help me? You don't even know me? Have you asked me what I need? Have you asked me if I even need help?

These individuals are the digital equivalent of the handsy guy who takes a smile from a pretty girl to mean, "yes, by all means, reach up my skirt!"

Let's be honest, if I wanted your help, I would have asked.

This is not to say you shouldn't prospect, you should, I believe it's a great use of your time... if you do it properly. It shouldn't be, "Hi. Nice to meet you. Buy my shit!" and then move on to the next.

Tell me how pretty I am, buy me a drink. Win a stuffed animal for me at the carnival. Find out what my needs and wants are. You'll have a much better chance of scoring.

At the very least, if I don't need what you're offering, I will know what you are offering. I may know someone who does.

NOTE: In the time it took me to write this post, someone on LinkedIn "connected" with me and told me what they wanted to sell me. I replied "No thanks" and he responded "Okay. Have a nice day."

He didn't want to work to earn my business. He wanted me to hand it to him. You can guess how many times that's happened.


Adolfo Jimenez is an executive coach, entrepreneur, book club nerd, and family man living in Hollywood, FL. He is the owner of Le Velo Macaron

You can find him on Instagram and LinkedIn

The Secret Law of Attraction?

A lot has been said about the law of attraction. Most of what's been said is nonsense. The thought that thinking about something will make that something happen or appear is quite simply bullshit.

This is not to say you shouldn't think about your goals. Hell, you should obsess about them. How else will you achieve them? But don't expect things to happen because you think about them.

I have a friend who is a talented writer, filmmaker, editor, etc. He could be a Hollywood start director and producer. But he's lazy. He thinks about his dream career all the time. He's watched more movies and knows more about movies than anyone I know. He watches every TV show. He knows the bios of the directors and actors.

But he's waiting for Hollywood to magically appear on his doorstep. He will wait until the end of his days. That type of thing doesn't happen. Ever. Not even in the movies.

You can attract success and blessings by working hard toward them. Like attracts like. If you work hard, create and exploit opportunities and create successes, more successes will become available to you. Then, all you have to do is pick them up.

Think positive, but know your thoughts are just a map. You have to get off your butt or nothing will ever happen.



Adolfo Jimenez is an executive coach, entrepreneur, book club nerd, and family man living in Hollywood, FL. He is the owner of www.levelomacaron.com 

You can find him at https://www.instagram.com/adolfo.jimenez/