Big or small, we all have dreams and little by little we make them happen. One of my readers asked my daughter, “How did your mother get tickets to Taylor Swift on the floor??” I think she was curious as to who I knew who had access to such luxury. Well, it was me…
I am so impressed with Taylor Swift as a performer, an entrepreneur, and a person. I admire her work ethic and her values, and I just wanted to see her in concert!! When I learned my two youngest nieces had secured tickets and were going to SoFi Stadium to see the show, I knew I was going to make that little dream come true for Alexis, Presley, and me!
All the shows were sold out so I used TickPick to find seats. I love this app because, like Lyft and Airbnb, it's a direct to consumer platform. Individuals sell tickets they aren’t using to those who want them. There are no extra fees or taxes, just the set price. The platform also uses a grading scale, much like I did in the classroom A-D, with A seats being the best seats for the best price, and D seats being a poor location or just overpriced.
To be honest, I paid more for these tickets than I have ever paid for concert tickets. Uncomfortably so, but I rationalized the expenditure. I’ve worked since I was 15 years old. I’ve spent a lifetime of living within my means, sticking to a budget and saving for a rainy day. Those kinds of habits allowed me to splurge on this extraordinary experience, and it was worth every penny.
My son, Luke, is an amazing example of chasing a dream. He is a musician who records, tours, teaches, and plays guitar like no one else I know. He decided at age 12 he wanted to solo like Randy Rhodes of Ozzie Osborne’s band, and then set out to make it happen.
He sold all of his childhood gaming equipment, cashed in his Christmas and birthday money, and broke his “guitar fund” piggy bank to buy a Gibson Les Paul and the rest, as they say, is history. Endless hours on Youtube teaching himself how to play, earning the “Best Guitarist” award two years running in middle school, and four years at the Orange County School of the Arts to learn more, set him up pretty well for achieving his dreams.
At 18 he was on his first of many tours of the U.S. playing venues from LA to NYC and everywhere in between. His ability to shred the fretboard gets him gig offers from bands worldwide to play on stage or in the recording studio. He’s played festivals and shows around the world, and next week, he’ll be close to home at the iconic Whiskey a Go Go in Hollywood.
With all of his success, he still practices the fundamentals he learned more than a decade ago. Like my money habits that set me up for a secure future (and Taylor Swift tickets!), Luke continues to practice his scales and follow daily routines that keep him a sought after professional and allow him to make his living by playing guitar.
Dreams give us purpose and direction. They encourage us to take steps toward them, and figure out what is needed to make those dreams a reality. Right now, many potential home buyers and sellers are shying away from their dream of a new home. I understand. I get it, but the preparation can still take place, and I can help. If you or someone you know would like to work towards a new home, come visit me over at FirstHomeEd.com and let me help guide your journey.
So many good things to come,
Diana
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