We are out to prove that any of you can achieve your dreams – even if you aren’t sure what they are. It is our sincerest wish – through the sharing of our personal experiences – that this website will inspire you to pursue your big dream.
You can do it while sick, overweight, over age 55, under age 21, married, divorced, rich, without a high school diploma, unemployed, or striving to make your next meal – you can – because many of us have been where you are – and we’re doing it!
Each day one of the eight women writers featured on this blog offer dream stories through compelling advice, humor or research to help you dream big too.
Our contact information is on the Contact Us page.
We are looking for your dreams too! Would you like to tell us about them?
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LIFE COACH | MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER - ANDREA TEGGART
BIG DREAM: To become a certified life coach and motivational speaker, to help others personally grow and find happiness and fulfillment, to grow into the person I was created to be.
“I am a daughter, a sister, a friend, a mentor, a confidant, a college student, a lover of life. I’m a leader, a learner, a teacher, a lover, a peacemaker, a cheerleader, a go-getter, the life of the party.”
In 2011 I graduated from Ohio University. While at school, I was the PR Chief for Thread Magazine and the Public Relations Executive for University Program Council. During college I had the opportunity to intern for the Muscular Dystrophy Association, several PR firms, Intern Queen Inc. and most recently Marie Claire magazine. I’m excited to work with such an experienced and talented group of women and live life with a Thoreau quote in the back of my mind at all times: “Go confidently in the direction of your dreams! Live the life you’ve imagined!”
Andrea’s post day is Thursday. You can follow her personal musings on Polish My Crown.
DREAMS ACCOMPLISHED TO DATE: Moved to San Francisco to work at a job that allows me to utilize my public relations education and skills, launched my own personal website Polish My Crown, graduated from college, and joined 8 Women Dream.
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EDITOR & DIRECTOR OF 8 WOMEN DREAM- CATHERINE HUGHES
BIG DREAM: Make 8 Women Dream one of the premiere blogs on the Internet encouraging women from all walks of life (and all over the world) to go after their dreams. She would ultimately like to see 8 Women Dream featured by Oprah or appear on Ellen.
“I have a belief that if we help other people acquire their fondest dreams, then our own dreams come true in the process. Five years ago I had the knock me over the head idea to form a group with seven other women with the sole purpose of helping each other achieve a monumental dream and teach the world to do the same in the process. In Sept. 2008 I formed this group to help the world achieve their dreams.”
Catherine is known for her popular mom blog A Week In The Life of A Redhead. She is a freelance writer, author, copywriter, content development authority, professional blogger and Internet marketing expert who speaks regularly to groups about dreaming big dreams and how to utilize the Internet to help achieve them. She is a member of Toastmasters. Catherine’s post day is Sunday evening.
She can be contacted directly: catherinemhughes(at)yahoo.com
DREAMS ACCOMPLISHED TO DATE: Launched 8 Women Dream, in June 2011 the 8 Women Dream website visitors passed 532,236 and 831,484 page views (original dream was 100k); launched an e-book; presented at Ignite; obtained advertising relationships for 8 Women Dream; participated in the Bay to Breakers marathon; became a paid freelance writer; became VP in Toastmasters, and became the editor and publisher of several online publications.
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ENTREPRENEUR | PRODUCT LAUNCHES – HEATHER MONTGOMERY
BIG DREAM: Manage multiple streams of income through her couture jewelry, affiliate relationships, Twitter training and web design firm, while teaching entrepreneurs how to have multiple streams of income and successful product launches.
“So here’s the scoop – I’m 40, married, and have a wonderful son who is 16 from my previous marriage. Three cats fill the house with lots of fur and fun. I love managing several creative ventures at one time. I turn creative ventures into different streams of income which will someday allow me to retire to Italy. I want to teach you how to do the same!”
Heather’s post day is Friday. She is the Artistic Director of Forward Motion Studios; a keynote speaker about branding your business through marketing and successful product launches.
DREAMS ACCOMPLISHED TO DATE: Launch of a jewelry line online and in a retail outlet, launch of 3 entrepreneurial websites, obtained 2 successful affiliate relationships, participated in the Bay to Breakers marathon and facilitated several business training workshops.
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SELF-RELIANT ENTREPRENEUR – JAYNE SPEICH
BIG DREAM: Become a master of her personal finances by applying her strengths instead of laboring to “fix” her personal flaws.
“I’m a small business coach, owner of The Self Reliant Entrepreneur, and a partner in an established consulting business. My business philosophy and my personal philosophy unite in the firm conviction that every individual’s job in the Universe is to become more like herself or himself. That is where the ultimate payoff lies. Yet I notice that many of us who strive for The Big Payoff are engaged in the uphill struggle to be less like ourselves in some critical way, thinking mistakenly that we will get what we want faster that way. “
Jayne’s post day is Saturday. She works from a cluttered home office and notices that she has unwittingly developed a specialty of working with clients who are in deep financial distress. You can also find her at The Self Reliant Entrepreneur.
DREAMS ACCOMPLISHED TO DATE: Joined 8 Women Dream and launched two new businesses – one with sister dreamer Remy Gervais, called The Gazelle Goal, and the other as the owner of Onsys21 Dental, a coaching/consulting firm for dental practice owners.
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WRITER | TRAVELER | TRAVEL WRITER – KATIE EIGEL
BIG DREAM: Combine my unwavering wanderlust and wonderment with writing into the same paycheck.
“I love to travel. And I love to write. Oddly enough, my big dream is to be a travel writer.”
“My love of travel was conceived in the back of a wood-paneled station wagon. As a child of the 80s and digitally distraction-less at the time, I had nothing else to do but watch domestic destinations drift by from the red leather car seats and study road maps on family vacations. All this seemingly useless knowledge made way for a great career as a copywriter, which foots the travel bills. Now a fully distracted twenty-something, I travel at least once a month, have lived in five cities in the last five years and can’t stop thinking about traveling the world before I turn 30. “
Katie’s post day is Monday when she hopes to extend your weekend by providing travel stories and eye candy photos to lull you back into a mental vacation.
DREAMS ACCOMPLISHED TO DATE: Spent half a year traversing around Europe while calling Geneva, Switzerland, “home.” Filled a passport. Took a campervan around New Zealand. Meditated for ten seconds–but just once. Writing for 8 Women Dream. Competed in the 2011 Bay-to-Breakers.
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AUTHOR | SPEAKER – LISA POWELL-GRAHAM
BIG DREAM: Publish first best-selling book and encourage the world to dream through workshops and public speaking events.
“I’m a woman on fire. I’m a redhead – a firecracker – a fire sign (Aries). My life is a “phoenix rising” story of burning to the ground and rising from the ashes. I have chosen to live in – and love – two cities which burned down and rose again – San Francisco, CA and Troy, NY. I have always wanted to write books, ever since I was a very little girl. It will be a dream come true to get my first book out there in the world. I also want to inspire you to dream big too.”
Lisa’s post day is Tuesday. You can also read more about her world travels and adventures at Lisa Magic Carpet Ride or about her consulting work at Transforming Cities. She is also a freelance writer encouraging change throughout the world.
DREAMS ACCOMPLISHED TO DATE: Completed her memoir which is now in the editing stage, moved back to Troy NY, traveled to Spain, traveled to Hawaii, then embarked on a journey through India.
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BUSINESS COACH | PHOTOGRAPHER – REMYGERVAIS
BIG DREAM: To be a award-winning pro photographer sought by National Geographic, while teaching the world how to turn a creative endeavor into a profitable business.
“I was a former business consultant for E-Myth Worldwide, a multi-national consulting firm. But my real love is taking photographs and helping business owners succeed in business. I am raising a teenage boy – who loves Rugby – so I am a patient mom. I want to teach you how to have a successful business and a successful dream life.”
Remy’s post day is Wednesday. Remy is a successful business coach, CEO of Cornerstone Creative Consulting and the organizer of SoCoPhoGro, a popular Northern California photography group.
DREAMS ACCOMPLISHED TO DATE: 3 gallery showings, created a photography meet-up group which is one of the largest in Northern California, participated in an art show, completed the 2010 Bay to Breakers marathon, and started a second business with dreamer Jayne Speich, called The Gazelle Goal.
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PUBLISHED AUTHOR – SHELLIE CROFT
BIG DREAM:To share this gal’s truthful, joyful, thrilling, frightening, tearful, frustrating, “dream come true”, story of life in the Napa and Willamette Valley wine industry and how I got to the very important business of living my own idea of The American Dream.
“My ultimate intention is to share my experiences through books and be a published author.”
“Gratefully, I identified very early on in my chaotic childhood what I did not want my life to be like. However, it wasn’t until I started thinking about, and ultimately obsessing over what I did want the picture of my life to look like, that I took ownership of my life and my dreams began to come true. These are the true stories of my days, my passions and my loves. My Life is Grape…and keeps getting better.”
Shellie’s post day is Sunday morning. Shellie is a successful mom, blogger and the organizer of her family’s life on the farm.
DREAMS ACCOMPLISHED TO DATE: Living the American dream, joining 8 Women Dream.
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Past Dreamers
Rayne Wolfe
Rayne’s dream was to write her first book Confessions of an Undutiful Daughter by the end of 2011. She completed her dream journey in 2011 on 8WD after a year living her dream. You can now find her at Toxic Mom Toolkit on Facebook.
Laurie Allen
Laurie always has several amazing dreams going on in her life at this time. She rotated off 8WD in 2010 to work full-time on Club B and her NIA dance studio.
Toni Schram
Toni placed her dream to get her screenplay, “Divine Intervention” and reality show, “The Bitter Bus” produced on hold while she works on Club B. Toni rotated off 8WD in 2010 to work on Club B full-time.
Wendy Brayton
Wendy’s dream is still to become a influential, international artist, but she rotated off 8WD in 2010 to complete grad school. You can still see her amazing paintings at Braytonart.com.
Kim Aikawa
Kim accomplished her big dream by traveling to New York with her teenage daughter June of 2009. She lost 20 pounds and overcame her intense dislike (do we say fear?) of flying to accomplish that dream.
Dawnda Schaefer
Dawnda’s dream of being a published horror writer were put on hold when she started her mobile restaurant business in 2010.
Veronica Jacobsen
Veronica rotated off 8 Women Dream in 2010 after successfully completing 2 dreams in a year.
Danelle Jacobs
Danelle rotated off 8 Women Dream in 2010, but continues to work on her equestrian dream.
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