Never Forget Your Dreams: Developing Plans that Surpass a Lifetime

Crazy Horse Memorial, 2024

“When the legends die, the dreams end; When the dreams end, there is no more greatness. Don't forget your dreams.” Korczak Ziolkowski

In the Black Hills of South Dakota, the awe-inspiring Crazy Horse Memorial is a testament to the enduring spirit of the North American Indians. This monument initiated in 1948 inside an army surplus tent, is not just a carving on a mountain; it's a beacon of hope, a symbol of resilience, and a celebration of a rich cultural heritage that we should all be proud of and refuse to let be forgotten. It's a reminder that hope and resilience can prevail even in the face of significant challenges, and it's a celebration of our rich cultural heritage that connects us all.

Inspired by Mt. Rushmore, Chief Henry Standing Bear imagined a statue of Crazy Horse because “Indian chiefs would like the white man to know the red man has great heroes, too.” In 1940, he approached sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski for the enormous task. Knowing that this project would last longer than his lifetime, Korczak carefully laid out the entire plan.

Although the final sculpture is to be the largest in the world, that is only a tiny part of the picture. Chief Henry Standing Bear envisioned a memorial to commemorate the indigenous people. However, with a profound belief in education, the project includes a museum to educate visitors about Native Nations and a university to empower Native students for future generations.

My visit to South Dakota solidified my passion for encouraging families to strive for greatness that exceeds one's lifetime. Most people have individual goals for their lives, but developing plans for a family to exceed 100 years is a legacy to aspire to.

Our family doesn't just dream big; we plan big. Our vision extends beyond our lifetime and even the next generation's. We are deeply committed to 'Perpetuating the Family Legacy with 250 Years of Rising Generational Succession.' With our core values of Family, Integrity, Perseverance, and Knowledge, we are guided by our long history to ensure our legacy lives on. It's the knowledge we gain and pass on that not only empowers us but also enlightens our path, inspiring us to strive for greatness that exceeds one's lifetime.

Our Big, Hairy, Audacious Goal (BHAG) is not just a dream; it's a mission we've worked on for over ten years. We take steps to turn our vision into an actionable plan every day. And we want you to be a part of this journey. We invite you to join us and contribute your ideas, passion, and energy as we work towards creating a lasting legacy that will inspire future generations.

However, we have developed a process that enables you to establish your own legacy, too. Here is a summary of the steps to your 250-year plan.

Explore: Everybody comes from somewhere. The first step is to explore family history. My family history is minimal. From the chart below, I can return to my great-grandparents and gather information about 14 people, plus myself. However, my husband’s family can be traced back to Scotland in 1025. But if we stay in America, there would be 510 ancestor stories to delve into, plus his story. It was necessary to go deep into the Hoge family’s past since we are planning the future of a historic property.

However, it is expected to uncover genealogy connections on a narrower track initially. Can you identify your great-grandparents? Surprisingly, over half of people can only name one or none at all. With the phenomenon known as "Shirt Sleeves to Shirt Sleeves" in three generations, it's essential to acknowledge the historical journey that led a family to its current state.

In our process, we inquire about the stories through a series of questions we developed. Some families know their extensive history, while others are open to exploration. Next, we ask questions about the individual and their siblings. Discussing sibling relationships is essential, as it enormously influences current and future goals.

We also ask about their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren if they have any. We delve into their aspirations and hopes for the future generations of their family. This transition helps us shift from discussing their past to focusing on leading a purposeful life.

Purpose: What is Purpose?

Your purpose is the reason you feel excited to wake up in the morning. It’s what makes you feel alive and gives your life direction. It can be something you're passionate about, a talent you want to share with the world, or a cause you care deeply about. Through a series of questions, we facilitate a purpose statement. Some examples: What are my core values? What does success mean to me? What are my passions and interests? What kind of legacy do I want to leave? How do I want to be remembered? How can I contribute to others and the world? What kind of friend/partner/family member do I want to be?

Next, we facilitate the development of a family vision, mission, and core value statement. This can take months and weeks to finalize. But getting something down on paper is the best way to begin.

Goals: We ask families to list goals that help them achieve the answer to the question, “Who do I want to Become?” in the next ten years, leading them to their purpose. Next, we ask, “Who do they want to become as a family?” In addition, we look at their workplace goals and priorities for the community.

The goals are then prioritized into buckets, ranking them in order of importance for one year, three years, ten years, and longer. We recommend working on 3-5 goals at any given time, but listing all life goals is an excellent exercise for planning.

Planning: We then help individuals and families lay out their priorities as a guide to navigate their implementation. This is where money and time come into play.  What resources are required to achieve the goals you and your family desire? What are the details of the plan?

Development: How do you prepare for the future? This segment focuses on long-term individual family member development but builds the family balance sheet to leave a legacy about more than just money.

“When you stop growing, you start dying” is by William S. Burroughs.

We encourage families to consider their family balance sheet. This isn’t about finances but all the forms of capital needed to achieve one's full potential: Intellectual, Human, Spiritual, Social, Legacy, and Financial. It is a database of resources for the building blocks of a family’s long-term success.

“We've seen families stumble when they overlook the power of sticking to their core values to go beyond the money. At Belle Hampton Solutions, we're on a mission to tackle these issues head-on." -Madeline S. Hoge.

The process we have developed provides insight for a family and offers guidance not only to individuals but to the family unit as a whole to discover their North Star, which can last generations. Just as Crazy Horse pursued his vision, we aim to uncover what is truly important in life.

We believe that life is about more than just accumulating wealth. It is about living up to your full potential by realizing your dreams beyond your lifetime. What is your Big Hairy Audacious Dream? Do you have a plan to achieve it? Never forget your purpose, and strive to live your dreams every day.

Visit Belle Hampton Consulting’s Resources for guides to achieve your dreams.