Matthews, a Des Moines resident, travels across the country motivating students, corporations, non-profits and association audiences around the world to “DREAM. THINK. DO.” In 2006, he created the “BIG Dream Gathering”. Originally designed as a way to inspire family and friends to focus in on their dreams, the idea spiraled into a motivational training tool that’s inspired thousands to “dream bigger, think better and do more.”
“Hosting our chapter’s first campus-wide event was such a great experience and allowed us to get our name out on campus," said Vice President-Professional Activities Keli Myracle. “Working with Mitch and his team was such an amazing experience and they were a great resource. We started planning this event in the spring of 2016 to put it through in the fall. The day of the event myself and four other students were able to eat lunch with Mitch and discuss our dreams and aspirations and just get to know him on a personal level. An hour before the event, we had 20 volunteers from three different organizations come help pass out Mitch’s book, the Dream sheets, and be encouragers for students to participate.” Brother Myracle emphasized that planning this event was made easier by how familiar she was with her campus, allowing her to be able to use her resources most effectively to produce the best possible outcome.
The event proved to be a huge success, inspiring those in attendance to think BIG. Said Myracle, “My biggest take away from this whole event was just listening to the way we can follow our dreams. Mitch started off by explaining his failure, which led him to becoming a speaker. After listening to his failure, he brought up examples of people that he has met and how they followed their dreams with just a simple step, ‘What if you had a little less fear?’ This was the biggest thing that stood out to me because I am wanting to become a travel agent, and right now I’m on the right track by planning three major events on campus, but what would happen if I stepped outside of my comfort zone and went to a travel agency around here to help out. That would get me in the right direction.” Brother Shreeya Rajkarnikar called the event “amazing and eye opening…I had never really discussed or elaborated on my dreams. Now that I say it out loud, I am making plans to achieve those dreams.”
Congratulations, Iota Omicron Chapter, for pulling off this BIG event. Jumpstart your dreams, and learn more about Mitch Matthews and his “BIG Dream Gathering” by downloading his weekly podcast “DREAM. THINK. DO” on iTunes.
By: Stacy Heyderhoff, Cincinnati Alumni