A2Z Dreamz

Our messages of the Dream Workshops include encouraging our audience to time to reflect and express gratitude to the people and for the things in your life. My reflection on the previous year included nothing short of an amount of gratitude that can never fully be expressed in words, however I tried my best to thank everyone who has helped A2Z get off the ground not just in the past year, but what has been years in the making! Enjoy this letter and feel free to visit www.angelabrandenburg.com for the previous years. ~ Angela

Dear Friends, Family and Brothers:

Once again another year has gone by and the New Year upon us brings a time to reflect on new beginnings. The new beginning may be different for each of us or may simply mark a new chapter in our lives. To some it is the beginning of a new journey entering in or departing from school; some are starting a new job or a seeking the next step in their career; and others may make changes in areas such as health, family and relationships. Last year was the “Year of the Tiger,” an animal that was a bit rough on me at times (I have a few scratches left to prove it!). I’m hoping the “Year of the Rabbit” offers the strength to keep going like the Energizer Bunny!

It was quite the year in 2010 when my new beginning was starting my company, A2Z Dreamz, an endeavor that was equally full of challenges as well as rewards. After years in the making, it can only be described at times as a dream come true. To say that it happened just in the past year is an understatement. Instead, when taking the time to reflect I realized it was something I had been training almost my whole life to do, but in the past few years was when it actually all came together like pieces of puzzle that finally made sense. It began with a simple request from a student for help bringing more speakers to college campuses. Having no idea at the time that I would become one or what I was about to do in the upcoming years, my passion to help his organization (and one of which I am a proud alumnus, Alpha Kappa Psi Business Fraternity) prompted my reply, “Yes, I will help you.”

Summarizing the journey to my dream, it was apparent that each year since I began writing my annual letter had led me closer to finding and being able to serve my purpose as founder of the A2Z Dream Workshop. First, there was “A Year of Change,” when I went from being a campus leader to a college graduate and began my career in the real world. Next, during “A Year of Inspiration,” I continued to volunteer mentoring a student organization, realized the need for the more college speakers and was inspired to DREAM BIG about the possibilities. Then, during “A Year of Wishes,” I conducted a countrywide research and development mission, proposed my plans for my Dream and continued to wish for it to come true. After all of that, it took “A Year of Transition,” when the Dream started to become reality as material was written and the Dream Workshop launched on various Midwest campuses.

Finally, in 2010 the Dream was no longer something I was wishing for, but a company that came to life and became known as A2Z Dreamz. Audiences responded very positively to the A2Z Dream Workshop saying they had never attended anything similar and loved it! Just as the past few years has taught me, we teach our audiences the steps to make ones dream their reality - making the company’s mission to teach as well as serve as an example of what it means to “Live the Dream from A2Z.” Our audiences know D.R.E.A.M. means more than just thinking about the possibilities. It means staying focused, finding ways to overcome challenges, and taking the action steps: 1) Discover Passions, 2) Realize Entrepreneurial Abilities, and 3) Manifest your Destiny.

Along the way I remembered what my mentor, Art Bettuzzi, told me during my research of the Dream, “You can’t go from A2Z without hitting all the letters in between.” More than anything, helping me to learn the lessons that each of the letters represent, as well as making this dream come true is a great network of professionals, their empowering words of inspiration, and those who continue to “be the change they wish to see in the world.” (Gandhi)

As the Dreamz Team grows we are building upon the foundation we’ve created over the past “Year of Dreamz” and would like to give a special thanks to those that have participated as a Dreamz Team advisor, the Venture Center E-Seed Entrepreneurship Training, Toastmasters International, our featured authors and A2Z Entrepreneurs, and everyone who has continued to watch it grow, supported and invested in the belief of making a Dream come true.

Most of all, it wouldn’t be possible without the members of today’s generation from campuses across the country and beyond – YOU are what continue to inspire A2Z Dreamz more than anything! Your efforts to plan the events illuminate your creativity you put forth in every workshop which makes it fun, exciting and a magical journey that will continue for years to come! YOU are the Dreamers, the Doers, and the people that are changing the WORLD to make it a better place – continue to follow your dreamz!

We’re looking forward to visiting more campuses, learning about your dream for the future and helping you make your dreamz come true! Our DREAM for you in 2011 is that you Make a Wish, Make a Dream, Make a Difference – and Make the Most of Today!

Enthusiastically,

Angela M. Brandenburg