Tomorrow is Halloween, the one day a year when adults can wear a bed sheet in public and still be considered relatively normal.  On this festive day, people dress up like favorite characters, superheroes, villains, or the rich and famous.  Many times, people are willing to take more risks and do things outside their comfort zone when dressed like someone else.   People will act differently because of the mask or costume.  In our personal or business pursuits, we might draw an interesting lesson from this spooky day.
When we set goals for ourselves, it's assumed that our goal is something we have not achieved before.  If I've run in a marathon, I don't set that as my goal.  I might set a time limit, but the act of running in a marathon is no longer a goal for me.  It's an achievement.  When making goals, we are told we need to dream big.  I agree, but it can be difficult to change our behavior in a way to conform with our goals.  So much of our identity is wrapped up in who we are now, and not who we aspire to be.  In order to succeed, it can help us to emulate a person who has achieved our goals.  For instance, if my dream is to become a great quarterback, I would want to act like Peyton Manning or Tom Brady.  I would look to what they do, and try to do those same things.  Many people call this the "fake it 'til you make it" method.  If we assume the "identity" of someone who has already achieved our dreams, it helps us act in a way that is consistent with our goals.Changing our habits can be difficult, and sometimes we need help to reach our goals.  By learning from those who have gone before us, we can make the path to success a little shorter and little easier.  So tomorrow, try to take something away from Halloween, other than too much candy.  Remember, make believe can be fun, but it can also help us make our dreams become a reality.