Breaking the Rules
The Secret to ReClaiming Your Dream
I once owned the trademark to the phrase “Breaking the Rules.”
Yes, really. Most people don’t know that a common phrase can be trademarked when used as the title of an educational program—but we did it. All thanks owed to our fancy NYC lawyer! My ex-husband and I believed we were on the verge of something BIG, and we wanted to protect it.
Our program wasn’t just about classical music—it was about shattering expectations. Think Lenny Bernstein’s passion, Liberace’s flair, and Mozart’s genius rolled into one. We aimed to break the rules of how people listened to classical music.
We were headed for PBS. Warner Brothers published our book. Columbia Records added our album. NPR wasn’t sure where to place us—because we didn’t fit neatly into a box. But our album was often played- repreatedly and sometimes the station would dedicate an hour to just this album of piano solos. At the time, that was unheard of!
We thought we were on our way.
Until we weren’t.
9/11 changed everything. Dreams in NYC paused, including ours. I gave up the trademark in the divorce. Meh.
But here’s the truth: I never stopped breaking the rules.
Breaking the rules isn’t just about music. It’s about rejecting limits the world places on us. It’s about shattering beliefs that tell us we’re “too old” or “too late.”
Now, that rule-breaking spirit fuels ReClaiming Dreams.
💡 What if the only thing standing between you and your dream is a rule that was never meant for you?
Like:
✔️ “I have to put everyone else’s needs before my own.”
✔️ “If I haven’t done it by now, it wasn’t meant to be.”
✔️ “I need permission to chase what I want.”
✔️ “Dreams are for other people—not me.”
✔️ “It’s irresponsible to take risks at my age.”
✔️ “I should be grateful and not ask for more.”
✔️ “It’s selfish to focus on my dreams now.”
✔️ “If I fail, people will judge me.”
✔️ “It’s too late to be anything but practical.”
Do these rules serve you? Your life? Your dreams?
So why follow them?
If you’re aching to reclaim your dream, choose one rule to break today. Step out of the confines of rule-keeping—like taking a deep breath of crisp mountain air, free from pollutants. That’s the feeling I get when I break the rules and step into freedom.
🚀 Tell me—what’s one rule you’re ready to break?