The Dreamer

Go with your passion.It has been said that who see the invisible can do the impossible.

When I was nine years old living in a smaIl town in North Carolina I found an ad for selling greeting cards in the back of a children's magazine．I thought to myself I can do this．I begged my mother to let me send for the kit．Two weeks later when the kit arrived，I ripped off the brown paper wrapper，grabbed the cards and dashed from the house．Three hours later．I returned home with no card and a pocket full of money proclaiming，“Mama．all the people couldn't wait to buy my cards！”A salesperson was born．when I was twelve years old，my father took me to see Zig Ziegler．I remember sitting in that dark auditorium listening to Mr，Zigler raise everyone's spirits up to the ceiling，I left there feeling like I could do anything．When we got to the car，I turned to my father and said．“Dad．I want to make people feel like that．”My father asked me what I meant．"I want to be a motivational speaker just like Mr．Zigler，“I replied．A dream was born．

Recently，I began pursuing my dream of motivating others．After a four-year relationship with a major furtune 100company beginning as a salestrainer and ending as a regional sales manager，I left the company at the height of my career，Many people were astounded that I would leave after earning a six-figure income．And they asked why I would risk everything for a dream．

I made my decision to start my own company and leave my secure position after attending a regional sales meeting．The vice-president of our company delivered a speech that changed my life．He asked us,“If a genie would grant you three wishes what would they be？”After giving us a moment to write down the three wishes．he then asked us,"why do you need a genie ?"I would never forget the empowerment I felt at that moment．

I realized that everything I had accomplished一the graduate degree，the successful sales career，speaking engagements，training and managing for a fortune l00company had prepared me for this moment．I was ready and did not need a genie's help to become a motivational speaker．

When I tearfully told my boss my plans this incredible leader whom Irespect so much replied,"Precede with reckless abandon and you will be successful“

Having made that decision，I was immediately tested．One week after I gave notice，my husband was“laid off from his job．We had recently bought a new home and needed both incomes to make the monthly mortgage payment and now we were done to no income．It was tempting to turn back to my former company，knowing they wanted me to stays but l was certain that if I went back，I would never leave．I decided I still wanted to move forward rather than end up with a mouth full of”if onlys"later on．A motivational speaker was born．

When l held fast to my dream，even during the tough times．The miracles really began to happen．In a short time period my husband found a better job．We didn't miss a mortgage payment．And I was able to book several speaking engagements with new clients．I discovered the incredible power of dreams．I loved my old job,my peers and the company I left，but it was time to get on with my dream．To celebrate my success I had a local artist paint my new offlce as a garden．At the top of one wall she stenciled,“The world always makes way for the dreamer．”

If you can dream it, you can do it.

I don’t know what that dream is that you have. I don’t care how disappointing it might be as you’re working toward that dream. But that dream that you’re holding in your mind – it’s possible. Some of you already know that it’s hard. It’s not easy. It’s hard changing your life. In the process of chasing your dreams, you are going to incur a lot of disappointment, a lot of failure, a lot of pain.

There will be moments when you are going to doubt yourself. You’ll say, “Why? Why is this happening to me? I’m just trying to take care of my children, and my mother. I’m not trying to steal or rob from anybody. How did this have to happen to me?” For those of you who have experienced some hardships – don’t give up on your dream. The rough times are gonna come, but they will not stay, they will come to pass.

Many of you fail to seek your purpose in life and you should. You dream and then follow it up with a list of all the reasons why the dream is unachievable. You fill your life with excuses and "I can't." Many great companies were conceived from a dream, nurtured in a garage or basement and grew to be traded on the New York Stock Exchange. Why not you? Why not your dream? The only true limits you experience in life are those you create or those you allow others to impose upon you. If you can dream it, you can do it!

Dreaming is the easy part. Acting on the dream is harder. Recognize that a dream is a journey. On the simplest level, it takes commitment, time, desire, and courage. But rarely is something great easily realized. Dreaming is recognizing and embracing the potential for greatness and seeking it in all areas of your life. Believe in your dreams and your ability to accomplish them. Keep your dreams in front of you. I'm here to challenge you to reach for your dream. Do not be afraid to dream. Never forget, if you can dream it, you can do it!