Living Your Dream
What’s the number one thing that stands between most people living their dreams?
What’s the number one thing that stands between most people living their dreams? When I ask that question to my audiences they usually respond with the following:
- Themselves
- Fear
- Lack of focus
- Lack of money
- They don’t know what their dream is
These are all great answers and, if you look closely, they all have something in common; their all wrong! Seriously though, they’re not the number one thing that stands in the way. The number one thing is not what you think.
Consider this. I used to work for an Internet company but I wanted to go full-time into professional speaking because that was my dream. Therefore, I went to the Vice-President of the company and said, “John, I’m going to be leaving the company because it’s always been my dream to be a full-time professional speaker.” He said, “I’m glad that you have a dream Craig but you cannot leave.” Startled, I said, “What do you mean I can’t leave?” And that’s when he started raising my salary to new heights. The more he raised it the more I kept telling him, “This is not a financial decision. It’s about my dream. This is a dream decision.” Finally he said, “Okay Craig, how about if we raise your salary to well above $100,000.” Immediately I looked at him and said, “Dreams are overrated!”
Later that day I went home to my wife and said, “Honey, I really don’t know what to do about this.” That’s when my wife Kacy said the words that changed my life for good and can change yours for great. She said, “Craig, this is all you ever wanted. Ever since we met this is all you’ve talked about becoming. I don’t care how much they try to compensate you, because your dream is not for sale.”
There it is! Most people think the number one thing that gets in the way of their dreams is some bad obstacle. Well you know what? That’s not it. The number one thing that gets in your way is not something bad, it’s something good. It’s something we settle for; like a good job, good marriage, or good salary. When my wife said those wonderful words I realized the truth behind the statement that sometimes the enemy of the best is the good.
So here’s my question for you? When it comes to you and your dream right now, are you too good to be great? Think about that. Are you too comfortable with your good life to ever stretch out to reach greatness? That’s the number one reason most people don’t live their dream. Don’t let that happen to you. Realize that the enemy of the best is the good and that no matter what happens in your life, your dream is not for sale.
So what did I do after my wife gave me that life-changing advice? I went back into the Vice-President’s office the next day and I was bold. I looked him directly in the eyes and I was firm as I said, “Uh…my wife said my dream is not for sale.” I left the company and that year I spoke more than 160 times in 44 states and 5 countries and I’m happy to say I have been running my mouth every since.
There’s nothing special about me, but there’s something very special about the advice my wife gave me. My dream is not for sale and neither is yours. Your dream is not for sale.
7 Responses to “Living Your Dream”
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Thumbs up and keep it going! Landlord.
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