What would you dare to dream if you knew that you would not fail? Several weeks ago I was watching the NFL Draft. This is an annual event where America’s best college football players are selected by the NFL to play professional soccer at the highest level. As I was looking at this, there was one player in particular that stood out for me. He was six feet five inches tall and weighed two hundred and sixty-five pounds. This was a big tough guy! That is why I was struck by his response when he was selected. She started to cry! He was so excited that he couldn’t stand up when they called him by name. What would make this tough guy cry? He had achieved the impossible dream.
This was a dream that he had since he was a little boy. This was a dream that kept him awake at night. This was a dream that I thought about every day. What is your impossible dream? I have discovered that all impossible dreams have something in common. To do this, you have to overcome what I call the “staggering statistic.” The staggering statistic is in place because often, on the journey to your dream, you meet a large number of people who share the same aspiration as you. This large group makes for a staggering statistic. For example, there are 9,000 people who play college football at its highest level. Of those 9,000, only 215 will be drafted into the NFL. That is a staggering statistic. Your dream may be to become the CEO of a Fortune 500 company. The average Fortune 500 company has more than 100,000 employees but only one CEO. That is a staggering statistic. So the question is how do I achieve my impossible dream and overcome the staggering statistic? I will share with you the two things you need to achieve your dream. I call these the “two rights” of achieving dreams.
The first right to the achievement of dreams is the correct philosophy. The correct philosophy is the belief that anything is possible. The right philosophy is needed because the staggering statistic will make your dream seem impossible. The key to having the correct philosophy is knowing and accepting its purpose. Your purpose is what makes your dream possible. We were all born with a destiny and a purpose to fulfill. You are the only one who can achieve your specific purpose. Knowing and embracing your purpose will move you to the front of the line and allow you to beat the staggering statistic. That reminds me of an experience at the airport when I was trying to make an early flight. I made it to the terminal only to find many people in the line in front of me who were trying to do the same as me. I was sure I would miss my flight! Then I saw my good friend Paul near the front of the line. He gestured for me to go ahead. We hugged, he left me in front of him and I took off. Our purpose is like my friend Paul. When you know and accept it, you will move to the front of the line and in front of others who are trying to do what you are doing. Knowing and embracing your purpose will allow you to have the correct philosophy.
The second right to the achievement of dreams is the correct perspective. The right perspective will come from selecting a mentor who has done what you are trying to do. Finding a good mentor has two benefits. First, you benefit directly from the mentor’s experience and perspective. Second, they will help you change your perspective. This is important because sometimes our delayed dreams are the direct result of our inability to change. I remember the YouTube video I saw the other day about a blind man who was homeless and was begging on the street. He had a sign in front of him that said “Help, I’m blind.” People passed him every day without giving him money. This became a constant pattern. One day, a lady walks up, turns her sign over, writes something on it, and walks away. Suddenly, people read what she wrote and donated money. His cup was now full of money. I watched this video in amazement and wondered; “What’s on that sign?” Suddenly the camera turned on the sign which was changed to read “It’s a beautiful day and I can’t see it.” The lady was an effective mentor to the blind man because she helped him change his perspective. Once you changed your perspective, you were able to change your outcome. When we have the right perspective, we will get closer to our dreams.
The first right to the achievement of dreams is the correct philosophy, the second right is the correct perspective. In closing, I remember the story of a young man named Craig who brings these two points home. Craig had a difficult childhood. He spoke with a lisp and slurred words. The other children constantly teased him for the way he spoke. Then things went from bad to worse for Craig. When he was ten years old, a friend of his father’s told him that when he spoke, he sounded like Daffy Duck and that he should be quiet. This event had a dramatic impact on him and he did his best to avoid public speaking. Well, this sad story has a happy ending. In 1999, Craig won the Toastmasters International Speaking World Championship and today Craig Valentine is a successful motivational speaker speaking around the world. What was the secret of Craig’s success? First, he had the correct philosophy. Craig’s dream was to win the world championship and he believed it was possible even when everyone was making fun of him. Second, he had the right perspective. Craig wanted to be the world champion, so he selected a mentor who was a previous world champion. The mentor helped him change his perspective, overcome the staggering statistic, and achieve his dream. Today I have good news for you. If it worked for Craig, it will work for you. If you have the right philosophy and the right perspective, you can achieve the impossible dream.