| Entrepreneurs often find themselves faced | | | | |
| with a vision-stopping dilemma when they seek | | | | Maybe it would be apropos that a similar |
| to transform their persona from "dreamers" to | | | | voice would haunt me at this time because for |
| "doers." Many people cannot envision | | | | at least a couple of years, anybody coming in |
| themselves beyond their current situations | | | | earshot, heard this idea of mine to build a |
| and circumstances and therefore they never | | | | writer's retreat on the old family farm in |
| get to see an invention come to pass, a | | | | Kenney, Texas -- one day. It would be a place |
| multi-million dollar business started, or a | | | | where people from all walks of life, races, |
| life-changing idea acted upon. | | | | colors and creeds can come and write to their |
| | | | heart's content. |
| Years ago, my daughter wanted to do something | | | | |
| -- I don't remember exactly what, I only | | | | I feel that sometimes, the mind needs a place |
| recall that it would have some small impact | | | | of relaxation to stimulate creativity. At |
| on the family's finances. I answered her, | | | | this retreat, far away from the hustle and |
| "Yes baby ..." and she finished my statement | | | | bustle of the big city, I intend to create |
| with a question: "One day, huh, Daddy?" | | | | just that, tucked neatly away in a serene |
| | | | setting with a backdrop featuring the most |
| I didn't realize that by giving her that | | | | beautiful countryside ever seen. |
| answer for so long -- it wound up ingrained | | | | |
| in her little mind as a possible date, | | | | The last time I visited the place, the old |
| sometime in the future. One day -- a little | | | | house was falling down, neighboring cows |
| be better than the 31st of Neveruary. | | | | trampled through the carport leaving their |
| | | | trails of "you-know-what" everywhere; hay |
| I remembered that conversation while lying on | | | | barns and pens that once housed farm animals |
| my back at Brooks Family Practice and | | | | of all varieties, now stood precariously in |
| Medicine in Humble. Funny what one thinks | | | | disarray. Yet, I recall that when Walt Disney |
| about when facing the possibility of a | | | | surveyed the swampland that a few years later |
| death-threatening ailment. | | | | would become known the world over as |
| | | | Disneyland, many people did not believe in |
| A jambalaya of thoughts rummaged through my | | | | him, either. |
| mind, but the most prominent one seemed to | | | | |
| focus on the fact that "one day," the day | | | | "If you build it, they will come." In "The |
| when I would hold success in my hands, might | | | | Strangest Secret," Earl Nightingale asks |
| never come for me. Faith notwithstanding, an | | | | "What happens to the dreams of men?" I'm |
| enlarged liver, that Dr. Brooks diagnosed me | | | | paraphrasing, but he talks about how as |
| with a couple of weeks previously, could | | | | youngsters, most of us overflow with fire and |
| possibly sideline me for good. | | | | ideas, but the sad reality confirms that only |
| | | | 5 percent will achieve what most of us call |
| I waited for the technician to come back into | | | | "success." |
| the examining room to finish the ultrasound, | | | | |
| the first of several tests to determine the | | | | It took me a while, but I finally learned |
| source of the problem that caused me to | | | | this about visions. No one really needs to |
| rapidly lose 30 lbs. In the quietness, I | | | | understand your vision but you. |
| could hear the mantra made famous in the | | | | |
| baseball movie "Field of Dreams" starring | | | | Of course it would be nice for those closest |
| Kevin Costner: "If you build it, they will | | | | to you to share in your vision. However, most |
| come." | | | | people will only believe in you -- after your |
| | | | vision comes to pass. |
| Released in 1989, the movie that inspired | | | | |
| millions became an Academy Award nominee for | | | | If you harbor an inspiration to do something |
| "Best Picture of the Year." In an | | | | great, people may call you a dreamer, but let |
| oversimplification of the movie's plot, an | | | | them know you prefer the term "visionary." We |
| Iowa corn farmer, hears voices, and believe | | | | always wake up from our dreams. |
| they are commanding him to build a baseball | | | | |
| diamond in his fields. After he does, the | | | | Visions continue until fulfillment finally |
| Chicago Black Sox team comes to play in "the | | | | arrives. "If you build it, they will come. |
| field of dreams." | | | | |