In this partial picture of the sea of undergraduate students pouring into the arena to get their diploma was one of my daughters. My excitement was hard to describe and my tears hard to contain. And when my daughter’s name was finally called out and she walked across the stage to receive her diploma, we yelled, screamed, and celebrated.

So, what does it take to make it? What’s it take to reach dreams?

Maybe your dream has nothing to do with graduation. Not everyone is made for school. Your dream may involve a career or owning your own house. Your dream may have to do with being debt free or for some of you reading this, you just want to make it through the last week of this year so you can start 2018 afresh and anew. Whichever… there are some principles at play in reaching dreams that we must pay attention to in order to get there, wherever ‘there’ may be to you.

But first, a refreshingly good and invigorating Bible verse penned down by the apostle Paul,

“I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.”  Philippians 4:13

You know what the word ‘everything’ involves? Anything! God sets no boundaries here and He is a ‘CAN DO’ God!!

So, go ahead, have fun and dream big.

Our third president and one of our founding fathers, Thomas Jefferson once said, “I like the dreams of the future better than the history of the past.”

Then, have a goal in mind. Seth Godin said,

“The thing about goals is that living without them is a lot more fun, in the short run. It seems to me, though, that the people who get things done, who lead, who grow and who make an impact… those people have goals.” Lydia Sweatt (https://www.success.com/article/18-motivational-quotes-about-successful-goal-setting)

Goals give our lives something to aim at. Direction. Motivation. They are the kind of thing that helps us get up and get going in the morning.

Then there’s the issue of perseverance. It took me six years to go through college. Some whizz through it in less than four while others take ten to complete it. Regardless, have a stick-to-it mentality that refuses to give up.

Glue yourself…

…to the ‘whatever it takes’ mentality.

Also, keep in mind that nothing worthwhile ever comes easy.

I heard of the side of a guy’s barn that had a perfectly aimed arrow hitting the bulls eye square in the middle, a display of incredible accuracy. Someone asked him about his amazing aim. But the man answered that he had shot the arrow first and then drew the bulls eye around it. What?? Some of us are looking for short cuts to success… there aren’t any!

Work at reaching your dreams and work at it some more. Whether is doing lots of reps in the field or research in the lab or trying and failing and learning from that so you can try some more and fail some more until you finally make it.

Newt Gingrich writes, “The Wright Brothers failed five hundred times over five years before they flew.” Newt Gingrich, Understanding Trump (New York, NY: Hachette Book Group, 2017), 44.

Always remember that this journey we’re all in, is a process, a marathon run, not a hundred yard sprint. Do what you do well and finish strong!

Another element to reaching dreams involves community.

I heard someone say many years ago that teamwork makes the dream work.

There will be people in your life right now that may be with you but are not for you. I wrote about them in my book, Hecklers In Your Crowd: Silencing The Voices That Hold You Back (it’s worth reading, btw). You’ve got to watch your back about them.

But, there will be a bunch others that believe in you and want to see you succeed and do well. Walk along with them and gain what you can from their experience, ability, knowledge, and willingness to work with you and you.

Graduation was an amazing time for our family but my daughter’s journey is just getting off the ground. Much more is ahead. And she will be successful! God has loaded both of my daughters with sharp minds, abilities, and a people caring personality. Their journeys are just beginning, and it may not be easy, but life is fun and the payoff in the end is worth it!

Thanks for reading! I hope you leave me a comment.