Updated: November 28, 2020
The daughter of a friend asks, “So mommy, if you would be doing one thing that you really, really like right now, what would that be?”
“I’d be making custom clothes for little girls,” my friend replies.
“So what’s stopping you from doing it?” her daughter asks back.
My friend was at a loss for words because honestly, how do you answer such a hard question? And if you think about it, isn’t it ironic that we encourage kids to have and follow their dreams, and yet we don’t?
We all need a job to make ends meet, but your life shouldn’t end there. Too many times, I’ve met people who consciously choose to stay where they are, even if it’s making them unhappy.
Day in and day out, they drag themselves to work and then complain about how they hate their jobs. Month after month, they run in the rat race while wishing they’re not in it. And yet ironically, they’re not doing anything about it. Until years pass by, and they start to wonder how and why they allowed themselves to waste away.
“But I need to put food on the table, I’m the breadwinner in our household.”
“I have bills to pay, and a family to support.”
“My parents are sick, they depend on me to buy their medicines.”
These are valid reasons to get a job and earn a living. But often, people use these reasons as excuses to stay in their comfort zones and do nothing else in their lives.
They repeat these excuses in their heads, hoping that one day they’ll finally be able to convince themselves that their dreams were a necessary sacrifice they had to make.
Never mind the fact that Walt Disney used to be a newspaper editor before he became an animator; that Harrison Ford was a carpenter before he pursued acting; that Andrea Bocelli was a lawyer before singing opera; and Brad Pitt used to be a chauffeur before breaking into Hollywood.
There are countless other individuals, much like you and me, who one day decided that they’re not going to stay in a miserable job just because they can’t afford to quit.
Remember that there’s always a way, and with hard work, focus, and discipline – you can also achieve success and happiness.
So the next time you receive your paycheck, look at the number at the bottom, and ask yourself, “Is giving up on my dreams worth this much?”
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very powerful dialogues. thanks for sharing
While I appreciate most of your articles that I read, I find this to be the most inspirational. I also like the fact on how it is written. This is a very good read for me.
A very hard question to answer ineed. I just need time to save for a capital to start a business I love to do. The figure below my paycheck is not worth my dream indeed…
Sir Fitz, you’re always great. Thanks for this powerful thoughts!
Fitz always give something to think about every time he post readings. Now I will ask also if my pay check is worth really to give up on my dreams. Thanks sir.
Found that video on facebook too, and it had a big impact.
Most people are so afraid of losing the security of a steady paycheck (one of Kiyosaki’s lessons) that they forget about their true purpose in life (Deepak Chopra calls it “dharma”).
How do you solve that? How do you get rid of the fear?
Simple:
BELIEVE IN YOUR ABILITIES and just go for it! You can make it work. If you want it enough, you will find a way.
*(I recently read Susan Jeffers’ “Feel the Fear… and Do it Anyway!” and that’s her tip on how to face the fears that keep you stuck.)
Anyway, glad to say that I’m moving on to my passion soon.
I asked an office mate (who is into painting) why did he stopped dreaming of becoming an Artist. He answered “there is no money in painting”.
And as much as I would like to tell him that artists are creative people. The sky is the limit in Arts.
You don’t necessarily need to become a painter, you can learn graphic designing, or T-shirt printing..etc.
I’m trying to tell him that his gift is his creativity not his hands.
Same thing with writing. You don’t have to be an Author that write physical books just because you think how difficult it is to publish one. You can start a blog with little or no money! Learn how to monetize it and save money to publish your dream book!
So, I really admire people who fight for their dreams. If you don’t live your dreams you’re already dead before you even die.
Powerful post! I followed your blog on and off since 2007. Stumbled across your testimony in col. You have come a long way Sir Fritz! Reading your posts blesses me!