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What's Your Dream Worth?

Guest post by: Michael Hamburger

Article Overview: Anyone who’s known me for more than 90 seconds knows that the words “Dream Big” show up a LOT in my life. You’ll see them at the end of every one of my emails and just about everywhere else in my digital “footprint” not just as an upbeat catchphrase, but because these words have real meaning for me and for my family. When you’re powered by a dream that truly inspires you, you’re going to be unstoppable. I was reminded of this again in a vivid way as I experienced the Walt Disney World theme park through the eyes of my daughter Jayden this week.

What's Your Dream Worth?

Anyone who’s known me for more than 90 seconds knows that the words “Dream Big” show up a LOT in my life. You’ll see them at the end of every one of my emails and just about everywhere else in my digital “footprint” not just as an upbeat catchphrase, but because these words have real meaning for me and for my family. When you’re powered by a dream that truly inspires you, you’re going to be unstoppable. I was reminded of this again in a vivid way as I experienced the Walt Disney World theme park through the eyes of my daughter Jayden this week.

As I looked around the Magic Kingdom and took in the sights, the sounds, the experiences, I was moved by the fact that ALL of it… the entire Disney entertainment empire… began with one man and one dream. Walt Disney himself said, “All your dreams can come true if you have the courage to pursue them” and he and his brother Roy fulfilled their dream by tapping into the dreams of others. Today, Disney is the largest media conglomerate in the world, earning $35 billion annually, not only from their name-brand theme parks in the U.S., Europe and Asia, but also through ESPN, the ABC network and the pioneering Pixar venture that has opened up a whole new world of digital animation that was beyond almost anyone’s imagination when Steamboat Willie hit the silver screen back in 1928. And to think it all began with a cartoon rodent named Mickey Mouse and a visionary named Walt Disney who refused to take no for an answer.

Walt Disney stuck to his dreams and made them real regardless of adversity. When you see success on the scale he created, it’s easy to forget that he stood up to more than his share of resistance and went through some lean times before he got others to buy in to his vision. In his own words… "Biggest problem? Well, I'd say it's been my biggest problem all my life. MONEY. It takes a lot of money to make these dreams come true. From the very start it was a problem. Getting the money to open Disneyland. About seventeen million it took. And we had everything mortgaged including my personal insurance." To this day, Disney holds the record for the most Academy Award nominations (59) and the number of Oscars awarded (22).

The significance of all this came rushing back to me this week as I saw my little daughter Jayden’s dream fulfilled before my eyes. Somehow she discovered that it was possible to “dine with the princesses” at the Disney resort and I could see the burning desire and belief in her little face. Focusing only on possibilities, we contacted the venue on a few hours notice. “Sorry,” they said. “Breakfast is sold out… but wait a minute… it looks like we have a dinner spot open around 4:00.” When we arrived, the host said, “This never happens… we’re always booked out two or three months in advance!” “Well,” I said. “It happens to me all the time!” We manifested another big dream that day as my two little princesses experienced their own touch of Walt Disney’s relentless magic dining with their favorite Disney characters.

“The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing." I close with these wise words from Walt Disney and ask you to consider this; it’s impossible to overestimate the power of a dream... even one that's as seemingly insignficant as a cartoon mouse. What you think about, you bring about, so why not make it a BIG dream? Can you see yourself enjoying the rewards of changing lives in huge numbers by giving them the empowering gift of financial literacy? Everything worthwhile you see around you began with a dream and one person who was willing to hold onto it even when others said they were crazy. Dreams DO come true… just ask Walt Disney and my daughter Jayden. It really IS important to…

DREAM BIG!!!

Michael Hamburger

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Article Tags: Dream, DREAM BIG, Goal, Michael Hamburger, Wealth Masters International



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Re: What is one of your favorite sales and marketing book? - Great post. I love biographies. My favorite book is The Magic of Thinking Big. It's such a quick, easy read. But the big take away message is you should dream big because most people don't bother to dream big and actually try big. The book cites the example of a job posting for an executive position gets far fewer responses than a job for a mid level manager or a mailroom clerk. So Dream Big & Do Big because most people won't. Off to get the Zappos book.
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