How badly do you want it?

There’s a remarkable difference between wishing for something and the relentless pursuit of a dream.

On this, the 65th anniversary of when they broke ground on Walt Disney World… I ask you this:

What do you want so badly that you’d ignore all the nay sayers, tune out all of negativity, keep getting up every time you get knocked down and when you close your eyes… you don’t see what might be, you see what WILL be?

And… when are you going to start making it a reality?  Walt Disney faced bankruptcy, professional ruin, and more “no’s” than you or I could ever imagine hearing.  But the vision was so strong, so real and so non-negotiable – he simply kept at it.

There’s a famous story that I love.  On the opening day of Walt Disney World, Walt’s brother Roy was being interviewed.  The reporter commented that it was a shame that Walt did not live to see it.  Roy quietly replied, “if Walt hadn’t seen it first, we wouldn’t be seeing it today.”

When you let yourself close your eyes and see the most audacious, crazy but spectacular thing in the world… what do you see and what are you doing to create it?

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9 comments on “How badly do you want it?

  1. Doug Pals says:

    Drew,

    Dreams are powerful things. They are sometimes painful to follow, but often rewarding in ways we can’t imagine.

    As you say, getting back up again and again and again might just be all it takes to keep the dream moving.

    Your words were encouraging to me today and I’m sure to others as well.

    DP

    1. Doug,

      So true…but I think a lot of us have stopped dreaming or somehow squelch our dreams, thinking they’re crazy, impractical or silly. But I think it is the dream inside us that just won’t go away that we should be listening to as we chart our course.

      Drew

      1. Doug Pals says:

        As adults and business owners we also understand the effort, commitment and time it will take to achieve a dream – or at least we think we do.

        I wonder how often the ‘tired affect’ has put the brakes on a dream or a great idea before it ever has a chance to take flight.

        For me it seems that all my big dream ideas would carve too deeply into my family time or take time away from existing work priorities. And yet, new business ideas and observations still flow. The effort to find the right balance is the challenge – at least for me.

        Thanks for the opportunity to think about this more specifically.

        DP

  2. Claudia says:

    This is fantastic! We at WOTP have had our share of naysayers. Thanks for this great post.

    1. Claudia,

      You guys just keep at it. You’re doing it right!

      Drew

  3. Alice says:

    What a very inspiring story. Walt still lives in the hearts of people to whom he has given great influence. I wish I could see things the way he did. What’s your inspiration?

    -Alice

    1. Hey Alice,

      I agree — Walt’s legacy is something incredible. What are my inspirations?

      Walt — if he can see/build a dream, then I can too
      My daughter — she’s my jiminy cricket — I always want her to be proud of me
      My grandfather — a man with a 3rd grade education who was the most well read man I ever met

      How about you? What/who inspires you?

      Drew

  4. Drew,

    I couldn’t agree more!! The quote that has always served me well in relation to this is by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. It’s too long to post the whole thing here but it starts with “Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back—“. And it ends with “Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it. Begin it now”. It’s hanging on the wall in my office to read daily!

  5. Wise advice Claire — thank you.

    Drew

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