One of the greatest challenges facing our ever intensive quest for the impossible dream is to make it across the finish line even if it's only by the skin of our teeth. Many outstanding accomplishments have been started just to see our vision die one foot short of the goal line. Sound familiar? Don't get your knickers in a twist; here's an idea.

Cry Me A River!

Have you ever experienced this? Maybe a dream or desire that you have had your heart set on suddenly drops square in the lap of some bozo that couldn't fight his way out of a wet paper bag. Suddenly, your dream is now the property of someone else and all the nice things you used to think about that person now just took a hike.

Did you know one of the best tests of our character is when we face the fiery furnace of failure? Especially when that furnace burns up our dream just inches before we take it to the bank.

Many pursuits, that we chase, seem to stop dead in their tracks almost at the very beginning. That's probably a blessing in disguise. If every thing we pursued, or most every thing, all came unraveled at the very end, we probably would go nuts.

Just getting that close to the prize creates such anticipation, that if almost all of them flopped, we would probably stop trying just to avoid the emotional trauma. But, life is kind to us to prevent us from putting forth that much effort, consistently, and then see our dream land in the lap of someone else.

Don't Look A Gift Horse In The Mouth!

Now, you see, you thought life was mean to you. But, the other way of looking at it is; it spared us from getting to the one foot line and then blowing up in our face.

I am not a huge baseball fan but I heard the story of Babe Ruth and the great success he had in his career. It was a super accomplishment to have hit over seven hundred home runs in his life in the major leagues. But, he also struck out over fourteen hundred times.

There was a particular game that Babe struck out every time he got up to the plate, except the last time. And, in this game every time he got up he swung at the ball so hard that he fell in the dirt. A newspaper reporter told Babe he should not swing so hard. Babe said, "Ah, don't pity me, pity those poor pitchers".

Some Good News And, Some Bad News!

As I thought about my life in business I think that's about the ratio that holds true; Two failures for every success. Some successes were gigantic, some were mediocre, and some were heart breaking. Of course the heart breaking ones are the big failures.

Some failures are labeled failures too quickly. Many times I have seen something wonderful happen long after I had destined some dream to the garbage dump. Then something happened that resurrected that puppy and seemed to breathe life back into it.

At that moment a breath of life and enthusiasm seemed to overtake me and, I found myself buzzing around like a swarm of hornets to put that dream back in the winners circle.

Dead As A Dodo!

I know this has happened to many people. But, why? Here is my personal observation. Many times we get so caught up in a situation we no longer can see the situation. Then something happens and the dream meets the deadline of death.

At that point we lick our wounds for awhile and go on to the next dream. Well, now we are out of the situation, we are not even thinking about that dream anymore. We are completely divorced from the dream and have no feelings about it one way or the other mentally or emotionally.

Maybe there is some wisdom here we need to get a hold of. Anything in this world we put more of our body mind soul and spirit into, than where they should be, stands the "chance" of being ripped out of our hands. And, when the ripping is over we realize we were only a day late and a dollar short.

A Word To The Wise!

That's when we get into this syndrome; If only, If only, If only; the stage of regrets. Well, what's the answer? It can be very difficult to walk a very fine line of between adequate commitment and self-serving irresponsibility. And, sometimes we have crossed that line long before we realize it.

Then the only way we find out where we are is when the dream is losing that "look of success". If a dream is in danger of slipping away from you, the first thing I would do is an honest assessment of my commitment to it. Contrary to popular opinion, you can destroy your own dreams by setting them up as idols in your life.

I know I've done it. No one is slick enough to always know when they have crossed the line between adequate commitment and self-serving irresponsibility, so don't expect to. But, look at your behavior and most of the time you can tell. I warn you; it's very difficult to ease off if you think you have crossed the line, because of your existing momentum

Pain In The Neck!

Most of the time, the dream itself will have to back you off by showing you the signs of hopelessness; not a very empowering feeling. You will see small personality changes such as: over aggressiveness, temper outbursts, no time for anyone else, everyone else is wrong, and constantly thinking about money or the lack of it.

If any of these personality traits seem to be exhibiting themselves in you, I would bet a dollar to a doughnut you have an idol in your life. There is something that you have given your body mind and soul to and it's turning around to bite you.

Remember earlier in this article when we talked about the person who ended up with the dream you wanted and seemly didn't even have to lift a finger to get it? It just dropped in their lap. Do you see now what might have happened? It was one of those paradoxes of life that makes about as much sense as a screen door on a submarine...

Lighter Than Air!

It was not an idol to them. They were not possessed to the point of selling out every thing else in life that has meaning. So, the dream just flowed naturally and easily in their direction. Will it always happen this way? Don't you wish?

But, I can leave you with this final thought. Any dream that you are pursuing right now that seems to possess your soul, turn down the fiery furnace of desire. And, even if you don't achieve it, you won't risk turning your personality into a Frankenstein. And, who knows, it just might drop in your lap.

Richard Vegas