One night, however, as I was retiring for bed, this business IDEA came back into my mind; but because time had elapsed, I was having new and different (and better) ideas this time. It was at this moment, now looking back in hindsight, that the very first principle of success was implemented … I took out a piece of paper and a pen, I WROTE DOWN all the ideas that were coming to my mind, and I truly BELIEVED that this IDEA would work.

I then purposely let those ideas sit for some time, knowing that anybody can get excited about an idea in the moment, but TIME has a way of bringing reason, logic, and wisdom to any situation. I knew that if I was still excited and passionate about the idea in a few weeks (not to mention the new ideas that would come by then), then perhaps I had something. That time came, and the ideas, excitement, and passion increased!

It was at this point – and I’ll never forget it – that I completely COMMITTED to doing whatever necessary to accomplish this dream and bringing this idea into reality! I remember not only establishing an organized plan and setting GOALS, but also personally making a very specific promise that I would put God and my family FIRST, that I would WORK extremely hard on this idea EVERY DAY, and that I would NOT QUIT until it was accomplished. I also promised that WHEN I did SUCCEED, that I would GIVE and help other people with my time and resources.

Well, to make an extremely long story short, after having built an expensive website, putting in countless hours each day for a few months, and developing and implementing my marketing plan, the business and idea completely failed. However, I was DETERMINED to make this work and to accomplish my goal and dream. I thus completely CHANGED my approach, developed a NEW plan, and tried marketing to different people and in different ways. To say the least, much time and money was put into this idea … and it failed AGAIN!

I remember one day literally feeling like I was standing between two decisions trying to determine which voice in my head would I listen to – the one that was screaming for me to give up, or the one that was quietly reminding me to PERSIST. The most challenging part as I stood there was trying to convince myself that my idea may have temporarily failed, but that did not mean that I personally was a failure.

Thankfully, I chose to listen to and heed the advice of the voice that often is extremely quiet, encourages us to take the much more difficult road, and is usually drowned out by the masses of people who listen to, follow, and encourage us to follow the other voice who is constantly screaming at us to take the easy road.

And yet, despite the fact that I chose to listen to the right voice, that certainly did not make the journey any easier. But, success was achieved. My goal was accomplished. The dream was realized. And ironically, this happened not necessarily because the IDEA was an amazing idea, but because I believed in the idea and myself, I completely committed to it, I worked at it every day, I overcame doubt and fear, I learned from and got up when I temporarily failed, and I persisted until my idea became a success. And perhaps most importantly, it was a success not because of the quality of the product or the money that was (and is) being generated, but because I put God and family first, and helped others with the resources I have been blessed with.

To view the ‘product’ and end result of the business IDEA behind this story, please visit: www.GreatGamesBook.com and www.Tips4Families.com

It was the fall of 1994, and I was perhaps unlike most 7^th graders who had just started middle school because I was absolutely determined to do whatever it took to accomplish one of my boyhood dreams and goals – and that was to become the Student Body President when I got to high school. You probably would not have found anyone who was more committed to and desirous to achieve their goal, and willing to do whatever it took to accomplish it.

However, like most of our dreams and goals in life, as we pursue them we inevitably face challenges, set backs, disappointments, doubts and fear, and even occasional failures. Such was the case in pursuit of my dream. I ran for 7^th grade class president, anticipating that winning this election would only help me in the path that led to the accomplishment of my dream. However, little did I realize that I would be running against the star running back of the football team and undoubtedly the most popular kid in our grade. To say the least – I lost the election.

For whatever reason, in the moment of failure, we often wrongfully assume that we personally are failures, and we thus fail because we don’t recognize that our failings are a necessary step on the journey to our success. Within seconds after the election results were announced, I went from being the most confident, goal-oriented, success driven 7^th grader ever, to an individual who had lost his self-esteem, no longer believed in himself, and essentially gave up on his dream.

Like we all do far too often, I allowed the losing results of the election to determine my potential and serve as the excuse as to why my dream was never achieved. For years, I gave up on my dream; and perhaps more detrimental, I didn’t even believe it was possible anymore. And yet, when these common situations in life occur, I don’t believe that our goals or dreams ever fully diminish. At one point or another, those who truly become great are the ones with enough courage to continue to pursue their dream no matter how many times they have failed, how difficult it has and will still be, how much money or time has been lost, and how impossible it may seem.

It was not until the 11^th grade – 4 years later – that the initial desire and belief started to be revived within me again to pursue my dream. Although emotionally scared from the past experience years ago, I was still determined to achieve my dream, and I knew that time was running out. I decided to run for a Jr. Class Officer position. The difficulty of this task was not in campaigning so much as it was daily having to eliminate the voices of fear, doubt, and failure that constantly were screaming in my head. Thankfully I won the election; but I have often wondered as I reflect back upon the situation, if I actually won because of popularity reasons or because I believed in myself, overcame fear and doubt, worked extremely hard, and did not give up on my dream.

Perhaps the most amazing lesson learned and change that occurred on my journey to my goal was what happened during my Jr. year as I served as a class officer. For the first time in my life, I realized that in order to accomplish my personal goal, I actually needed to forget about myself (and even the goal), and seek to help and serve others. From organizing service projects, to supporting teams and clubs, to even having lunch with students who perhaps did not have too many friends, ironically I rediscovered my own self-confidence through serving and helping others. The right kind of popularity, I learned, was not found from success on the football field, in the classroom, or even because you are on student government – it was made evident in the character reflected from the mirror and the service rendered to others.

Towards the end of my Jr. year, the time came for the very election that I had desired and pursued for over five years. After a long and close race, and before the election results were announced, I distinctly remember reflecting on the past five years that led me to where I was at. I’ll never forget how as I sat there, a feeling of complete satisfaction and accomplishment came over me – and remember, the results had not been announced yet. I felt as though, in many ways, I had already succeeded because I never gave up on my dream and I had tried my very hardest to accomplish it. Perhaps more importantly, in the process I had learned what true success was in life. It wasn’t in becoming a Student Body President – it was discovered in losing myself for others’ sake. Thus, dealing with the potential disappointment from another election loss would certainly be easier than the disappointment that would accompany the dream being realized if I had failed in other more important areas of life.

Thankfully, the dream was realized, and I fortunately had another year to serve my fellow classmates as their Student Body President. So – what is your ‘Student Body President’ dream in life? Do you believe that it is possible to achieve – and are you willing to do whatever it takes to achieve it (regardless of the failures that probably will happen along the way)? Remember that my dream was not realized because I was more popular, talented, or ran a better campaign; I won because of the simple elements necessary to achieve success in anything: desire, belief, action, getting up after failing, and persisting until the dream was realized. More importantly, the true success came not because the dream was realized, but because of the character developed and the people helped along the journey.

Most people who fail in Real Estate fail because they give the excuses that they don’t have the necessary knowledge, time, or money required to achieve success.

The reality is that they lack the essential elements and attributes to be successful in anything – desire, faith and belief, a plan and goals, daily action, commitment and determination, learning from failure, and persistence! Truthfully, you do not need money to make money, anyone who is completely committed to their goal will do whatever it takes to gain the necessary knowledge, and it is not the lack of time that is the problem – it is the inability to prioritize and make time for their goals and dreams.

These same people also actually convince themselves that buying the product, attending the seminar, or actually having a coach and mentor will undoubtedly result in success and real estate wealth. These purchases may be a first necessary step, but unless belief, action, and persistence are also implemented, those books and products will gather dust on the shelf. These once excited first-time investors thus become just like every other beginning real estate investor who does not have the self-discipline, commitment, and determination to persist until their goal is realized.

The most challenging aspect of real estate investing is not in finding the ideal property, negotiating the right deal, obtaining the best financing, building a business and team of professionals, properly estimating the repair costs, choosing the right exit strategy, or developing the ability to sell regardless of market conditions. The hardest part is actually believing it is possible, having faith in yourself, overcoming fear, taking a risk, learning from failure, and putting forth daily action with a commitment to persist until your dream is realized.

Thus, consider for a moment the incredible real estate opportunities and conditions that our country currently faces (I am writing this in the spring of 2009). Notice that I used the word ‘opportunities’ – and have chosen and trained myself NOT to listen to the fear and risks the media write about regarding the current real estate market. Opportunities to achieve success, accomplish our dreams, and acquire wealth always come before we are prepared and are gone before we realize it. Let’s not be the person who in five years from now looks back to 2009 and says ‘I wish I would have bought then.’

What are your ‘I wish I would have’ statements? The reality is that these principles and this truth apply not only to Real Estate, but to EVERY goal and dream in our lives. The challenge lies not in the details of doing it, the challenge is simply DOING IT! It all starts and hinges on the stage of our own minds. Will we believe in ourselves and our potential? Will we put forth the required and necessary action to achieve success (in anything)? And perhaps most importantly, will we persist, learn from failure, and never quit until our goals and dreams are realized?

Where is your manuscript? Is it also in the drawer, sitting and collecting dust? Perhaps it is still in your mind, being mulled over and thought about every once in a while. Or, perhaps it is actually in your mind – but you have not discovered it yet!

Let’s be honest – each of us, at one point in time, has had an idea come to our minds that we thought would be a great book idea. Perhaps it was a mysterious fictional story, a self-help book from something you have learned and experienced, a how-to book, an adventure or romance novel, or possibly even simply an autobiography or compilation of family stories and experiences. But let’s also be honest – the reason that book has not been written is NOT because of the idea, relevance of the wisdom and experiences shared, or the excitement of the plot within the potential book – it is because of the lack of belief and work ethic of the potential author.

But I can just picture it now – you as the reader (with or without a book idea) are thinking one of these many thoughts: writing and publishing a book is hard; finding an agent to accept the manuscript is impossible; no large publishing house will publish my book; I don’t know the first thing about writing and marketing a book; I just don’t have the time; there are so many other books on that subject; or any other foolish excuse. It is interesting because the only limitations in life are the ones we create, believe, and nourish within our own minds!

Now, I would be the fool if I promised you that an agent or publishing house will accept your manuscript and you’ll thus have great success. However, I can promise you that a book’s success does not lie in the hands of an agent, publishing house, book idea, or even the size of the market – it lies in the author of that book believing in themselves and the book, committing to do whatever it takes to be successful, overcoming the voices of fear and failure, taking a risk, and persisting until you accomplish your goal.

So, where is your manuscript? Do you already know about it, or do you need to discover it? Regardless of where it is, writing and publishing a book is possible if you … believe that it is possible, have faith in yourself, commit to take daily action, realize you may experience rejection and failure at times, but continually persist until your goal, dream, and book become a reality.

(The book referred to in this post is called: Great Games! 175 Games & Activities for Families, Groups, & Children. Filled with fun games for people of all ages, groups of all sizes, and games for any type of setting, the purpose of the book is to bring families and friends together more, create fun memories, and provide wholesome entertainment for everyone! You can view the book and learn more at: www.GreatGamesBook.com).

We each have and still do fall victim to this reality and inability; but thankfully we can change, right! I had such a dream once, and the story behind how I achieved that dream is actually quite revealing about the simple yet essential attributes necessary to achieve any of our dreams or goals.

I have always had an interest in, love for, and empathy towards the African people. Through various life experiences and encounters with these humble, kind, and wonderful people, I remember always having a dream and goal in the back of my mind that one day I would start a non-profit to help these people who have so little, yet are worthy of so much. And yet, like us all, I put off that dream knowing that I had no knowledge of starting and running a non-profit, I had no money, and I certainly did not have any extra time. I convinced myself that those things would come later and THEN I would pursue my dream; but in the meantime, I was in no position to.

Well, an opportunity crossed my path much earlier in life than anticipated; and as with all opportunities, they come before we are prepared and leave before we realize it. While talking with a friend and neighbor one day, I discovered that she too had a dream and goal in life to start a non-profit to help the African people she likewise loved so much. Her problem, however, was not necessarily the time, money, or knowledge – it was the lack of entrepreneurial experience and willingness to take the risk to make it happen. I knew immediately that my opportunity to partner with an incredibly knowledgeable, talented, and experienced individual to start a non-profit was sitting right in front of me.

Interestingly enough, as is often the case when a dream is pursued or a risk needs to be taken, the voices of fear, doubt, and failure started to scream very loudly in my mind. Who was I to start a non-profit? I did not know the first thing about what to do, what to expect, or what would even be required of me. How much would it cost, what legal entity needs to be established, what will our mission and focus be, and how in the world will we raise donations (not to mention the churning in my stomach at just the thought of having to do that).

To say the least, I had ‘no clue’ what I was doing or getting myself into – but I did it. Let me repeat that – I did it! Thankfully, long ago I developed the ability to decide, and to stick to and be completely committed to the decisions and risks I take. I have never been fully prepared for the opportunities that cross my path, but I have certainly learned that when I truly believe in myself, my dream and goal, and then do whatever necessary to achieve them – I always succeed. That is not to suggest that it is always easy, or that failure does not accompany the pursuit of those dreams and goals, but success inevitably comes not because I had the time, money, or knowledge – but because I had the desire, belief, faith, commitment, work ethic, and persistence to make it happen.

From setting up our non-profit website, to obtaining 501(c) status, to fundraising and project implementation – I would be lying if I told you that I did not and do not make mistakes, or that even today I am totally confident in what to do or expect. I tell myself every day: “I have no clue what I am doing – but I keep doing it.” Perhaps it is because of this mentality and effort that the non-profit is a success. As great as our entity’s mission statement is, as successful as the projects are, or helpful and instrumental as the people involved are – it is successful first because the founders had a dream, believed in themselves and their dream, put forth action even when in doubt, persisted in the goal despite mistakes made, and had the mission of helping others – not themselves.

In fact, the good-will, altruistic, ‘save the world’ mentalities may be important initially in pursuing a goal of starting a non-profit, but they alone will never eventuate into things getting done, dreams being realized, and peoples lives being impacted. These ‘altruistic’ thoughts are simply dreams without action.

So – what are your dreams and when will you achieve them? I certainly understand and recognize that circumstances and logic may prevent you from taking action tomorrow; however, what you need to determine is what truly is holding you back from not only pursuing but actually accomplishing your dreams. If it is time, money, or knowledge – then you are waiting for a hope, and nothing more, and it most likely will never be realized. But, your ‘non-profit’ in life, your dream and goal, can be realized. It may not be tomorrow – but perhaps the first step that can be implemented today is actually believing in yourself and that your dream can be accomplished. Then, when that ‘opportunity’ comes, regardless of whether you are ready or prepared – you need to DO IT!

(The non-profit referred to in this article is Act & Empower – a non-profit located in Alexandria, VA, whose mission is to empower impoverished individuals in developing countries. To learn more, please visit: www.ActandEmpower.org – the picture above is of a group of people, the Batwa of Uganda, that many of our projects focus on).

Like many boys growing up in the U.S., I had a boyhood dream of one day playing in the NBA. I remember fondly going out in the backyard playing basketball for hours pretending I was Michael Jordan, making the big game winning shot, and envisioning myself someday being great. Those imaginary and fun basketball games in the backyard eventually turned into real life situations when I found myself on the sophomore basketball team for my high school. In this environment, I quickly realized that I was not as great as I had convinced myself I was during those many hours playing alone or with my brothers in the backyard.

From the first day of tryouts, to the daily practices, and especially during the actual games, I distinctly remember feeling inferior, that each of the other players were better than me, and despite my talents and desires – I didn’t believe I belonged there or that I would ever be as good as my teammates. This mentality was the first step in the direction of my failed dream! Over time, I actually convinced myself that I did not have what it takes to be a good basketball player. I forced myself to believe that other dreams and pursuits were more worthy of my time and attention (and while that is partly true, it is also a sad excuse and justification of giving up on a dream). And perhaps most detrimental, because I no longer believed in myself, my abilities, and that my dream was possible, I likewise stopped putting in the necessary work that could have eventuated in my dream being realized.

I personally believe that our culture’s definition and perception of ‘skill’ and ‘talent’ is completely wrong. Generally speaking, we each believe that those who are ‘great’ were born great. Somehow we convince ourselves that talent, skills, intellect, and abilities are inherited rather than developed. While it is true that certain individual’s undoubtedly are born with heightened abilities and talents, it is also absolutely true that they do not become ‘great’ solely because of such an inheritance. To achieve success in anything, one must not only believe in themselves and their dream and goal, but put forth the necessary work (and a lot of it) to become ‘great’ and achieve that success. Thus, is not ‘skill’ and ‘talent’ only the result of belief and consistent effort?

Let me remind you that the greatest basketball player that has ever played in the NBA was cut from his freshman basketball team. Michael Jordan may have been initially more talented than others, but he became great because he believed in himself, desired success, had a goal, worked harder than anyone else, learned from failure, and persisted until his dream was realized. He has six NBA championship rings, not because of ‘talent’ alone, but because of his incredible desire, belief, and work ethic.

What is your childhood dream? What is your adult dream? Do you have an ‘NBA’ goal in your life – and more importantly – do you actually believe it is possible to achieve? The reason I am not in the NBA has very little to do with talent, skill, or circumstance – it has everything to do with desire, belief, work ethic, and persistence. Because this is true and I was fortunate enough to learn from this experience, I have applied these principles to help me accomplish my new ‘NBA’ goals and dreams in life. Will you?