I don’t usually watch the Academy Awards (or any television for that matter), but last night I caught bits and pieces of this grandiose event.
Why is it that I found myself getting misty eyed everytime the award winners got up on stage to accept their award? After all I don’t know these people personally nor have I even seen most of the films honored. (My two personal favorites in 2007 were –
“Amazing Grace” and
“The Ultimate Gift” neither of which received any Oscar nods but are FABULOUS movies that I highly recommend you see on DVD!)
No, my heart was stirred because it is very inspiring and touching to see others earn awards, be honored, or achieve a lifetime dream…..there is something simply magical about it. Perhaps it because we all have dreams and desires in our lives and for a small moment we can imagine accomplishing our goals, winning wonderful awards or achieving a lifetime dream.
Recently I had one of those magical moments where a longtime dream became a reality. One of my passions is Christian education! I believe the impact that a Christian school and faithful Christian educators has on young people can change the world. I have seen the influence first hand as my husband and I have spent over two decades in this life changing ministry. Because of that I have always dreamed of being able to help provide scholarships for students who did not have the financial means to attend Christian schools yet wanted to be there.
The one obstacle to this dream was…..money. You see when you are in Christian education, more often than not your salary is…well let’s just say…”great is your reward in heaven!” 🙂
Just two weeks ago at the Jim Elliot Christian High School Founders Gala, my dream became a reality with the introduction of the Dan and Beth Lambdin Scholarship Fund! I felt just like one of those Academy Award winners as I stood up in front of hundreds of people amidst the glamour and glitz of this fancy affair, dressed to the hilt and received a plaque announcing this fund that I had been dreaming of for years! It was glorious.
Dan and I are beaming after the scholarship fund announcement!
Why is it that many don’t dream at all, others just continue to dream with no results and some actually achieve their greatest dreams and desires? I believe those who dream, believe and achieve have some things in common:
1. They actually have a specific dream.
Those winning Oscars last night had a specific dream of winning that award. They knew that someday they wanted to be taking that coveted Oscar home. I’m sure many of them had actually visualized themselves up there accepting that honor. None of them had vague hopes or fuzzy fantasies. They knew they someday wanted to be at the top of their field and the “proof” of that would be their nomination or winning of an Oscar.
If you are going to achieve your greatest dreams they must be specific and measurable. They can’t be fuzzy or vague. You have to know exactly what you want. Seven years ago at the National convention for my home business (as I was receiving my Senior Directors Chair – another magical moment achieving a dream) we were challenged by the main stage speaker to write down our specific dream. It was at that moment that I wrote down that I wanted to have a scholarship fund for JECHS students.
What is your specific dream? (or dreams – if you are anything like me – you have many!) Take that first step and write them down today.
2. They tell others their dream
One of the single best thing you can do to move your dreams closer to reality is to tell others your dream! While this is so simple, many people do not do it. They keep their dreams to themselves, afraid of failure or of looking foolish to others. Telling people your dreams – propels you into action, holds you accountable and helps solidify your belief in that dream!
I have told hundreds of people over many years my dream of having a scholarship fund.
3. They are committed.
No one achieves great things in life without a rock solid commitment to their dreams & desires. Everyone who won an Oscar was committed to their career. How can you tell what it is you are actually committed to in life? One simple formula:
Time = Commitment
Look a where you spend your time and I promise that is where your commitment lies. There is no way you can expect to have a successful business without putting in time (the same is true for your marriage, parenting or anything else you want to have success in.) It’s not that you can’t do ok or even accomplish a measure of success by just being involved in your career BUT you will never “win an Oscar” by just being involved – you must be committed. (my standard analogy here as to the difference between being “involved” or “committed”….a big yummy bacon & egg breakfast takes two animals…a chicken & a pig…the chicken is involved in making the breakfast, the pig is COMMITTED!)
4. They work hard!
Sorry….there is no way around it. Everyone who has accomplished anything great…..works hard. It takes sacrifice, sweat, shortness of breath, stretching out of your comfort zone and pain while you are working towards your goals & dreams. There is no easy road or short cut to rewards. As the popular saying goes – “no pain, no gain”.
5. They involve others in their dream.
Every one of those receiving Oscars thanked others – the people that helped them get to where they were – friends, family, co-workers, agents. Not one of them attempted to say they did it on their own. And likewise none of us will accomplish our dreams without the help, input, coaching, training and support of others.
The Dan and Beth Lambdin scholarship fund already has over $6,500 in it thanks to the generosity of others who believe in Christian education and believe in us! And the scholarship fund will only continue as others join with us in donating money to help young people attend our school. My personal goal is to provide 10 full scholarships and 20 partial scholarships each year. That translates to $100,000 – which may seem like a lot to you – but if just the folks who read my blog each week decided to contribute something we would be right there! I keep dreaming BIG! 🙂
6. They stick with it.
Quitting is not an option. They are like super glue – holding fast to their dreams despite what is happening around them. No matter what disappointments, discouragement’s, or road blocks they had to endure, they did not quit. This tenacity and perseverance alone is one of the single most important qualities you can develop in your life to ensure your success!
It took seven years from the time I wrote down my dream of a scholarship fund for it to become a reality. There were many roadblocks standing in the way, many discouraging days, many detours and times when I just couldn’t see how it was going to happen but I just kept pressing on, believing and working to make the dream a reality.
Are you ready to begin to make your dreams a reality?
Can’t you picture it? Wouldn’t it be great? Your time to shine & sparkle like the stars!
Decide today what your dream is. Write it down, tell someone (I would love to hear your dream!) – then make the commitment, work hard, involve others & don’t quit! And soon you too will be hearing –
“And the winner is…YOU!”
PS – If you would like join me and contribute to to the new Dan and Beth Lambdin Scholarship Fund to help students attend a fabulous Christian High School and have their lives influenced to go out and positively impact the world – you would bless me beyond measure! Just click here to donate to this fund! Or you can send a check to (please specify it is for the Lambdin Scholarship Fund):
Jim Elliot Christian High School
2695 West Vine St
Lodi, CA 95242
You will receive a tax deductible receipt.
Inspire Ministries 