Today’s quote is one of my favorites.  It comes to us from Walt Disney, a man who had a remarkable idea, that went way beyond a little cartoon mouse.  His vision for an entertainment empire to bring together children and families formed the foundation for a company that today brings in an estimated annual revenue of $35 billion.

In 1959 Disney decided to build a much larger version of the successful Disneyland park.  With land totaling over 27,000 acres, he met with resistance from land owners and government agencies alike.  There were probably many people who didn’t believe that the park would ever happen.  But it did. Unfortunately Disney did not live to see the grand opening day in 1971.

His dream lives on and each new generation discovers the magic of Disney for themselves.

I dream, I test my dreams against my beliefs, I dare to take risks, and I execute my vision to make those dreams come true.

~ Walt Disney (1901 – 1966)

Before you begin a thing, remind yourself that difficulties and delays quite impossible to foresee are ahead. If you could see them clearly, naturally you could do a great deal to get rid of them but you can’t. You can only see one thing clearly and that is your goal. Form a mental vision of that and cling to it through thick and thin.

~ Kathleen Norris

Norris brings us this insightful wisdom about change.  When I begin something new I have to remind myself, change is not easy.  Even good changes are difficult.  As she says, obstacles lie ahead.  Challenges that are impossible to foresee.  But by creating a compelling vision of the goal the road can become easier to bear.

Moving our company into its new offices has been a change and a challenge.  Working with new freelancers and staff takes some extra time to get everyone up to speed and trained.  But I know where we are going will bring great rewards for everyone involved.

How can you maintain your vision even as unforeseen challenges arise?

The key to realizing a dream is to focus not on success but significance – and then even the small steps and little victories along your path will take on greater meaning.

Oprah Winfrey, O Magazine, September 2002. (Emphasis added)

I love quotes… many people do. They have the ability to provide insight, inspiration and at times provoke real change. So I’ve decided to start a regular quotes post once a week. Each Wednesday, a day mid-week when sometimes energy can wane, I’ll pick a favorite quote and post it here.

This first one is simple. But the more I meditate on it the more powerful it becomes.

Your vision will become clear only when you can look into your own heart. Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakens.

~ Carl Jung, influential Swiss psychiatrist and philosopher