美文——梦想者

tycoon

When I was nine years old living in a smaIl town in North Carolina I found an ad for selling greeting cards in the back of a children's magazine. I thought to myself I can do this. I begged my mother to let me send for the kit1. Two weeks later when the kit arrived, I ripped off the brown paper wrapper, grabbed the cards and dashed from the house. Three hours later, I returned home with no cards and a pocket full of money proclaiming, “Mama．all the people couldn't wait to buy my cards!”A salesperson was born.
　　When I was twelve years old, my father took me to see Zig Zigler. I remember sitting in that dark auditorium listening to Mr. Zigler raise everyone誷 spirits up to the ceiling, I left there feeling like I could do anything. When we got to the car, I turned to my father and said, “Dad, I want to make people feel like that.” My father asked me what I meant. “I want to be a motivational speaker just like Mr. Zigler.” I replied. A dream was born．
　　Recently, I began pursuing my dream of motivating others. After a four-year relationship with a major furtune 100 company beginning as a sales trainer and ending as a regional sales manager, I left the company at the height of my career. Many people were astounded that I would leave after earning a six-figure income. And they asked why I would risk everything for a dream.
　　I made my decision to start my own company and leave my secure position after attending a regional sales meeting. The vice-president of our company delivered a speech that changed my life. He asked us, “If a genie2 would grant you three wishes, what would they be？”After giving us a moment to write down the three wishes, he then asked us, “Why do you need a genie?” I would never forget the empowerment I felt at that moment．
　　I realized that everything I had accomplished—the graduate degree, the successful sales career, speaking engagements, training and managing for a fortune l00 company had prepared me for this moment. I was ready and did not need a genie's help to become a motivational speaker.
　　When I tearfully told my boss my plans, this incredible leader whom I respect so much replied, “Precede with reckless3 abandon and you will be successful.”
　　Having made that decision, I was immediately tested. One week after I gave notice4, my husband was laid off5 from his job. We had recently bought a new home and needed both incomes to make the monthly mortgage payment and now we were done6 to no income. It was tempting to turn back to my former company, knowing they wanted me to stay but l was certain that if I went back, I would never leave. I decided I still wanted to move forward rather than end up with a mouth full of “if onlys” later on. A motivational speaker was born．
　　When l held fast to my dream, even during the tough times, the miracles really began to happen. In a short time period my husband found a better job. We didn't miss a mortgage payment. And I was able to book several speaking engagements with new clients. I discovered the incredible power of dreams. I loved my old job, my peers and the company I left, but it was time to get on with my dream. To celebrate my success I had a local artist paint my new office as a garden. At the top of one wall she stenciled7, “The world always makes way for the dreamer．”
这个世界永远属于梦想者……
　　我九岁时住在北卡罗来纳州的一个小镇上。有一次我在一本儿童杂志的背面发现了一则卖明信片的广告，我就琢磨我能干这事。我恳求妈妈让人给我送来全套货物。两周后，货送来了，我撕开棕色的包装纸，抓起卡片就冲出了家门。三个小时后，我回了家，卡片已经一张不剩，换来了满满一口袋的钱。我大叫：“妈妈，所有人都迫不及待地想要买我的卡片！”一个推销员就此诞生了。
　　我十二岁那年，父亲带我去见齐格·齐格勒先生。我记得当时的情景：我坐在昏暗的礼堂里，听着齐格勒先生的演讲，他的话点燃了在场所有人的热情。当我离开那儿的时候，我觉得自己能做任何事。我们上了车，我转身对父亲说：“爸爸，我想让人们都有这样的感觉。”爸爸问我这是什么意思。“我想成为一个像齐格勒先生那样的励志演讲家。”我回答道。一个梦想就此诞生了。
　　近来我开始追寻自己鼓励他人的梦想。在过去的四年里，我在一家100强公司从开始的销售培训做到现在的地区销售经理，在我达到事业颠峰的时侯我离开了这家公司。许多人都很吃惊，我会在收入达到六位数时选择离开。他们问我为什么为了梦想宁愿冒任何险。
　　那是在参加了一次地区销售会议后，我下定决心放弃现在稳定的地位，开办自己的公司。那次，我们公司的副总做了一次演讲，而这改变了我的人生。他问我们：“如果神许给你三个愿望，你会希望得到什么?”他给了我们一点时间写下自已的三个愿望。然后他问我们：“为什么需要神仙你才能做这些事情呢？”我永远不会忘记那一刻我内心的震憾。
　　我意识到我所拥有的一切——毕业证书、成功的销售事业、演讲、为一家100强企业做培训和管理，它们都是为这一刻做准备的。我已经准备好了，我不需要神的帮助也能成为一名励志演讲家。
　　当我含着泪把这个计划告诉我的老板时，这个我十分尊重的人告诉我：“抛开一切，勇往向前吧！你一定能成功。” 真是令人难以置信。
　　我刚做出决定就经受了考验。我辞职后一周，丈夫也失业了。我们刚买了一幢新房子，需要双方的收入来支付银行每个月的按揭，但现在我们都没有收入了。这时我想回原先的公司去，我知道他们仍希望我留下，可我知道一旦回去就再也不会离开了。我决定继续前进而不继续做一个满口“如果……就好了”的人。一个励志演讲家从此诞生了。
　　当我紧追自己的梦想，甚至在困难的时期也不放弃，奇迹果真开始出现了。在很短的一段时间内，我丈夫找到了一份更好的工作。我们每个月的按揭都交了。我也开始有新客户预约演讲。我发现了梦想那不可思议的力量。我热爱原先的工作、同事和我离开的那家公司，但是我应该去实现自己的梦想。为了庆祝自己的成功，我请当地一位画家将我的新办公室漆成了一座花园。在一面墙的顶端，她刷下了这样一句话：“这个世界永远属于梦想者。”