If You Had a Million Dollars
I saw a movie a few years ago that had a very funny scene.
One of the characters asked the other what he would do if he had a million
dollars. He replied, “Nothing.... If I had a million dollars, I would just
relax all day long and enjoy myself.” Another guy chimed in and seriously
stated, “Hey, you don’t need a million dollars to do that... just look at my
cousin... he is flat broke and he doesn’t do a thing but sit there all day
long.”
I think I laughed about that for an hour and it just caused
me to smile again.
Although the line in the movie was a joke, it illustrates a
truth of life. Whatever it is that you wish to do, do it! Why wait? Seriously,
why put off your dreams until tomorrow or until you get all your ducks in a
row. Guess what? The ducks of life sometimes have a mind of their own and tend
to wander a lot. You may never get all your ducks in a row.
I have been a professional speaker since I was 20 years old.
When I was 27, I was speaking with a woman and she said, “I am 59 years old and
by the time I am 65 I would like to have my master’s degree and be working as a
professional speaker.” I looked at her perplexed as I inquired, “Why in the
world are you going to wait until you are 65 and have a degree? I am 27 years
old with no degree and I am speaking tomorrow!” You could tell that my
statement shattered her reality and she had no response.
This woman was waiting to pursue her dream until everything
was just perfect. Until she had everything that she thought she needed to
ensure maximum success, when in reality the greatest thing that she could have
done is simply move in the direction of what she desires.
The greatest resistor of human dreams is the “If I had a
million dollars” attitude. Individuals dream that if they had a million
dollars, they could pursue their vision. No they wouldn’t! If you don’t pursue
your vision when you are broke, when you grasp a million, you will create
another reason why it isn’t possible. Or if you are one of the few who would
actually live their dreams if you had a million dollars, what is the
probability that you are going to save a million dollars?
Ever heard this train of thought?
Once I get out of high school I am going to see the world
and travel…
Once I finish college I am going to see the world and travel…
Once I get married I am going to travel with my spouse…
After our kids are older we are going to see the world and travel…
When our kids get out of high school we are going to see the world and travel…
As soon as we retire we are going to see the world and travel…
Now, I am out of school, the kids are gone and I am retired; if I was younger and my health was better I would see the world and travel…
Once I finish college I am going to see the world and travel…
Once I get married I am going to travel with my spouse…
After our kids are older we are going to see the world and travel…
When our kids get out of high school we are going to see the world and travel…
As soon as we retire we are going to see the world and travel…
Now, I am out of school, the kids are gone and I am retired; if I was younger and my health was better I would see the world and travel…
Don’t wait…
Many questions of life are complicated and unclear, yet the
question of if you should pursue your dream or wait until you have a million
dollars is as clear as the waters of Fiji. You are not promised tomorrow. You
are not promised a million dollars. Pursue your dream today and inch closer or
it will remain equally as distant as the pages of your life near the final
chapter.
- Ron White
