Martin Luther King, Jr., gave a famous speech called ‘‘I Have A Dream.’’ We have all heard those powerful words and his soul-stirring, passionate delivery that is timeless in its ability to inspire. In fact, no matter how often I hear that speech, I always get goose bumps because of the power that emanates from it. But as I listened I started to realize the pure importance of these four words: I-Have-a-Dream, I-Have-a-Dream. He didn’t say ‘‘I had a dream,’’ but rather ‘‘I have a dream.’’ Why? Because to be great your dream must be ongoing.

To say ‘‘I had a dream’’ implies that the dream has come and gone. But to have a dream means that it is ongoing, it is continuous. Do you have a dream? Is there a
dream burning in your mind and spirit that consumes you and drives you to pursue it, and to eventually achieve it? I also noticed Dr. King did not say, ‘‘I have a wish.’’ Why? Because wishes have no substance and are usually unattainable—like those who say ‘‘I wish I could live my life over again,’’ or ‘‘I wish I were a child again.’’

Most of us have thrown pennies into a wishing well or wished upon a star and never really expected those wishes to come true. They were just our fantasies. But a dream has substance. We dream of losing weight or buying a home or one day becoming the President of the United States. Dreams can, and do, come true! Don’t be confused between a wish and a dream.

Remember some people want it to happen, some wish it would happen, and others make it happen! Dream big dreams. Think big thoughts and make it happen!

-Willie Jolley, excerpt from the book, It Only Takes A Minute To Change Your Life

A dream mixed with confidence, determination, persistence, and strong faith is destined to become a reality. The bigger the dream, the bigger the rewards. Jesse Owens was a world-class athlete who was told that because he was African American, there was no way he could compete on the same level as the German, Aryan athletes of Nazi Germany. Hitler came to the games but refused to
greet this black athlete from the United States.

What Hitler did not know was that Jesse Owens was a skilled athlete who had prepared himself, but, more importantly, he was armed with a dream and great faith. The 1936 Olympics were held in Berlin. The Nazi athletes were cheered while Jesse Owens and the other American athletes were booed. Jesse did not worry about the boos or the snub by Hitler. He just concentrated on his dream. He continued to dream even after having a ‘‘foot fault’’ three times. He mixed his dream with his faith and on his final attempt he jumped, and won! He walked away from those Olympics with four gold medals, one for every event he participated in! A dream mixed with massive faith, confidence, and determination will always change your destiny.

-Willie Jolley, excerpt from the book, It Only Takes A Minute To Change Your Life

We’ve been talking about dreams and goals and how they are the seed for success. They are the starting point for success. But once you have your dreams, you need to learn how to actualize them, how to make them into realities. Well, after you dream, you must decide to ‘‘do.’’ You need to do something about your dreams. You have to pursue your dreams. You must ‘‘go for it’’ and not ‘‘for-go it’’! For faith without works is really no faith at all. First, you need a dream, then you need a ‘‘do.’’ Take action!

The Chinese have a powerful proverb that states, ‘‘I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. But I do and then I truly understand!’’ Remember you gotta do! The next step is to start. This is the ‘‘art of the start!’’ You must begin. Make a decision then take action on your decision.

My buddy Marlon Smith always ends his speeches with the following verse: ‘‘A dream without action is merely a wish. Action without a dream is merely passing time. But a dream with action can change the world!’’ Friends, it only takes a minute to change your life. Dream the big dream, make the decision to follow your dream, and then take action on your dream. I know for sure it will change your life!

-Willie Jolley, excerpt from the book, It Only Takes A Minute To Change Your Life

As you and I both know, today there is no such thing as job security. People are losing their jobs at record rates. They are faced with the new trend called downsizing, or rightsizing, and all the other sizings. Whatever you call it, people are losing jobs faster than any time in previous history. Even though you cannot control what decisions a company will make, you can control your employment status How? By making excellence your call letters and by developing a mind-set that makes you the CEO of Y.O.U.
I like to share the story about a friend whose company went under but she had developed a reputation for excellence. Within a week of her being let go, a former coworker searched for her and hired her for another better paying job. Why? Because the former coworker remembered her desire for excellence.

If the Chicago Bulls were sold, do you think Michael Jordan or Scotty Pippen
would have a hard time getting a new job? I don’t think so! Excellence is always the best job security. You might not be able to control what happens to your present job but you can control your employability. Remember, no matter where you are or what you do, somebody is always watching you and remembers what you do! Be excellent and take control of your future! The next step to success is to decide to add the ‘‘do’’ to the dream. Take action on your dreams! The decision to act is a critical part of the process because action is absolutely necessary to make dreams
come true.

-Willie Jolley, excerpt from the book, It Only Takes A Minute To Change Your Life

In America, we live in a pyramidal society, where there are lots of people at the bottom of the pyramid and a few people at the top. The people at the bottom are barely making ends meet from day to day, simply living from hand to mouth. The people at the top are those who are prospering and thriving. In every community

and every geographic area, there are lots of people at the bottom and fewer people at the top. Many of the people at the top started at the bottom but rose to the top. Why? Because they refused to settle for mediocrity. They pursued excellence and began to rise.

It’s the Crème de la Crème Principle. The cream will rise to the top. I saw Oprah Winfrey on one of the nightly interview shows and she was asked how, from a broken home and from being a troubled teen, she had risen to her status as one of the most powerful women in television. Her answer was that she made a commitment to pursue excellence in everything she did. Initially, she did not look like a television or movie star. She was not svelte or thin or overly glamorous, but she pursued excellence with a passion.
And excellence is like truth. You can push excellence down, try to cover it up, or try to ignore it. But no matter what you do to it, it always rises to the top. We must always pursue excellence in all that we do. Strive for excellence and your dreams will start to rise to the top!

-Willie Jolley, excerpt from the book, It Only Takes A Minute To Change Your Life