Unlimited Potential

Inspiration 4 Everyone
Empowering People Through Positive Inspiration

Unlimited Potential - March 4, 2003

Why do so many people let their dreams die unlived? ? The biggest reason, I suppose, is the negative, cynical attitudes of other people. Those other people are not enemies -- they are friends, even family members. Our enemies never bother us greatly; we can usually handle them with little trouble. But our friends -- if they are naysayers, constantly punching holes in our dreams with a cynical smile here, a put-down there, a constant stream of negative vibrations -- our friends can kill us!

The easiest thing to find on God's earth is someone to tell us all the things we cannot do. Someone will always be eager to point out to you -- perhaps merely with a look or a tone of voice -- that anything new or daring which you try is hopelessly doomed to failure. Don't listen to them. It's the person who never made $50,000 a year who will say you can't make $100,000. It's the college flunk-out who can explain why you're too dumb to get a degree; the fellow who never ran a business who can best describe the obstacles that make it impossible to get started; the person who never entered a tournament who can most convincingly tell you why you don't have a chance to win.

I believe in a God of unlimited potential who empowers people to reach their dreams. I also know firsthand the importance of keeping company with other dreamers. My partner and I struggled to sell our first product. We didn't have college educations or business experience. Others laughed at us and told us to get real jobs. But we stayed dedicated to our dream, gravitated toward other achievers, kept praying daily, and went on to build a successful businesses.

If you find yourself dreaming but not daring, there's only one thing left after all the arguments are weighed and the costs measured. Do it. Try it. How will you ever know if you can paint that picture, run that business, sell that product, write that book, earn that degree, hold that office, make a speech, win that game -- unless you try it?

Rich DeVos is chairman of Gospel Communications. He is also the author of "Hope From My Heart: Ten Lessons for Life," co-founder of Amway Corp., and owner and chairman of the NBA's Orlando Magic.