For Christmas this year, I gave a friend a copy of my new book, The Young Eagle. It is an inspirational tale of a young eagle that leaves the nest to pursue his destiny. He is encouraged to dream big dreams. My friend, Dave, is in his late 50’s. After reading this, he said to me: “This message is good for the younger guys, but what about the old guys like me? How are we supposed to dream?” I always listen to feedback, whether or not I want to hear it. Dave’s question got me thinking. Pursuing one’s dreams is not age-specific. It’s for everyone, at all ages. Consider the following:
The average age of those assuming the Presidency of the United States is 54.8 years-old.
Handel wrote his famous “Messiah” at age 57.
Karol Wojtyla became Pope John Paul II at age 58.
Alfred Sloan, Jr. wrote “My Years With GM” at age 89.
Martha Graham won a Pulitzer Prize for her book, “Personal History,” that she wrote at age 79.
Ray Kroc got the idea for McDonald’s at age 52.
Harland Sanders was 65 years old when he founded KFC.
At age 58, Cliff Young ran and won the Westfield Sydney to Melbourne marathon, defeating a field of younger competitors.
Frank Lloyd Wright created the famous Guggenheim Museum in New York when he was 80 years old.
So you see, Dave, dreaming is not just for the young; it’s for all of us. It’s never too late to dream. It’s always the right time to dream. You do it every night when you go to sleep. Imagine using that same creative power in a conscious state. I’ll finish with a question from Robert Schuller: “What would you attempt if you knew you couldn’t fail?” Everything, of course.
For more on The Young Eagle please visit: www.theyoungeagle.com.
Tom Reilly is the author of Value-Added Selling and Customer Service and Crush Price Objections is more than a department: It’s an attitude! Reilly is also a professional speaker and you may reach him through his Web site: www.TomReillyTraining.com.
