Imagine What Could Be and Change the World

Walt Disney went broke seven times and had a nervous breakdown before he saw his dream come true of creating his world famous theme parks. Babe Ruth is known as the greatest hitter ever to play the game, but he also holds the record of having more strikeouts than anyone in baseball history.

Perhaps it was for reasons such as this that Einstein famously said imagination was more important than knowledge. Being able to envision what could be and go beyond the limits of commonly accepted dogma were defining characteristics of the renowned scientist’s life.

It was the same for Disney and Ruth. In fact, at Disney’s funeral someone mentioned they wished Walt was still around to see the completion of Disney World, to which a friend told him, “He did see it, and that is how you are seeing it.”

In the 19th century a depression hit the world, taking American and a large part of Europe into a steep financial decline. Unemployment in some cities reached almost 25 percent.

One man envisioned what could be, his name was Jeremiah Lanphier. His idea was simple; gather together at noon and pray for one another’s needs. His example inspired millions of people on both sides of the Atlantic and a revival was born that changed the entire climate of the nation.

Zig Ziglar shares that one day Green Bay Packers coach Vinci Lombardi was especially irritated with a player during practice. Finally he pulled the man aside and yelled, “Son you are a lousy football player. You’re not blocking, you’re not tackling, and you’re not putting in the effort. As a matter of fact, it is over for you today. Go hit the showers.”

About an hour later Vince found the player sobbing quietly in the locker room. Gently he sat down beside him and placed his arm across his shoulders. “Son, I told you the truth. You are a lousy football player. You’re not blocking, you’re not tackling, and you’re not putting in the effort.

“However, I should have finished the story. Inside of you is a great football player and I’m going to stick by your side until the great football player inside of you has a chance to come out.”

Jerry Kramer would go one to become the All Time Guard of 50 years. His life was changed because one man was able to see beyond the present moment and envision a new possibility.

History is filled with stories of people who believed in spite of the evidence, who left behind the herd mentality and risked it all for a dream.

So how about you? What new decision will you make in this moment? What dream is deep in your heart that no one else can see? How will you begin today making a difference for tomorrow? Your imagination really is the only limit.