Entrepreneurial Journal Week 2

 Randy Pausch achieved so many of his childhood dreams. It makes a person wonder why and how. Thinking about his last lecture I’ve pulled some thoughts about his personality and want to make note of some attributes that he suggests make achieving goals a reality. 

Randy was tenacious. He believed a person should never give up. He lived a full life of fun and happiness, no matter the circumstance. He believed in the analogy you can’t choose the cards you’re dealt but how you play your hand matters. He believed in hard work, I mean to say dreams are more than just thoughts, dreams are achieved by luck but luck takes work. He said of luck it’s the place where preparation meets opportunity. 

Randy also mentions several times this analogy of a brick wall. He said we run into a brick wall on our way to fulfilling dreams. That brick wall is meant to keep others out and for us to show how badly we want to achieve our dreams. 

I also found his thoughts about not fulfilling a dream inspiring. He said he learned more from not achieving the national football league dream. He also shared “at some point you just realize there are some things you are not going to do, so maybe you just want to stand close to the people.” I find this a marvelous quote as it relates to my own failed or lost dreams. 

I think dreaming is hope in its’ infancy and I believe it is crucial to mortality. Hope and goals (or dreams) is what makes getting out of bed worth doing. It provides purpose and drive and motivation to be happy. Randy thought that dreaming bridges cultures and makes the world a better place. I agree with him. Being hopeful and working hard towards good things really does make the world a better place. The key is to help and support others along the way. 

In my younger years I used to dream of being a professional ballroom dancer. I have no natural athletic ability, I never stuck with any dancing lessons, I simply wanted the talent and ability to naturally and magically come to me. So I don’t think this dream will ever come to fruition. However, I know that this desire grew when I was a senior in college; grew to the point I actually acted on it. I signed up for a basic ballroom dance class, loved everything I learned and later signed up for a fun-natured, one-day competition for novice dancers. It was thrilling! It was the closest I’ll ever be to that dream being fulfilled, and it was enough to make me happy.