The Inspiring Dad

“I’ve said it before, but it’s absolutely true:
My mother gave me my drive, but my father gave me my dreams.
Thanks to him, I could see a future.”

~ Liza Minnelli,
Actress, Singer, Dancer, Choreographer, Philanthropist,
American Theater Hall of Fame inductee, Best Actress Academy Award,
BAFTA Award, Golden Globe Award, David di Donatello Career Award,
Grammy Award, Grammy Legen Award, Primetime Emmy Award & Tony Award

 dtra

Advertisements

It’s Never Too Late

“My father used to say that it’s never too late to do anything you wanted to do,
and he said, ‘You never know what you can accomplish until you try.'”

~ Michael Jordan,
Professional Basketball Player (1984-2003) & Author

My Greatest Achievement

“I would say my greatest achievement in life right now –
my greatest achievement period is – and I’m still trying to achieve it –
is to be a wonderful father to my kids.”

~ Bo Jackson,
Baseball and Football Player (1983-1994)
Co-Owner & CEO of Bo Jackson Elite Sports Complex,
Co-Owner of The Burr Ridge Bank and Trust;
Heisman Trophy (1985)

An Excellent End

“Just because you didn’t start out perfect doesn’t mean you can’t have an excellent result in the end.”

~ Debi Thomas,
Nebelhorn Trophy (1985), World Figure Skating Championships, (1986 ), Skate America (1986), Skate Canada (1988),
St. Ivel International (1988), Grand Prix International Saint Gervais (1985), U.S. Figure Skating Championships (1986, 1988),
World Professional Figure Skating Championships (1988, 1989, 1991)

Life Has Been a Dream

“My life has been a dream. If someone had to write a story about it, it would seem a little unreal.
It’s the kind of story I would read and say, ‘Nah, that’s not possible.'”

~ Ralph Lauren,
Designer & Founder, Ralph Lauren Corp.

The Biggest Brand in the Whole World

“”Don’t get distracted. Never tell yourself that you need to be the biggest brand in the whole world.
Start by working on what you need at the present moment and then what you need to do tomorrow.
So, set yourself manageable targets.”

~ Jas Bagniewski,
Co-Founder – Eve Sleep

Your Biggest Success in Life

“Failure: Is it a limitation? Bad timing? It’s a lot of things. It’s something you can’t be afraid of, because you’ll stop growing. The next step beyond failure could be your biggest success in life.”

~ Debbie Allen
a.k.a Deborah Kaye Allen,
Actress, Choreographer, Dancer, Film Director,
Television Director, Television Producer
Prime-time Emmy Award (1982, 1983, 1991), Golden Globe Award (1982)

Achieving Your Goals

“Don’t let life change your goals, because achieving your goals can change your life.”

~ Author Unknown

Never Be an Imitator of Another

“Never be tempted to become an imitator of another.
No one is better than you at being you. We all have something unique to give.
Do not compare yourself with anyone else. Dare to maintain your uniqueness and divine originality.
Set the standard, be an example, raise the bar—when you do, you give others permission to do the same.”

~ Dr. Cindy Trimm,
Author & Executive Life Coach

Your Shared Future

“A ring means a commitment. But more than that, it means that you’ve talked about
your shared future and have decided together on a shared vision of it.”

~ Patti Stanger,
Businesswoman, Matchmaker, Author &
Founder & CEO – Millionaire’s Club International, Inc.

You’re Famous for What?

“There are so many famous people now that are
not really gifted or talented at doing anything
other than getting made up, putting on tight dresses, acting badly, getting married.
I mean, what the hell? I don’t know where we are
going with this here in America. And we are setting a tone
for the world, because everyone looks at what we do.”

“There was a time when fame meant that you were either
someone who is really gifted in your field or you were making an impact,
or you are famous because you were a really horrible person, you know?
But now, you can become famous by eating a frog. It’s just not the same thing.”

~ Debbie Allen
a.k.a Deborah Kaye Allen,
Actress, Choreographer, Dancer, Film Director,
Television Director, Television Producer
Primetime Emmy Award (1982, 1983, 1991), Golden Globe Award (1982)

Climbing this Hill

“Very often, you know, you stop walking because you say,
‘Well, I’m tired of climbing this hill.
I’m never going to get to the top.’
And you’re only two steps from the top.”

~ Morgan Freeman,
Actor, Film Director & Narrator

Dreaming Your Vision with Imagination

“Vision gets the dreams started. Dreaming employs your God-given imagination to reinforce the vision.
Both are part of something I believe is absolutely necessary to building the life
of a champion, a winner, a person of high character who is
consistently at the top of whatever game he or she is in.”

~ Emmitt Smith,
Football Running Back, Pro-Football Hall of Fame (2010), Dallas Cowboys Ring of Honor,
Super Bowl XXVII, XXVIII & XXX Champion, Super Bowl XXVIII MVP, Pro Bowl (1990–1995, 1998, 1999),
AP NFL Most Valuable Player (1993), Bert Bell Award (1993), NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year (1990), NFL 1990s All-Decade Team,
Co-Founder, Chairman of the Board & Chief Executive Officer – ESmith Legacy & Co-Owner – The Gents Place

Confidence & a Lot of Fun

“When you have confidence, you can have a lot of fun,
and when you have fun, you can do amazing things.”

~ Joe Namath,
Football Quarterback ((New York Jets (1965–1976), Los Angeles Rams (1977)),
Nightclub Owner, Talk Show Host, Advertising Spokesman,
Actor (Theater, Motion Picture, Television), Sports Broadcaster,
Pro-Football Hall of Fame, Super Bowl III Champion, Super Bowl III MVP,
Pro Bowl (1972), NFL Comeback Player of the Year (1974) & AFL Champion (1968)

This is When You Lose

“Really, you don’t lose until you stop trying.”

~ Laurence ‘Mr. T’ Tureaud,
Actor, Bodyguard, Television Personality & Retired Professional Wrestler

Focus on Your Answer

“Look forward and focus on your answered prayer and breakthrough
instead of focusing on the difficulties of today.”

~ Lisa Osteen Comes,
Associate Pastor – Lakewood Church & Author

The Architect of Your Future

“You are the architect and building contractor of your future. Use your thoughts as an architect uses a blueprint.
Think about every detail. An architect not only thinks about the rooms in a h
but also the types of windows, the size of closets, the location of outlets, and so on.
Nothing is too insignificant. Think big and think detailed!”

~ Dr. Cindy Trimm,
Author & Executive Life Coach

Enhancing Everything About You

“By taking the time to stop and appreciate who you are and what you’ve achieved
– and perhaps learned through a few mistakes, stumbles and losses
– you actually can enhance everything about you. Self-acknowledgment and appreciation
are what give you the insights and awareness to move forward toward higher goals and accomplishments.”

~ Jack Canfield,
Author, Motivational Speaker, Seminar Leader,
Corporate Trainer & Entrepreneur

–

Your Purpose & Your Unique Talent

“Everyone has a purpose in life and a unique talent to give to others.
When we blend this unique talent with service to others, we experience
the ecstasy and exultation of our own spirit, which is the ultimate goal of all goals.”

~ Kallam Anji Reddy,
Entrepreneur, Founder-Chairman – Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories, Chairman – Dr. Reddy’s Foundation (DRF),
Padma Shri Award (2001) & Padmabhushan Award (2011)

Glamorized Youth & Marginalized Old Age

“Society may glamorize youth and marginalize old age,
but your season of life doesn’t limit God.
But in order to have confidence that God will fulfill your dream,
you must know that it was born of His Spirit:”

~ Jentezen Franklin,
Senior Pastor of Free Chapel, & Author

Big Goals? Big Success!

“Think little goals and expect little achievements.
Think big goals and win big success.”

~ David Joseph Schwartz,
Professor, Motivational Writer, Self-Help Coach,
Life Strategist, Founder – Creative Educational Services Inc.

Control Your Future, Control Your Destiny

“You control your future, your destiny. What you think about comes about.
By recording your dreams and goals on paper, you set in motion the process of
becoming the person you most want to be. Put your future in good hands – your own.”

~ Mark Victor Hansen
Inspirational Speaker, Author, Philanthropist, Co-Founder – Chicken Soup for the Soul Enterprises, Inc., Covenant House of CA Visionary Philanthropist for Youth Award (2004),
Sales & Marketing Executive International’s Hall of Fame – Ambassador of Free Enterprise Award (2004) & Horatio Alger Award (2000)

Goals for Your New Year

“Make New Year’s goals. Dig within, and discover what you would like to have happen in your life this year.
This helps you do your part. It is an affirmation that you’re interested in fully living life in the year to come.”

~ Melody Beattie,
Author

People Who Say It

“People who say it cannot be done
should not interrupt those who are doing it.”

~ Author Unknown,

~ Image via NAME HERE

Never Lose Your Dreams

“I never lost my dreams in my 20s, and I know that sounds corny,
but it’s incredibly important to never let go of what you really want in your life.”

~ Juan Pablo Di Pace,
Actor, Singer & Director

A Gift-Giving Rule

“Here’s my gift-giving rule: Respect your current financial situation.”

~ Suze Orman,
Author, Financial Advisor,
Motivational Speaker & Television Host

The Same Neural Connections & Muscle Memory

“Practicing is not only playing your instrument,
either by yourself or rehearsing with others –
it also includes imagining yourself practicing.
Your brain forms the same neural connections and muscle memory
whether you are imagining the task or actually doing it.”

~ Yo-Yo Ma,
Cellist, Educator, Composer, Humanitarian & Grammy Award Winner(15x)

Think It’s Too Big for Yours?

“If something is too big for your mind, it will be too big for your hand.”

~ Bill Winston,
Preacher, Author, Entrepreneur, Founder & Senior Pastor – Living Word Christian Center,
Founder – Joseph Business School, Founder – The Joseph Center®,
Fmr. United States Air Force Fighter Pilot, United States Air Force Distinguished Flying Cross Award,
United States Air Force Air Medal Award, United States Air Force Squadron Top Gun Award
Distinguished Alumni of Tuskegee University Award, Chicago Tuskegee Club Incorporated Heritage Award,
Tuskegee Airmen Chicago DoDo Chapter Award

I Can Do That!

“My first job was being a page at ‘The Tonight Show.’
I saw Jack Paar come out one night and sit on the edge of his desk
and talk about what he’d done the night before. I thought,
‘I can do that!’ I used to do that on a street corner in the Bronx with all my buddies.”

~ Regis Philbin,
a.k.a. Regis Francis Xavier Philbin,
Media Personality, Actor, Author, Singer, Daytime Emmy Awards (4x),
Walter Camp Distinguished American Award (2003), Hollywood Walk of Fame Star (2003),
Guinness World Record for “Most Hours on Camera” (2004, 2008, 2009),
National Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame (2006), Television Hall of Fame (2006),
Golden Mike’s Broadcast Legend Award (2010) & Disney Legends Award (2011)

Even at 90

“Now when my agent calls, I listen.
Even at 90, you never know what role God has in store for you.”

~ Dorothy Steel,
Actress

Half Our Time Wishing

“Many of us spend half of our time wishing for things
we could have if we didn’t spend half our time wishing.”

~ Alexander Humphreys Woollcott,
Drama Critic, Essayist, Playwright, Editor, Actor, Raconteur & Radio Personality

Dreams I’ve Wished

“Whatever dreams I have wished have come true.”

~ Annette Funicello,
Actress, Singer, Fragrancier (Cello, by Annette), Author,
Teddy Bear Designer, Mouseketeer (1956) & Disney Legend (1992)

Staying on Course

“My legacy is that I stayed on course… from the beginning to the end,
because I believed in something inside of me.”

~ Tina Turner,
Recording Artist, Dancer, Actress & Author,

The Influence of the Human Spirit

“Never underestimate the power of dreams and the influence of the human spirit.
We are all the same in this notion: The potential for greatness lives within each of us.”

~ Wilma Rudolph,
Sprinter, Olympic Games Gold Medal 1960 Rome 100 M , Olympic Games Gold Medal 1960 Rome 200 M, Olympic Games Gold medal 1960 Rome,
Olympic Games Bronze Medal 1956 Melbourne, United Press International Athlete of the Year (1960),
Associated Press Woman Athlete of the Year (1960 & 1961), James E. Sullivan Award (1960), Babe Didrikson Zaharias Award (1962),
National Sports Award (1993), Fraternal Order of Eagles Award, Black Sports Hall of Fame (1973), U.S. National Track and Field Hall of Fame (1974),
U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame (1983), National Women’s Hall of Fame (1994), National Black Sports and Entertainment Hall of Fame (2001)
& U.S. Postal Service Distinguished Americans Postage Stamp (2004)

The Heart’s Desires & Undesired Thoughts

“Take a thought, GIVE IT time. Take a thought, give it TIME.”

Yet:
“Any thought you don’t want to manifest into your life, don’t speak it.
Don’t speak it. Don’t SPEAK it. DON’T speak it.
A thought unspoken will die unborn.”

~ Dale C. Bronner,
Founder & Pastor, Word of Faith Worship Center & Author

Teamwork Makes Their Dream & Your Dream Work

“Help others achieve their dreams and you will achieve yours.”

~ Les Brown,
a.k.a Leslie Calvin “Les” Brown
Motivational Speaker, Author, Radio DJ, Television Host &
Ohio House of Representatives (JAN 3, 1977 – JAN 3, 1983)

The Possibilities in My Future

 

“I’m grateful for all of my friends,
my family and the life that I have,
and the possibilities in my future.”

~ Raquel Welch,
Actress, Singer, Author & Golden Globe Award (1974)

Significant Accomplishments

“Where there are no goals,
neither will there be significant accomplishments;
there will only be existence.”

~ Author Unknown,

See Where You’d Rather Be

“You will never leave where you are until
you see where you’d rather be!”

~ Unknown

It is a Calamity Not to Dream

“The tragedy of life does not lie in not reaching your goals.
The tragedy lies in not having any goals to reach.
It isn’t a calamity to die with dreams unfulfilled,
but it is a calamity not to dream.”

~ Benjamin E. Mays,
President – Morehouse College (August 1940 – July 1967), Minister,
Civil Rights Icon & Schomburg Honor Roll of Race Relations Inductee,

Dreams with Deadlines

“Goals are simply dreams with deadlines.”

~ Napoleon Hill,
Author

A Burning Desire to Do

“If you’re bored with life —-
if you don’t get up every morning with a burning desire to do things —-
you don’t have enough goals.”

~ Louis Leo “Lou” Holtz ,
Motivational Speaker, Football Player (1956-1957), Head Football Coach:
[William & Mary (1969–1971), North Carolina State University (1972–1975),
University of Arkansas (1977–1983), University of Minnesota (1984–1985),
University of Notre Dame (1986–1996), University of South Carolina (1999–2004)],
Fiesta Bowl (Notre Dame, 1988), NFL’s New York Jets Coach (1976),
ESPN Football Analyst (2005-) & College Football Hall of Fame (2008)

Striving for Perfection or Excellence?

“Don’t strive to be perfect. Strive for excellence.”

~ Victoria Principal,
Actress, Author & Entrepreneur

Just Hang in There Long Enough

“I think if you just hang in there long enough
and keep doing what you know is your sweet spot,
I think the world eventually catches up to you.”

~ Courtney B. Vance,
Actor, Author, Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor …,
Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play, Clarence Derwent Award,

Life Together in the Years to Come

“If you’re going to get engaged make sure you’ve talked
to your partner about life together in the years to come.”

~ Patti Stanger,
Businesswoman, Matchmaker, Author &
Founder & CEO – Millionaire’s Club International, Inc

Be Tenacious, Focused & Passionate

“You have to be tenacious, you have to be focused,
you have to have a real vision and be extremely passionate about it.”

~ Jessica Alba,
Actress, Entrepreneur & Philanthropist

Carve Out Your Life

“You have to create your life.
You have to carve it, like a sculpture.”

~ William Shatner,
Actor, Author, Producer, Director, Musician, Screenwriter, Celebrity Pitchman &
Owner, Trader, Breeder, Rider, and Aficionado of Horses

Create It from Your Heart

“I really create everything I do from the heart.”

~ Kenny G.,
a.k.a. Kenneth Bruce Gorelick,
Saxophonist, American Music Award (1994), Grammy Award (1994),
NAACP Image Award (1998) & Soul Train Music Awards (2x)

Pursue & Achieve Your Dreams

“Stay focused, go after your dreams and keep moving toward your goals.”

~ LL Cool J
a.k.a. James Todd Smith ,
Rapper, Actor, Author & Entrepreneur

See YOU Succeeding & Victorious

“You can’t go anywhere in your physical body
that you haven’t already gone in your mind.”

~ Andrew Wommack,
Teacher, Evangelist, Founder – Andrew Wommack Ministries
& Founder – Charis Bible College

Daydreaming Your Victories & Success

“All men dream, but not equally.
Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds,
wake in the day to find that it was vanity:
but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men,
for they may act on their dreams with open eyes,
to make them possible.”

~ T. E. Lawrence,
Archaeologist, Military Officer, Diplomat & Writer

Writes Them Down & Puts Them in Bible

“Every year for New Years
I write down all of my goals and dreams
and put them in my Bible.
At the end of the year
I go and pull the paper out and
check this off and check that off.”

~ Nene Leakes,
a.k.a. Linnethia Monique Johnson,
Television Personality, Actress, Presenter, Author & Fashion DesigneR

Shrinking Dreams to Fit Incomes

“While most people are shrinking their dreams, constantly, to fit within their income circle,
2% of the population are finding ways to increase their income to fit their dreams’ circle.”

~ Dani Johnson,
Author, Speaker, TV Host, Radio Host & Entrepreneur

Worthless Complaining

“Complaining about your current position in life is worthless.
Have a spine and do something about it instead.”

~ Robert Toru Kiyosaki,
Investor, Businessman, Author, Speaker,
Financial Literacy Activist, & Commentator

You Weren’t Born Just to Live a Life & Die

“You weren’t born just to live a life and to die;
you were born to accomplish something specifically.
Matter of fact, success is making it to the end of your purpose; that is success…
Success is not just existing. Success is making it to the end of why you were born.” 

~ Myles Munroe,
Inspirational / Motivational Speaker,
Founder – Bahamas Faith Ministries International (BFMI),
Founder – Myles Munroe International (MMI),
CEO & Chairman of International Third World Leaders Association,
President – International Leadership Training Institute & Author

Define Your Goals

“The first step is clearly defining what it is you’re after,
because without knowing that, you’ll never get it.”

~ Halle Berry,
Actress, Model & Film Producer

Make it Across the Finish Line

“The world is full of people who have dreams of playing at Carnegie Hall,
of running a marathon, and of owning their own business.
The difference between the people who make it across the finish line
and everyone else is one simple thing: an action plan.”

~ AUTHOR’S NAME,
OCCUPATION

Your Golden Dream

“You can’t just sit there and wait for people to give you that golden dream.
You’ve got to get out there and make it happen for yourself.”

~ Diana Ross,
Singer, Songwriter, Actress, Record Singer & Author

Do the Best You Can

“Do the best you can with yourself and hope for the best.”

~ Loretta Lynn,
Singer-Songwriter, Author, Commercial Spokesperson, Actress,
Number 1 Albums (10), Number 1 Singles (16), Grammy Awards (3x), American Music Awards (7x), Broadcast Music Incorporated Awards (8x),
Academy of Country Music (13x), Country Music Association (8x), Music City News Awards (26x), Country Music Association “Entertainer of the Year” (1972),
Academy of Country Music “Artist of the Decade” (1970s), Country Music Hall of Fame (1988), Country Gospel Music Hall of Fame (1999),

They Don’t Always Dream Your Dream

“The thing you have to be prepared for is that
other people don’t always dream your dream.”

~ Linda Ronstadt,
Grammy Awards (11X), American Music Awards (3X), Academy of Country Music Awards (2X),
Emmy Award (1989), ALMA Award, Latin Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award (2011),
Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award (2016), Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (2014),
National Medal of Arts and Humanities Award (2014) & Consecutive Platinum Albums (8)

Picturing Your Success

“Formulate and stamp indelibly on your mind
a mental picture of yourself as succeeding.
Hold this picture tenaciously. Never permit it to fade.
Your mind will seek to develop the picture.
Do not build up obstacles in your imagination.”

~ Dr. Norman Vincent Peale,
Author & Minister

Things You Have Always Dreamt Of

“Try to accomplish things you have always dreamt of while you can.
I know it sounds cliche, but the biggest lesson
I have learned is that life is precious; enjoy it while it lasts.”

~ Lisa Ling,
Journalist, Television Presenter & Author

Financial Fitness, January through December

“No one’s ever achieved financial fitness
with a January resolution that’s abandoned by February.”

~ Suze Orman,
Author, Financial Advisor,
Motivational Speaker & Television Host

A New Year of Never-Been Things

“And now we welcome the
New Year,  full of things that have never been.”

~ Rainer Maria Rilke.,
a.k.a. René Karl Wilhelm Johann Josef Maria Rilke
Poet & Novelist

Put Imagination to Work

“Creativity is putting your imagination to work,
and it’s produced the most extraordinary results in human culture.”

~ Ken Robinson,
Educator

Limitations Inspire Creativity

“… out of limitations comes creativity.”

~ Debbie Allen
a.k.a. Deborrah Kaye Allen,
Actress, Choreographer, Dancer, Film Director,
Television Director, Television Producer
Primetime Emmy Award (1982, 1983, 1991), Golden Globe Award (1982)

Less Than 100% Perfect

“I wish there were two of me and 48-hour days
so I could get everything done.
But for me, I have to not try and think that everything
has to be 100% perfect all the time
and leave room for error.
As long as my kids feel loved and a priority,
everything really is secondary.”

~ Jessica Alba,
Actress, Entrepreneur & Philanthropist

A Mountain So High …

“I think when you begin to think of yourself as having achieved something,
then there’s nothing left for you to work towards.
I want to believe that there is a mountain so high
that I will spend my entire life striving to reach the top of it.”

~ Cicely Tyson,
Actress, Fashion Model, Tony Award – Best Actress in a Play (2013),
BFCA and SAG Awards (The Help, 2011), SAG Award nominations (4x, The Help, 2011)
NAACP’s Spingarn Medal (2010), Primetime Emmy Awards nominee (12x)

Don’t Block Your Blessings

“Don’t block your blessings. Don’t let doubt stop you
from getting where you want to be.”

~ Jennifer Hudson,
Singer, Actress, Spokesperson, Academy Award, Golden Globe Award, BAFTA Award,
Screen Actors Guild Award , Grammy Award (2x),
Daytime Emmy & Hollywood Walk of Fame (Star)

Nothing in My Life That’s So UGH

“I don’t regret what I’ve been through.
I’ve had ups and downs, super highs and some really low lows.
I’ve been so blessed that I could never say, ‘I wish this didn’t happen.’
It’s part of who I am. There’s nothing in my life that’s so ugh.”

~ Jennifer Lynn Lopez
Actress, Author, Fashion Designer,
Dancer, Producer & Singer

Everyone Gets 24 Hours

““Lack of direction, not lack of time, is the problem.
We all have twenty-four hour days.”

~ Hilary Hinton “Zig” Ziglar,
Author, Salesman, & Motivational Speaker

Reaching for a Dream

“This is for all of you out there …, reaching for a dream – don’t ever give up!
Never ever listen to anyone, when they try to discourage you, because they do that, believe me!”

~ Mariah Carey,
Singer, Song-writer, Actress, Record Producer & Philanthropist

It’s Where You’re Going

Ella Fitzgerald, photographed by Carl Van Vechten in 1940

“It isn’t where you came from, its where you’re going that counts.”

~ Ella Fitzgerald ,
Jazz Singer,
a.k.a the First Lady of Song, Queen of Jazz, and Lady Ella

~ Image via Wikimedia Commons

Save

Save

Being the Best We Can Be

“I like to see a driven kid: somebody who wants to come from the ground up.
I love to see somebody who wants to be the best they can be.”

~ Kim Basinger,
Actress, Model, Singer, Producer & Animal Rights Activist,
Academy Award, Golden Globe Award, Screen Actors Guild Award,
National Board of Review of Motion Pictures Award,
Southeastern Film Critics Association Award, Athena Award
& Hollywood Walk of Fame Stars (2)

Youth & Sports

“I’m such an advocate of youth and sports and the whole process.
I really believe that sports teaches a lot
in developing character, especially for our young women. …
Statistically, when you look at women that are the heads of major corporations
you will find that most competed in some form of athletics.”

~ Jayne Kennedy Overton,
Actress, Model, Sportscaster,
Entrepreneur & Miss Ohio USA 1970