Motivational Speaker Living The Dream
People are often surprised at how hard I work to make this dream work. And I think that’s because when they look at me, they see this as my job. Which is true, it is my job. But if I were just going to go out and get a job, there are so many more things that would be easier and probably would bring me more money. Being a motivational speaker isn’t something I do because I can. It’s something I do because I can’t imagine NOT doing it. Does that make sense? To me, this is a calling. And I am answering the call. And when the money doesn’t come, or rejection rears its ugly head, or someone doesn’t “get” what I do, it is sort of irrelevant, because the call still exists. I work so hard, all the time, to make this dream a reality. And every day I pinch myself that I get to do what I love and get paid for it. I am not building a career, I am building a dream. And if you are nodding your head, then you know what I mean.
Life isn’t about the things that happen to you, it’s about the story you write with the things that happen to you.
That’s my mantra. And I breathe those words every day. How you see your life will affect your life. How you see your dream will affect your reality. So I believe that if you choose to see this as more than a job, and see it as a dream, you will work harder, face challenges with more strength, and stay the course. You won’t measure yourself in dollars, or compare yourself to other dreamers, because you will be laser focused on YOUR calling. And you will stay in constant touch with the many ways that you are changing the world and changing lives and breaking through your own comfort zones. And you will never question your reason for doing what you do. It won’t have to make sense. It just is.
So if you don’t see your dream through these eyes, perhaps you picked the wrong one. Maybe you picked the dream you thought you were supposed to have. Maybe you need to write a new story, and find that dream that you can’t live without.
And so today I dedicate this post to all of those brave souls who feel a calling on their life and want to answer it – to all of those who have a story to tell, a message to share, a quiet voice that needs to be heard. And whether you have been answering this call your whole life, or for just a few hours, it never hurts to be encouraged by another dreamer. Please don’t give up on your dream. Stay the course, but allow your dream to take a different shape if need be. Don’t be tempted to ask the world to define your dream or affirm your dream. This is your dream, not theirs. Do not be tempted to take something of so much value, and try to measure it in dollars or achievements. This isn’t about how many people know who you are. This isn’t about how many hits you have or likes you get. This is about answering your call. And sometimes the greatest things we do, are seen by very few. This doesn’t make them any less great.
I believe that one day, we will hit that distant shore.
And we’ll see this line of people, that we’ve never seen before.
And these will be the ones, I believe, that we will toast.
For I think the ones the world knew least – just might have pleased the angels most.
Excerpt from “Daddy Plays For Angels” by Kelly Swanson
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Kelly Swanson is an award-winning storyteller, comedian, motivational speaker, Huffington Post Contributor, and cast member of The Fashion Hero television show airing on Amazon Prime. She is also the author of Who Hijacked My Fairy Tale, The Land of If Only, The Story Formula, and The Affirmation Journal for Positive Thinking. She was a featured entertainer for Holland America Cruise Lines, keynote speaker for the International Toastmasters Convention, and has keynoted major conferences and corporate events from coast to coast. She just launched her one-woman show Who Hijacked My Fairy Tale in theaters, and it is being booked all over the country. In July of 2022, she was inducted into the National Speakers Association Speaker Hall of Fame.
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