When I was nine years old，living in a small town in North Carolina I found an ad for selling greeting cards in the back of a children's magazine．I thought to myself I can do this．I begged my mother to let me send for the kit ．Two weeks later when the kit arrived，I ripped off the brown paper wrapper，grabbed the cards and dashed from the house．Three hours later，I returned home with no card and a pocket full of money proclaiming ，“Mama．All the people couldn't wait to buy my cards！”A salesperson was born．
When I was twelve years old，my father took me to see Zing Ziegler．I remember sitting in that dark auditorium listening to Mr．Ziegler raise everyone's spirits up to the ceiling．I left there，feeling like I could do anything．When we got to the car，I turned to my father and said：“Dad，I want to make people feel like that．”My father asked me what I meant．“I want to be a motivational speaker just like Mr．Ziegler，”I replied．A dream was born．
Recently，I began pursuing my dream of motivating others．After a four-year relationship with a major fortune 100 company beginning as a sales trainer and ending as a regional sales manager I left the company at the height of my career．Many people were astounded that I would leave after earning a six-figure income．And they asked why I would risk everything for a dream．
I made my decision to start my own company and leave my secure position after attending a regional sales meeting．The vice-president of our company delivered a speech that changed my life．He asked us，“If a genie would grant you three wishes，what would they be？”After giving us a moment to write down the three wishes，he then asked us，“Why do you need a genie？”I would never forget the empowerment I felt at that moment．
I realized that everything I had accomplished，the graduate degree，the successful sales career，speaking engagements，training and managing for a fortune 100 company had prepared me for this moment．I was ready and did not need a genie's help to become a motivational speaker．
When I tearfully told my boss my plans，this incredible leader whom I respect so much replied，“Precede with reckless abandon and you will be successful．”
Having made that decision，I was immediately tested．One week after I gave notice ，my husband was laid off from his job．We had recently bought a new home and needed both incomes to make the monthly mortgage payment and now we were done to no income．It was tempting to turn back to my former company，knowing they wanted me to stay but I was certain that if I went back，I would never leave．I decided I still wanted to move forward rather than end up with a mouth full of“if only”later on．A motivational speaker was born．
When I held fast to my dream even during the tough times，the miracles really began to happen．In a short time period my husband found a better job．We didn't miss a mortgage payment，and I was able to book several speaking engagements with new clients．I discovered the incredible power of dreams．I loved my old job，my peers and the company I left，but it was time to get on with my dream．To celebrate my success I had a local artist paint my new office as a garden．At the top of one wall she stenciled ，“The world always makes way for the dreamer．”
Words and Expressions
think to oneself心中想，盘算，自思自忖
- kit n．成套用品，配套元件
rip off撕掉
- proclaim vt．宣布，宣告
motivational speaker励志演说家
at the height of在……的鼎盛时期
- genie n．神怪
- empowerment n．激励
- precede v．走在前面
- reckless adj．不顾一切的
give notice发出通知
be laid off被解雇
- mortgage n．抵押贷款，按揭
hold fast to坚持，坚守
- stencil v．刻，印
make way for为……让路
Read and recite the following sentences：
（1）When I held fast to my dream even during the tough times，the miracles really began to happen．
（2）The world always makes way for the dreamer．
Now try and write out the sentences here：
（1）When I __________ even during the tough times，__________ really began to happen．
（2）The world always __________ the dreamer．
追梦人
我九岁时生活在北卡罗来纳州的一个小镇上。一天，我在一本儿童杂志的背面看到一则招聘贺卡推销员的广告。我对自己说我能胜任。我请求妈妈同意让人送来货。两个星期后，货到了，我一把撕开棕色包装纸，抓起卡片就冲了出去。三个小时后，卡片卖得精光，我装着满满一口袋的钱，跑回家高喊：“妈妈，所有的人都争着买我的卡片！”就这样，一个推销员诞生了。
在我十二岁时，爸爸带我去见齐格·齐格勒先生。记得那天我们坐在昏暗的礼堂里倾听齐格勒先生的激情演说，在场的每一个人都备受鼓舞，情绪激昂。离开礼堂时，我觉得自己无所不能。准备上车时，我对爸爸说：“爸爸，我想让人们有那样的感觉。”爸爸问我是什么意思。“我想成为像齐格勒先生那样的励志演说家。”我答道。就这样，一个梦想诞生了。
最近，我开始追逐梦想，想要鼓舞他人。之前的这四年里，我一直在一家知名的世界百强大公司里工作，从一个销售培训员做到了地区销售经理。我在事业的高峰时期离开了这家公司。许多人为我放弃六位数的高收入而惊讶不已，问我为什么会为了一个梦想而拿一切来冒险。
我是在参加完一次地区销售会议之后，决定放弃稳定的职位，自己开办公司的。当时公司副总在会上的一席话改变了我的命运。他问我们：“如果神能满足你的三个愿望，你们会有什么愿望呢？”他让我们将自己的愿望写了下来，然后问我们：“你们为什么需要神呢？”那一刻，我深受震撼，永生难忘。
我意识到自己所拥有的一切——大学学位，成功的销售经历，演讲经历，在世界百强大公司里的培训和管理经验——已经为我实现梦想做好了准备。我已经准备好要做一名励志演说家，无须神的帮助。
当我含泪告诉老板我的计划时，这位我一直敬重不已的杰出领导说道：“勇往直前，你一定会成功。”
刚做完决定，我就遇到了考验。在我辞职一周以后，丈夫也失业了。我们刚买了一栋新房，需要两个人的收入来支付月供，可当时我们一点收入也没有。我不禁想到重回我原来供职的那家公司，我知道他们想让我干下去，但我很清楚如果回去就再也出不来了。我决定继续向前，决不做一个到最后只会满口“如果”的人。就这样，一个励志演说家诞生了。
我执着追求自己的梦想，即使是在最艰难的时候也未曾动摇，终于奇迹接连降临。丈夫在短期内找到了一份更好的工作。我们没有拖欠月供。我也开始收到新客户的演讲邀请。我发现了梦想的巨大力量。我热爱我以前的工作、同事及公司，但追逐梦想的时刻已然来临。为了庆祝成功，我请当地一位画家把新办公室漆成了一座花园。在一面墙的最上面她印了一句话：“这个世界永远属于追梦者。”