The only opinion about your dream that really counts is yours. The negative comments of others merely reflect their limitations - not yours. Fashion photographer Richard Avedon tried to convince Cher that she didn't have the right look to be a model. He told her flat out, "You will never make the cover of Vogue because you don't have blond hair or blue eyes." When she did, Vogue sold more copies than it had ever sold before.

When Gustave Leven was making plans to launch Perrier in the United States, several consulting firms advised him, "You're foolish to try to sell sparkling water in the land of Coca-Cola drinkers."

A New York Publisher told James Michener after reading his first unpublished manuscript, "You're a good editor with a promising future in the business. Why would you want to throw it all away to try to be a writer? I read your book. Frankly, it's not really that good." Michener's manuscript, titled Tales of the South Pacific, eventually was sold and later won a Pulitzer Prize and was adapted for stage and screen as "South Pacific."

Remember, there is nothing unrealistic about a dream that aligns with your purpose, ignites your passion, and inspires you to plan and persevere until you attain it. On the contrary, it's unrealistic to expect a person with such drive and commitment not to succeed.

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