Chicken Soup for the Soul: Living Your Dreams : Inspirational Stories, Powerful Principles and Practical Techniques to Help You Make Your Dreams Come True

by Canfield, Jack, Mark

• ISBN13: 9780757301384
• ISBN10: 075730138X
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2003-08-01
• Publisher: Hci

Summary

In the years since it was first published, the magic of Chicken Soup for the Soul has touched the hearts and minds ofmore than70 million readers from all walks of life with its stories of ordinary people who have done extraordinary things. With its powerful message of hope and inspiration, the series that Newsweek called "a publishing phenomenon" has taught readers that dreams really do come true for those who dare to believe that any obstacle, no matter how daunting, can be overcome with persistence, patience and belief in oneself. In this commemorative tenth anniversary edition, readers will find fifty of the best-loved stories from the series, those that exemplify the spirit of Chicken Soup and its ability to illuminate the path we all walk on. Included are poignant letters from readers whose lives were transformed by what they read and a special section written by coauthors, master motivators Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen, on the special principles of living your dreams that everyone can follow. This keepsake edition is a must-have for every reader who has ever opened his or her heart to the goodness and grace that is Chicken Soup for the Soul.

Author Biography

Who Is Jack Canfield? Jack Canfield is one of America's leading experts in the development of human potential and personal effectiveness. He is both a dynamic, entertaining keynote speaker and a highly sought-after trainer. Jack has a wonderful ability to inform and inspire audiences toward increased levels of self-esteem and peak performance. He is the author and narrator of several bestselling audio- and video-cassette programs, including Self-Esteem and Peak Performance, How to Build High Self-Esteem, Self-Esteem in the Classroom and Chicken Soup for the Soul-Live. He is regularly seen on television shows such as Good Morning America, 20/20 and NBC Nightly News. Jack has co-authored over sixty books, including the Chicken Soup for the Soul series, Dare to Win, The Aladdin Factor, 100 Ways to Build Self-Concept in the Classroom, Heart at Work and The Power of Focus: How to Hit Your Business, Personal and Financial Targets with Absolute Certainty. Jack is a regularly featured inspirational and motivational speaker for professional associations, school districts, government agencies, churches, hospitals, nonprofit organizations, sales organizations and corporations. His clients have included the American Heart Association, the Children's Miracle Network, the Boys Club of America, Reading Fun, the American Dental Association, the American Management Association, AT and T, Campbell's Soup, Clairol, Domino's Pizza, GE, ITT, Hartford Insurance, Johnson and Johnson, the Million Dollar Round Table, NCR, New England Telephone, Re/Max, Scott Paper, TRW and Virgin Records. Jack's speaking topics include The Power of Focus, Self-Esteem and Peak Performance, The 10 Steps to Success, The Success Principles, Dare to Win, Living Your Dreams and Chicken Soup for the Soul. For further information about Jack's books, tapes and training programs, or to schedule him for a presentation, please contact: Self-Esteem Seminars P.O. Box 30880 Santa Barbara, CA 93130 phone: [phone] * fax: [phone] Web site: www.jackcanfield.com.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	xi
Introduction	xv
Share with Us	xix
How to Live Your Dream
How to Live Your Dream	2	(56)
Jack Canfield
Mark Victor Hansen
Dare to Dream and Set Goals
Together, Achieving Our Olympic Dream	58	(6)
Penny
Vicky Vilagos
Follow Your Dream	64	(2)
Jack Canfield
A Chicken Soup Contributor Responds	66	(2)
Jean Harper
New Directions	68	(3)
Maya Angelou
Finding My Wings	71	(4)
Sue Augustine
Glenna's Goal Book	75	(4)
Glenna Salsbury
The Little Girl Who Dared to Wish	79	(4)
Alan D. Schultz
One Person Can Make a Difference	83	(5)
Bob Proctor
Bob Templeton
Standing Tall on a Surfboard in Midlife	88	(4)
Mike Gordon
Believe in Yourself
You Can't Afford to Doubt Yourself	92	(5)
Nora Profit
Discouraged?	97	(2)
Jack Canfield
A Salesman's First Sale	99	(4)
Rob Toni
Nick Harris
Batgirl	103	(5)
Dandi Daley Mackall
There Are No Vans	108	(4)
Anthony Robbins
``If I Were Really Important...''	112	(2)
Susan Jeffers
The Professor and Me	114	(6)
Catherine Lanigan
The Interview
Nicole Jenkins as told to Michele ``Screech'' Campanelli	120	(4)
A Chicken Soup Reader Responds	124	(3)
Kyle Christensen
Tommy's Bumper Sticker	127	(5)
Mark Victor Hansen
A Chicken Soup Reader Responds	132	(2)
Stephanie Pieper
Trash Bags Are for Trash	134	(7)
Mackenzie Snyder
A Chicken Soup Contributor Responds	141	(3)
Jessica Lynn Burnham
It's Never Too Late
Never Too Old to Live Your Dream	144	(3)
Dan Clark
Teacher at Last
Eugene Edwards as told to Gloria Cassity Stargel	147	(6)
Is Fire Goddess Spelled with Two Ds?	153	(4)
Linda Stafford
Never Too Late	157	(4)
Linda Apple
How I Got into the Movies	161	(4)
Gunter David
Grandma Moses and Me	165	(6)
Liah Kraft-Kristaine
The Power of Support: You Can't Do It Alone
The Drive of a Champion	171	(7)
Jack Cavanaugh
Riding Tandem	178	(6)
Erik Weihenmayer
Hall of Fame	184	(4)
Debra Peppers
A Chicken Soup Contributor Responds	188	(1)
Debra Peppers
A Hundred and One Atlantic Nights	189	(8)
Jan Meek
Daniel Byles
Janet Matthews
The Kindness of Strangers	197	(7)
Mike McIntyre
Be Willing to Pay the Price
Willing to Pay the Price	204	(4)
John McCormack
A Little Courage Goes a Long Way	208	(4)
Sandra Crowe
The Price of a Dream	212	(2)
Ricky C. Hunley
A Perfect Skate	214	(4)
Nancy E. Myer
Dreams Have a Price	218	(4)
Gene Perret
Take Action
One at a Time	222	(4)
Jaroldeen Edwards
When Dreams Won't Die	226	(4)
Marilyn Johnson Kondwani
Look Out Baby, I'm Your Love Man!	230	(4)
Jack Canfield
Ask, Affirm, Take Action	234	(4)
Claudette Hunter
Ask, Ask, Ask	238	(3)
Jack Canfield
Mark Victor Hansen
Ask, Ask, Ask . . . The Story Continues	241	(1)
Abraham Estimada
How Prayer Made Me a Father Again	242	(5)
Richard Whetstone
Why Wait? . . . Just Do It!	247	(4)
Glenn
Hellmi McIntyre
The First Step	251	(2)
Rabona Turner Gordon
A Chicken Soup Contributor Responds	253	(3)
Rabona Turner Gordon
The Power of Determination
Ryan's Well of Life	256	(6)
Susan Hreljac
Darlene Montgomery
Unstoppable	262	(4)
Dixie Jane Sokolik
The Impossible Just Takes a Little Longer	266	(5)
Art E. Berg
Dare to Imagine	271	(3)
Marilyn King
Carol Kline
18 Holes in His Mind	274	(2)
Bert Decker
Against All Odds	276	(13)
Amy Ash Nixon
The Cowboy's Story	289	(6)
Larry Winget
Baby-Lift	295	(6)
LeAnn Thieman
Sharon Linnea
A Cowboy's Last Chance	301	(7)
Dirk Johnson
The Day Mother Cried	308	(7)
Gerald Moore
The Power of Determination	315	(5)
Burt Dubin
Never Give Up
Consider This	320	(5)
Jack Canfield
Mark Victor Hansen
Begin at the Beginning	325	(4)
Lola De Julio De Maci
Embassy of Hope	329	(3)
David Like
Opportunity	332	(5)
Omar Periu
The Magic Skates	337	(7)
Barbara Underhill
Paul Martini
A Little Girl's Dream	344	(4)
Jann Mitchell
How to Be New and Different	348	(7)
Patricia Lorenz
More Chicken Soup?	355	(1)
Supporting Kids Living Their Dreams	356	(1)
Who Is Jack Canfield?	357	(1)
Who Is Mark Victor Hansen?	358	(1)
Resources to Help You Live Your Dreams	359	(1)
Contributors	360	(9)
Permissions (continued)	369

Excerpts

In our dreams we all aspire to be, do and have great things. Yet most of us simply aren't creating the results we want. We don't have enough money, romance, success or joy in our lives. What we need to understand is that greatness exists in all of us, but it is up to us to pull it out of ourselves. It is true that we all have genius. We just need to learn how to apply our genius. This book is divided into ten sections that parallel the ten strategies that you will need to employ to successfully live your dreams. Each one is an important piece of the overall system that will take you from where you are to where you want to be. Let's get started. Step 1. Decide What You Want The indispensable first step to getting things you want out of life is this: Decide what you want. Ben Stein, actor and author In order to get what you want, you must first decide what you want. Most people get stuck at this crucial first step because they simply can't see how it's possible to get what they wantso they don't even let themselves want it. Don't sabotage yourself that way! What we now know about how the brain works is that you must first decide WHAT you want, before your brain can figure out HOW to get it. Be willing to dream big dreams Always dream and shoot higher than you know you can do. Don't bother just to be better than your contemporaries or predecessors. Try to be better than yourself. William Faulkner When the two of us decided to write Chicken Soup for the Soul, we had a big dream. We wanted to create a book that would change millions of lives. Our dream was to sell 150,000 copies the first year and a million copies by the end of the following year. We were thinking number one on the bestseller lists from the very beginning. We wanted to touch as many lives as possibleto make a big difference in the world. Our corporate mission statement is to inspire and empower people to live their highest vision in a context of love and joy. Through the Chicken Soup for the Soul books we wanted to heal and change the world one story at a time. It was a big dream. Later, after selling 50 million books, we decided to make the dream bigger. We created what we call our 2020 Visionto sell one billion Chicken Soup for the Soul books worldwide and raise 500 million dollars for charity by the year 2020. So far we are approaching 70 titles with almost 90 million copies sold in 39 languages, and almost 4 million dollars contributed to charity. Two years ago, we set the goal to sell one million books in one day. The main purpose was just to stretch our thinking. We realized if we were going to sell one billion books by 2020, we were going to have to pick up the pace. Only a few weeks later we were at the Book ExpoAmerica in Chicago. Jack was riding the bus taking people back to their hotels when he learned the woman sitting next to him was the head buyer for the WH Smith Storesthe chain that sells books and magazines at airports. When Jack sha

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Excerpted from Chicken Soup for the Soul: Unlocking the Secrets to Living Your Dreams: Unlocking the Secrets to Living Your Dreams by Jack L. Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, Jack Canfield
All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.