Have you ever had a feeling that turned into a thought and then the thought turned into an obsession? Have you ever fallen in love, did something on a whim, or did you follow your instincts?
Have you ever wondered what you would do, who would you meet, where would you go, if you knew that you cannot fail? Napoleon Hill, in 1937 wrote, “Thoughts are things,” powerful things, when mixed with determination of purpose, persistence, and burning desire; translate into wealth and other material objects. “
Combine that thought with the old adage “The person who thinks about something often passes for someone who does something!” and you will start to find your butkus, your true passion in life.
He had done something and now, almost by accident, he was in a whirlwind. The dream funnel dropped me off at the corner office at One NFL Way, Mt. Laurel, NJ – it was NFL Films.
“Is this real? Why am I here?”
“Is he who I think he is?”
“Is it what I think it is?”
I would surely wake up from this dream. I had to do it! This really couldn’t be happening.
The corner office was that of Steve Sabol, the NFL legend. And no, it was not a dream. We stood arm in arm and arm in arm as his staff took the celebratory photo.
Years before, many decades actually, he had been a soccer-loving boy in British Columbia, Canada. I loved playing soccer and watching the NFL on TV, especially the top movies. That’s where I first heard Steve Sabol’s voice and felt presence. His films stirred my imagination. I loved the poetic slow motion images, thunderous music, and compelling stories. As a fan, everything at NFL Films was larger than life.
Being a fan of something is one thing, but how the hell did I get into this office, with this man? Lucky perhaps, heaven sent for sure, but it sure wasn’t by accident!
During a moment of unplanned frustration, I wrote a letter on a whim, then thought about it for a day and didn’t send it. In my life, I have rarely wavered on anything, but I sat on my letter for a week while debating the pros and cons of sending it. Then one day, I reread a family statement: “When you have a good idea, do it right away!” I went to the post office and quickly sent my letter.
A few weeks later a return postcard appeared with a stamp from NFL Films’ Bruno Nagurski. The plain white paper had the NFL Films logo and a handwritten note:
BETO –
THANK YOU FOR THE DVD AND YOUR KIND WORDS ABOUT NFL MOVIES!
IF WE HAVE ANOTHER TELEVISION SPECIAL AT DICK BUTKUS, AND ONE IS IN THE PLANNING STAGES RIGHT NOW, WE WILL DEFINITELY INCLUDE HIS WORK AND HISTORY.
BEST STEVE
Eleven months later, almost daily, my story won the 2008 Emmy Award for Outstanding Feature Film. With only desire and confidence in myself, I had unconsciously followed Napoleon Hill’s teachings: “Thoughts are things,” powerful things.
Learn to follow your dreams, be persistent with a determined wish. To take action. When you do, you will find the thing, the inner part that is uniquely you. What you already know, right now, is the key that will unlock your dreams and desires.
Your dreams can’t win you an Emmy, an Academy Award, or any kind of award, but when you act, they will be answered. Stop thinking and start doing; Become your own fan and you will find your unstoppable self!
