As bored summer kids in Sterling, Ohio, my brother and I used to set pennies on the railroad tracks. The train came by with dozens of cars which flattened and stretched them. The grownups who learned of our adventure discouraged us because of the possibility that anything on a track — even a penny — could potentially derail an entire train.

Whether that was actually true we couldn’t be sure (and we didn’t want to press our luck). But it’s true that the little things can often derail us. They can cause us to miss goals, and lose sight of our destiny. Little things could be as blatant as feeling discouraged or doing a good thing, but not the best thing. Such tiny changes have big implications. During our formative years, some can affect our perspective for the rest of our lives.

Changes that derail

My father was a fantastic artist, although not encouraged in his work. My dad grew up during the Great Depression. To raise a family, a serious job is necessary and grandfather didn’t consider art serious work. To provide for my dad and his sister, my grandfather sold fishing equipment at Sears and Roebuck, grew a garden and trapped small game. My dad walked the tracks picking up chunks of coal to heat their teeny basement home. As a young adult, dad joined the navy and became a photographer. When he was discharged, he became a typesetter.

Alternately, positive changes can redirect our lives. Verbal encouragement, affirmations or gestures can fuel dreams. My dad encouraged me in art for decades. He bought every kind of art and crafty thing to experiment with. This allowed for many expressions of creativity. He gave all of us kids free rein in his wood shop (as long as we put everything back the way we found it).

Because he wasn’t encouraged to follow the dreams of his youth, he wanted his six kids to live theirs. There was no encouragement about my writing. However, I keenly felt the criticism from teachers and professors. Until I met my first spiritual mentor, no one could convince me of my gifting in that area. As a woman of faith, she confided that my writing made her cry. Because she encouraged me to pursue it, I began to consider her words. I was a single parent with one obstacle. How do you make a living at writing?

Within a few years, I invested tiny amounts of money and time to learning the craft. The classes became a green light to the long-invalidated writer inside. That small shift brought opportunities, which led to more stepping-stones of discovery.

Some of my published essays brought an award, checks, or contracts. One mentor led to another. Paid mentors helped my writing advance quickly, saving years. Mentor programs are like apprenticeships — college courses minus the time-sucking “filler” classes. Each taught me more about honing my craft, and recognizing what writing most resonated with me. Fifteen years ago, I was a disillusioned artist wondering why I wasn’t making a living in art. Today, my thrilling career regularly introduces me to new fascinating people with amazing stories to share with the world.

What does this mean for you?

If you have a goal, there’s probably a mentor out there for you. Whatever your burning desire, someone passionately about it is willing to share their information and help you along your path. By investing money you show the degree to which you believe in your dream. At the beginning, I invested a little. Whatever I spent had to be recovered with the knowledge gained. And as that began to occur more regularly, I invested larger sums to increase my knowledge.

What would our realm look like if everyone made a living by plugging into their true passions? What dream sparks are in your “Someday” basket? What keeps you for taking step one today? Are you waiting to retire? After the kids are grown? Unhook it from those future events. Take action. Move forward today and go as far as you can go today, and see what opens up tomorrow. Then go as far as you can that day. And repeat this until you touch the dream come true.

Sometimes you can work backwards. Looked at anything free or at cost that would help you reach a goal. Being informed helps you make better choices. Ask your circle of friends if they know anyone doing what you aspire to. Take advantage of free programs offered at churches, meetup boards and libraries. Ask your librarian. They are fountains of information.

Taking a step today can change your tomorrow. Have questions about how to begin? Drop a comment in the box below and let’s start a conversation.

Have a great week and I’ll see you next time!