H.D. Thoreau once said “If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost; that is where they should be. Now put the foundations under them.” These words ring true to this very day and they kindle the entrepreneurial spirit in new generations.

If you wish to pursue your dreams but do not have the courage to battle against the odds read this heartening story of a married couple who made their dream come true. And start laying foundations to your dreams. Check out: Five Lessons I Learned By Quitting My Safe Corporate Job

Glossary

• uplifting – inspirational, encouraging
• naysayers – people who say no to something, deny or oppose it
• drown out – make another sound inaudible by being much louder
• ally – a person who cooperates and helps
• counsel – advice
• inhibit – prevent, restrain
• coincide – occur at or during the same time
• perseverance – persistence in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success

Think about it 

Are the following statements true or false according to the author of the text?

• The writer’s relatives were great supporters of her entrepreneurial idea.
• Excuses such as lack of knowledge or experience are the only ones which are justifiable.
• Your intuitions may sometimes be overpowered by external pressure.
• Pirate Captain says that if you stop thinking about something it becomes impossible.
• Advice from experienced individuals is entirely valueless.
• Purpose and vision are characteristic of play-it-safers.

Practice makes perfect

In the sentences below replace the phrases in bold with the expressions from the original text. Leave your answers in the comments below!

• It wasn’t easy discovering what we wanted to do, but we noticed that certain things kept preventing us from doing what we wanted to do.
• Hopes and dreams are what inspire, but without hard work, they never come true.
• Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions make your own inner voice inaudible.
• You have to get out there and meet new people.
• This happened at about the same time as the birth of my first child two weeks earlier!

Choose the correct answer.

1. My husband and I worked to ___ our vision by researching market opportunities and assessing our talents.

1. increase
2. refine
3. assume

2. We ___ have talents suited for running an athletic footwear company, but ___ of us had any actual experience in the industry.

1. neither … either
2. two … none
3. both … neither

3. I really had no idea what was coming our way ___ the next two years.

1. about
2. over
3. with

4. We ___ our homework and our research shows that the majority of women are unhappy with athletic shoes

1. made
2. did
3. performed

5. Don’t ___ the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice.

1. allow
2. let
3. enable

Explore it more

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