Napoleon Hill wrote that. "A goal is a dream with a deadline", that is. The first time I saw that quote was on a sign posted in the dugout of a baseball team -- and I've never forgotten it.
That's what I do - I'm a dreamer. And I'm a goal-setter, because we all know what happens when we don't have a goal to shoot at -- we can't score. And we all know what a dream is which is without a course of action -- it's just a dream.
Last August, I dreamed of organizing a men's hockey tournament to benefit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. I dreamed of teams coming in from out of town to play, of a silent auction, of "Stinger" (the Blue Jackets mascot) at the rink, and of a Columbus Blue Jackets player signing autographs too. I dreamed of media exposure, and of sponsors. And I dreamed it would be called The Make CF History Charity Classic Hockey Tournament.
By October, the deadline of my dream was set: June 3, 2011
And so, tomorrow night at 7:00 PM, the first puck will drop at the Easton Chiller to kick off the first of three days of games in the inaugural Make CF History Charity Classic Hockey Tournament. Saturday June 4th, starting at 11:00 AM there will be a silent auction, a public skate and stick-and-puck for kids with "Stinger", an autograph session with Jared Boll and Derek Dorsett of the Columbus Blue Jackets, followed by a live auction emceed by Stephanie Greegor from the Other Paper. Tournament games will take place throughout the weekend, and include teams from Columbus as well as Dayton and Detroit, MI.
And on the eve of our inaugural event, I am still dreaming of what this will all look like when it happens...while at the same time uncertain as to what to expect. Regardless, I can't help but reflect on and recognize the fact that one does not achieve a dream without the help of a lot of great people. And that perhaps the best part in the pursuit of a dream is the process of establishing new friendships while renewing bonds with friends of old -- all in the spirit of helping others. It is the greatest feeling!
