My Great Aunt Frances sent me a birthday card on my 13th birthday. Below the usual birthday wishes, she wrote: Nephew, never lose sight of your dreams!

I have always held these words close to my heart. In whatever task or endeavor, I have made it a point to never lose the focus of my goals. Anything I undertake, is measured against my hopes and dreams. If I cannot see a way or a means to achieve what I want, I choose a different path.

My Mother also has many times over the years shared with me her wisdom. She passed a quote on to me that goes like this: Any man is capable of doing anything he wants to, providing he is capable of wanting it badly enough. She told me it was an Oliver Wendel Holmes quote.

Mom also told me to find something I enjoy doing, and find a way to get paid for doing it. I think that may be her own wisdom, not sure.

So, if I take all of this inspiration and try to make application to myself, I have to think about what I like to do. I have to attach a goal to it, and I have to have the intestinal fortitude to follow through.

I like baseball, I like to travel and I enjoy writing. I owned a sports collectibles store for several years in the 80s and 90s until it stopped being fun. I brought out celebrity athletes and promoted autograph shows, until the celebrities began to price themselves out of profitability for me. Nowadays, I write about baseball. I recently published a cover story about Mark McGwire in Tuff Stuff magazine, and got paid quite handsomely for doing it. This keeps me into something I enjoy, I get paid, I keep focused on my dreams, and I believe I can do it well. All lined up with my goals and aspirations.

I am co-owner of a tour company with my Mom. We have been driving day trips and cross country adventures since 1992. I have driven over a million miles guiding tours. I have crossed my love for travel with my experience in travel, turning my vacation into my vocation.

I have written scores of published articles on travel for magazines all over the country. This perfectly blends my love of travel, my love of writing and my zest for making a living doing just the things I love to do. Sometimes, I even take my tour guests to a big league baseball game and write about it. Imagine that!

Learn more about this author, Michael Mccormick.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

---

Add your voice

Know something about Finding that work-life balance?
We want to hear your view. Write now!