What If...?

	Goal Getters: Rex Walheim

On my path to becoming an astronaut, I learned that things don’t always go according to plan. The doctors said I had a heart murmur—my lifelong dream of becoming a pilot was in tatters, right out of the gate. Seven years after I was eliminated from pilot training, I decided to try to become a flight test engineer. But the first time I applied, I wasn’t accepted. I worked harder, and was accepted two years later. When I went to get my medical waiver, the doctors said I didn’t have a heart murmur. I decided to try a second time to become an astronaut. But, once again, I wasn’t accepted. It was hard to motivate myself to go through the whole process again. But I knew that if I didn’t apply at least once more, for the rest of my life I would have to wonder, “what if....” So I went through the blizzard of paperwork, the medical tests, and the grueling interview process yet again. Then, one morning I got a phone the call from NASA to join the astronaut corps.

In your lives, you may end up in a place you don’t want to be or with a job you don’t want, but when you achieve your dreams, you too will look back and think, “You know, that wasn’t so bad. I learned a lot, and it is part of what made me who I am. PE

—Rex Walheim, astronaut

I Believe

	Goal Getters: Elbert Hubbard

I believe in working, not weeping; in boosting, not knocking; and in the pleasure of my job. I believe that a man gets what he goes after, and that one deed done today is worth two deeds done tomorrow, and that no man is down and out until he has lost faith in himself. I believe today in the work I am doing, and tomorrow in the work I hope to do, and in the sure reward that the future holds. I believe in courtesy, kindness, generosity, good cheer, friendship, and honest competition. I believe there is something doing somewhere for everyone ready to do it. I believe I am ready right now. PE

—Elbert Hubbard, founder of Roycraft Press

Love the Lifestyle

	Goal Getters: Misty Hyman

My ultimate goal was to make the Olympic team. But was that really why I woke up 5:30 every morning to swim in the middle of winter, eat breakfast and brush my teeth in the car on the way to school, and hurry to do my homework during my lunch hour so I could go to practice and do weights in the afternoon? No.

I love the lifestyle. I love being around my teammates and friends everyday. I love setting goals and doing my best to reach them. I love challenging myself in practice. And I cherish every lesson that I have learned in swimming. PE

—Misty Hyman, 2000 Olympic gold medalist

Don’t Limit Your Dreams

	Goal Getters: Lou Tice

When Diane and I had nine children to feed at home, we had taken the vow of poverty, by mistake. Our cars were junkers. Every year we’d need to get a new car. We would say, “We’ve got to get a new car.” But we weren’t talking about a $10,000 car or even a $5,000 car. It was closer to a $500 car. When we said, “We’ve got to get a new car,” we meant a new junker. It wasn’t like we thought of a new car and then adjusted back to a used car. The new car never even came into our minds. We’ve purchased new cars since then, so the potential was there inside of us, but we didn’t have the aspiration or the goal. You won’t think expansively if you lack inner strength. You won’t let yourself think about what you don’t believe you can cause. If you lack self-esteem, you will limit your dreams. Be goal oriented. Once you know what you want to achieve, you can learn to affirm, visualize, and let your goal orientation guide you. PE

—Lou Tice, author and consultant