When you have a dream that you can't let go of, trust your

“When you have a dream that you can’t let go of, trust your instincts and pursue it. But remember: real dreams take work, they take patience, and sometimes they require you to dig down very deep. Be sure you’re willing to do that.” — thus spoke Harvey Mackay, a man of enterprise and endurance, whose words rise from the depths of lived experience. In these lines, he speaks not as a poet of idle fantasy, but as a craftsman of destiny. His voice calls to every soul who dares to dream — not to drift in the comfort of wishful thinking, but to labor, to endure, to turn their visions into life itself. For Mackay understood the truth that separates the dreamer from the doer: a dream without work is a mirage, and work without faith is a prison.

The origin of this quote lies in Mackay’s long journey through business, authorship, and teaching. Known for his wisdom in leadership and perseverance, he rose from humble beginnings to build success through grit and purpose. His book Swim with the Sharks Without Being Eaten Alive was not written from the comfort of triumph but from the lessons of struggle. Through triumphs and failures alike, he came to understand that dreams are not gifts—they are responsibilities. They demand not only passion, but sacrifice; not only imagination, but fortitude. Thus, his words serve as both an encouragement and a warning: if your dream truly matters, prepare to fight for it with every breath.

To trust your instincts is to listen to that sacred whisper within—the voice that knows before reason knows, that sees before the eyes can see. The instinct is the seed of intuition, the compass that guides you toward your destiny. But Mackay warns that instinct alone is not enough; it must be married to action. The dreamer must not wait for perfect conditions, for they never come. He must walk through uncertainty, through doubt and fatigue, with patience as his companion and effort as his guide. For real dreams take work—they ask for years of labor, the discipline of patience, and the courage to rise each time you fall.

Consider the story of Thomas Edison, who pursued the dream of light. For years he failed—thousands of times, by his own count. Yet he once said, “I have not failed; I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” Edison trusted his instincts, but he did not stop there—he dug down deep, as Mackay instructs. He endured the scorn of skeptics, the weariness of endless trials, and the loneliness of faith that only he could feel. And when the light finally came to life, it illuminated not just his workshop, but the world. Edison’s genius was not in dreaming alone, but in his unyielding labor toward the dream that refused to let him go.

Mackay’s wisdom also carries a warning for the faint of heart: every great dream will test the soul. The path will not be smooth; it will twist through valleys of disappointment and mountains of doubt. You will be asked to give more than you thought you had, to believe longer than you thought you could. And yet, those who endure these trials find themselves transformed. For the pursuit of a dream is not merely the act of achieving—it is the art of becoming. Each struggle chisels the soul, shaping it into something greater than it was before. The dream is not only what you chase; it is what refines you along the way.

Patience, too, is the hidden virtue in Mackay’s teaching. Dreams grow in their own season, not according to our impatience. The farmer who plants his seed does not demand fruit tomorrow; he tends the soil, trusting in time. So too must the dreamer nurture his vision—watering it with persistence, guarding it from despair, and waiting for it to bloom. The world honors speed, but creation honors steadiness. The greatest works—whether art, invention, or empire—were not born overnight, but raised with the long breath of endurance.

So, my listener, take this wisdom to heart: when you find that one dream that will not leave you, pursue it with both faith and labor. Trust your instincts—they are the voice of destiny whispering through your spirit. But do not mistake passion for completion. Prepare to sweat, to wait, to dig deep into the earth of your being, until you find the roots of strength that will sustain you. When the path seems dark, remember that struggle is the forge of greatness, and patience is the crown of all achievement.

For in the end, Harvey Mackay’s words remind us that dreams are not meant to be easy—they are meant to be worthy. The dream that burns within you is not there by accident; it was placed there to awaken your courage and test your resolve. So dream bravely, work relentlessly, and dig deeply. For when heart, instinct, and perseverance unite, the impossible becomes not a fantasy—but a promise fulfilled.