If you fight for your dreams, your dreams will fight for you

I had been traveling again last month, and one of the stops we made as a family was to Fontainebleau, near Paris, France. My daughter graduated from INSEAD (Institut Européen d’Administration des Affaires) and earned her Master’s degree. Needless to say, I am very proud that she completed the one-year program, capping nicely my initial pride at her being accepted at INSEAD.

At my daughter’s graduation, Edoardo Campri, the class valedictorian, said, “If you fight for your dreams, your dreams will fight for you.”

This struck a chord with me because it evokes the value of hard work.

It can be all too easy to become discouraged and give up on our dreams. The path to success is rarely a straight line, and we often face obstacles and challenges that make achieving our goals seem impossible. However, the powerful sentiment expressed in that young man’s words – “If you fight for your dreams, your dreams will fight for you” – serves as an important reminder that perseverance and determination can be the keys to unlocking our greatest potential.

At the heart of this quote is the idea that our dreams are not passive entities, but rather active forces that will rise to meet our efforts. When we wholeheartedly commit ourselves to pursuing our ambitions, we unlock an inherent drive and resilience within ourselves that propel us forward. It is this fighting spirit – this refusal to surrender in the face of adversity – that transforms our dreams from mere wishes into tangible realities.

Time and again, we see examples of individuals who have achieved extraordinary feats precisely because they refused to give up on their dreams. I have met some of these people and they come from all walks of life. Some of them are top business leaders at the helm of the country’s largest corporations, while some are the everyday people I encounter during our entrepreneurship mentoring sessions. I see in them the same determination to overcome challenges; it doesn’t matter whether it’s sourcing billions or thousands in capital, the same tenacity fuels them toward their goal.

The journey is never easy. Pursuing our dreams often requires immense sacrifice, patience and hard work. There will be