Inspiring stories remind us to fol-low our dreams

I love writing stories about people who have made their dreams come true – which happens more often than you might think.

Over the past 30 years, I’ve talked with world-class athletes, authors, visual artists, musicians, nonprofit founders, entrepreneurs, craftspeople, all of whom had one thing in common. They started with a dream.

Some had exceptional support from their families and friends. Others had none, and chasing the dream meant doing battle with their parents or spouses or children.

One woman launched a business with a loan from her parents. Another built a nonprofit with nothing but a passion for helping the homeless and families in need.

Last week, I had a conversation with Emily Knudsen and Bill Bartz, owners of Pleasant Grove Pizza Farm, last week. Self-described “entrepreneurs at heart,” they’ve built a haven in nature for families who love pizza and music.

Emily said when they stood looking out at Bill’s hobby farm, they could both see how the pizza farm would play out on the property. Their common vision led to a restaurant that seven years later is growing beyond expectations.

Reading about people who live their dreams, I think, reminds us of our own. The shop you’ve always wanted to open. The novel sitting in a desk drawer. The vacation of a lifetime.

I hope you are inspired to make your dreams come true, right here in the heart of Steele County. And when you do, give us a call!