Begin with the end in mind:
The Field of Dreams

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First of all, the Creative Abandon team would like to wish everyone a very happy holiday! And to our clients we offer a heartfelt thank you for the gift of your partnership over the years.

We thought it might be appropriate as the year comes to a close to tell the story of The Madeleine School's "Field of Dreams" project.Two years ago, the school embarked on a quest to transform the ugly blacktop playground into a park-like community recreation area to share with the neighborhood. Led by Tricia Sullivan, the school's Development Director, a "Dream Team" was assembled to get the project off the ground and guide it through completion. The design of the new area included three parts: a synthetic turf multi-purpose field, a covered court with basketball hoops, and a small open garden space.

The project would face many obstacles throughout its journey -- city zoning regulations, neighborhood education and involvement, planning and scheduling issues, and not least of all the need to raise more than $500,000 to cover the cost of the project. But as so often happens when you have a clear dream of what's possible and can communicate that vision to others, you soon find it gains a momentum all its own. Thanks to the power of allies and the unwavering vision of "what could be," we're happy to say the Field of Dreams became a reality this past summer/fall and is a fantastic area which is shared by the community.

Now that the field is completed, an ongoing task is to accommodate the needs of the various community groups who would like to use it. Balancing this can be tiring, but says Tricia, "Every day I try to keep the 'end goal' in mind for our Field as I deal with scheduling. All in all it adds up to keeping in mind what we set out to do...to make an inviting, open community recreation area to share. Really, this two-year journey has been life-changing for me. Despite the road bumps we've overcome, the end result is nothing but gratifying. I'm pretty sure most people can't say that about a job."

As you continue on the journey of your Hero's Quest, we have this bit of advice, courtesy of Tricia: keep the end in mind. By clearly envisioning your "Ultimate Benefit," you'll be less likely to stray from the path of success. Share your dream with us by clicking here, or on the "Share Your Story" link at the top of the page. And may 2007 find you beginning with the end in mind!

Lisa and the Creative Abandon team

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DECEMBER 22, 2006 | ISSUE NO. 011

Begin with the end in mind: The Field of Dreams

Begin with the end in mind:
The Field of Dreams