Donna Sheppard had a vivid dream about understanding and communicating the principles of John Maxwell in a way that connects with people's hearts, not just their heads. In the dream, she saw people's untapped potential and gifts being unlocked as she encouraged them. This gave her a renewed sense of belief that she could make a positive difference in people's lives, just as her mother had done through her work helping others. She wants to use her skills to help victims of abuse and domestic violence, and inspire others to go out and make a positive impact in their communities through their talents.

1. Personal Story for John Maxwell Certification
Donna Mae Sheppard
Making a Difference….One At a Time
Have you ever had a dream that seemed so real, was so vivid and exciting that
when you woke up you wanted to go back to sleep so you could be where you
were? You open one eye and you say, no I’m not ready to come back- I don’t
remember where I was, but it was better than where I am now. That is what I
did about two or so months ago. I lulled myself back to sleep, wanting to
recapture the dream or what I’m calling a vision. Have you ever experienced a
dream like that? Do you know what I’m talking about?
I had prayed the night before, Lord show me what these John Maxwell Laws
are really about. Help me understand them in a way that I can communicate
them to people not only from my head, but also from my heart. Because right
now I’m just not getting it.
I woke up that morning with this high feeling; It was almost like I was hungry
for something, but I didn’t know exactly what it was at first. I did know it was
intense… it was almost like P F Chang’s- Chocolate Wall Cake w/ the five layers of
chocolate cake with chocolate fudge icing, nibbles of dark chocolate sprinkled
across the top, melted chocolate dripping over the edge of the plate surrounded
by strawberries and blueberries. Usually that gives me to a high – that sugar buzz
in the head, but the way I felt after that dream was even better and there was no
indigestion or calories either.
I knew there was something, so different about this dream that I not only
wanted to remember it, but I was driven to embrace it. I felt an anxious wonder,

2. amazement and anticipation “ …my heart was even racing.” I could see snapshots
of people walking toward me and people walking away, but when they walked
away there was excitement in their eyes as they talked about their gifts, their
talents and visions for their future. I would approach people boldly and could see
potential in them that was beyond anything had been natural for me in the past.
Itwas giving me a “high” I’d rarely experienced (and it wasn’tfromdrugs either). I
could clearly see people around me I didn’t even know with eyes sparkling and
wide open as they captured a picture of what I called “Their Gifting”. These were
personal talents and gifts in themselves they had never thought about or
developed. What amazed me was that it was the hope and belief I had in them
and encouragement I gave them that helped them and me step across the bridge
between us and our vision.
Some of you are younger than me, but when you get into your Golden Years,
you begin to think like a child and you believe the world is yours. You just believe
if you can walk fast enough and reach far enough anything you want in life is
yours. Maybe we all have a lot to learn from that child that is still within each of
us.
Due to many experiences over my lifetime (I will not talk about today). I want
to be a voice for women that had been wounded and are living in silence as
victims of abuse and domestic violence. I want to make a difference like my mom
did. She saw her mom die in childbirth at 5 years of age because her alcoholic
father couldn’t drive her to a hospital; dropped out of school in the 10th
grade
because she had to work. She climbed the ladder though from being “a good stay
at home mom till I entered college then continued vocational training and
became manager of a local credit union, president of not only the state board of

3. directions for credit unions, but also on the national board. She was instrumental
while serving on a national legislative committee in seeing that credit unions got
equal status as banks. She often spoke about the Starfish Story.
You have a copy in your hand
Once you read it you’ll understand;
I can see my mother now standing on a beach
Reaching down for a starfish just within her reach;
She tosses it gently out past the shore
Into the ocean and seen no more;
Don’t you see I’m making a difference for this one
There are so many more; help me, there is work to be done.
So I ask you today are you casting starfish one at a time or by the dozen?
Something is special in each one of us or we would not be here. We’ve been
gifted with the ability to make a difference in the lives of others. Use your gifting
and may the clarity and passion for your vision propel you to shape not only your
future, but those in your community and in this world.
Vision without action is merely a dream
Action without vision just passes the time
Vision with action can change the world
Let’s Make A Difference.

4. QUOTES THAT INSPIRE…
John Maxwell

5. “Every leader has lids onhis life. Theissueis never whetheryouhavelids.
Theissueis whatyouaregoing todo about them.”
“Leaders get themselves intotroublewhen they put their desireforresults
beforetheir willingness to developthemselves inareas of competenceand
character.”
“Thetruthis thatthework of connecting is neverfinished. Trueconnection
is anongoing effort.”
“It hasbeensaidthata goodexecutiveneverputs offto tomorrowwhathe
can havesomeoneelsedotoday.”
“Godis lookingforpeoplethroughwhom Hecandotheipossible-what a
pitythatweplanonlythethings wecan doby ourselves.”Tozer
“Life’s mosturgentandpersistentquestionforleaders is, “Whatareyou
doing for others?”