Summary

The article draws inspiration from the movie "Field of Dreams" to encourage building one's passion project, suggesting that an audience or customer base will follow if the endeavor is pursued with dedication.

Abstract

The article uses the iconic quote "If you build it, they will come" from the 1989 film "Field of Dreams" as a metaphor for success in business and life. It emphasizes that starting from scratch and pursuing one's passion can lead to significant achievements, as evidenced by the success stories of Walt Disney, Jeff Bezos, and Oprah Winfrey. The author, Noah Nelson, shares his personal experience of growing his Medium platform from zero to a substantial following by consistently working on his craft. The article concludes by encouraging readers to start building their own empires in areas they are passionate about, suggesting that an audience will eventually find them, much like the characters in the movie who were drawn to the baseball field built by Ray Kinsella.

Opinions

The author believes that the key to success is to start building your dream project, regardless of the initial lack of audience or customers.
Successful entrepreneurs like Walt Disney, Jeff Bezos, and Oprah Winfrey are cited as examples of individuals who started with nothing and built empires through passion and perseverance.
The article suggests that consumer interest and growth will naturally follow if one focuses on creating something of value.
The author uses his own experience as a writer on Medium to illustrate that consistent effort and dedication can lead to a growing audience and modest income.
The movie "Field of Dreams" is presented as an allegory for the idea that creating something with conviction will attract people to it.
The article implies that the journey to building an empire is a gradual process that requires patience and persistence.

The Movie Quote Will Help You Succeed in Business and Life

You have to see it to believe it.

In the 1989 baseball film “Field of Dreams,” Kevin Costner’s character, Ray Kinsella hears a voice in his Iowa cornfield. It repeatedly tells him:

“If you build it, they will come.”

But what does this mean?

Kinsella takes this advice and soon builds a baseball diamond where his corn once grew. In the days to come, players from the 1919 World Series, including “Shoeless” Joe Jackson, visit him and begin to play on the field.

Even though the quote is interpreted this way in the film, what does it mean in real life?

It’s quite simple. In other words:

Build your empire. They will come.

Start From Nothing to Grow It

You’ve probably heard a thousand times some of the biggest companies in the world began from nothing.

Walt Disney started drawing in a small studio.
Jeff Bezos began Amazon from his garage.
Oprah Winfrey was once a small town reporter.

These successful business people began from nothing to build extraordinary empires. But how did they build them?

The people came.

As these empires grew, more and more consumers found them and have since stayed with them. And this is what builds the empire for these entrepreneurs.

And you can do this too.

You Can Build Your Own Empire

What do you want to create?

It’s similar to playing with Legos. The possibilities are endless.

But you start with what you are passionate about.

Food
Sports
Music
Fashion
Writing
And so much more!

You begin with a single seed of an idea and go from there. Keep working toward your empire’s goal and one day, something great will happen.

The people will come.

Take It From My Experience

When I began writing on Medium six months ago, I had no idea what I was getting myself into. But I dove into the waters and I’ve been swimming ever since.

I began writing like everyone else with:

0 views
0 reads
0 fans
$0

In due time, I’ve built my empire to what it is today, and it continues to grow:

Approx. 3,000 views a month
460 followers
Earned over $100.
At least one fan every story.

This is by no means an empire to quit my day job, but it’s the start of a wonderful journey. And why is that?

The people came.

Each day, I gain new followers who want to read my work. As I continue to build my writing empire, my readers come to me.

And it all takes me back to “Field of Dreams.”

Closing Thoughts

If you’ve never seen the movie, you’re surely missing out. It’s not only a classic film but with a great business lesson.

That may not have been the intention of the writing, but it works. It has worked for me and it will work for you, too.

Remember:

“If you build it, people will come.”

What empire are you going to build?

Noah Nelson is a senior at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign majoring in journalism with minors in political science and history. He serves as a senior columnist for The Daily Illini, a writer on Medium and the host of his blog called Nothing But Noah. “Life: A Collection of Short Stories” is his first book available now on Amazon.