Many UK citizens want to settle or retire in Spain the land of sun, healthy food, villas and blue swimming pools. Only a few of these actually achieve their dream. What makes the difference?

Those who succeed can teach the rest of us a lot about courage, determination, drive and self-respect. They also teach the power of a dream and the power of taking action to achieve it.

Louise Mariott, at the age of 38, went off to Spain with her three daughters and without financial help from anyone including their fathers.

Louise is a beauty expert who beautifies the beautiful (both men and women) but she needed to make money fast. Money was going out but very little was coming in.

If the worst came to the worst, she would have to return home in a few months to live with her parents but she did not plan to do that:

"I have more self-respect and more drive. How many women would have come out to Spain with no help and three kids?"

She had no regrets about her move to Marbella. The family oriented life style suited her. The food was healthy and she loved the Spanish people. She commented:

"I won't be lying on my death bed saying I wish I had done that."

Louise eventually found a partner, Nancy, who is a fashion adviser and she also found a location for a salon.

There were problems but she was excited by the possibilities. She kept her dream in mind.

The salon was called "Posh". This logo was placed on the side of her new car. Louise also planned to market by word of mouth and a few fliers.

However, few plans reach completion without a lot of hassle. At one point, Louise was feeling so stressed that she said that POSH stood for "Peed Off Stressed and Hormonal." At least she had kept her sense of humour.

Cards arrived saying "We are so happy that your dreams are coming true."

At the time, they seemed to be mocking the dire situation she was in.

Despite all the stress and tension, hundreds of people showed up to the opening of "POSH". Her business had got off to a great start.

Louise could comment:

"Now my dream has come true!"

Sarah, an estate agent, provides us with another role model. At the age of 7, Sarah wrote in her exercise book:

"My name is Sarah and I want to live in a white house in Spain."

She was already, at a very early age, using the power of setting and visualising goals clearly. She is now living this dream. At 26, she has a successful business with a partner.

She has a lifestyle of parties, swimming and the freedom not to worry about the weather or crime. She finds that people in Spain are much more relaxed and can enjoy their lives.

Probably the key to her success is knowing clearly what she wanted at the age of seven.

Many people never stop to think deeply about what they really want from life until they reach the age of 70.

If you are 70 it is not too late. Imagine yourself at 80 wishing you had started to achieve you're dream at 70. As you are still 70 what is stopping you?

John Watson

John Watson was born in Shanghai at the start of World War II on Dec 31st 1939

His father, a British civil engineer, was given the choice of working in the mines of Northern China for the occupying forces or going to a concentration camp. He refused to work for the invading forces.

As a result the whole family were imprisoned in a concentration camp in the middle of China in 1942. Eric Liddell (featured in the Chariots of Fire) the Scottish runner and missionary was imprisoned in the same camp.

In 1945 the family was rescued by American troops who were parachuted in. John's most treasured possession from this time is a plane made of bullets given him by one of the US soldiers. The tail parts have been lost but most of it remains. He also remembers being given a bottle of coca cola by one of the US troops and has been an addict ever since!

They moved to England and then, when John's father died, to the Isle of Man.

John went to school in the Isle of Man and then taught Physical Education at a prep school in Hertfordshire. Around this time he had three mystical experiences of contact with God.

He then studied English Literature at Cambridge University and later became an English teacher in South East London but, after 5 years, he did a diploma in Religious Studies and began teaching about religion full time.

After 33 years teaching in three London Comprehensive schools, John retired from teaching. He received several awards and commendations for teaching both religious studies and the martial arts. He still teaches martial arts after beginning training in karate at the age of 37. The style he now teaches is Choikwangdo, a brilliant self-defence and health oriented style founded by Grandmaster Kwang Jo Choi in 1987.

In his retirement he began studying internet marketing and continued his study of the psychology of achievement and self development. This has always been a key interest.

John plans on writing reports and books on both teaching and on achievement in general. He feels that many schools let their students down by not teaching enough about how to study (by using mind maps for example) and about how to set goals and how to start saving money for their early retirement!

John's main aim is to make the most of his own potential and to help others make the most of their's. He also wishes to pass on whatever he knows of the meaning of life and to discover more and share more about the truths behind the universe.