Today we remember Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., his work, his achievements, and the work that he left behind for the rest of us to finish.

A focal point in nearly every tribute I’ve seen is Dr. King’s “I have a dream” speech. There is no question that his dream was an inspiration. However, Dr. King was much more than a man with a dream. A lot of his contemporaries had dreams as well yet his is the dream we most remember. That is because, in addition to having an idea, Dr. King was a leader and an agent of change.

Many leaders have a vision. Some have the skill to communicate in a way that rallies people’s hearts, hopes, and actions. But for many of those leaders, their dreams are never realized. The speeches and powerpoints give way to the practical realities and challenges of their day to day work. Their dreams become reduced to faded memories of a nice speech.

Dr. King’s success was due to what he did with his dream. He didn’t just speak about it, he acted upon it. He put himself on the front line to bring his dream to reality. He worked side-by-side with the people who he asked to help support that dream. He was an active player. He didn’t wait for someone else to bring his dream to life.

As leaders, we can learn a lot from Dr. King. But I think that his on-the-ground approach to carrying out his vision is a model for all.

After the Powerpoint is turned off and the microphone silenced, where are you? Are you in your office waiting to see what happens or are you marching, arm and arm, with your people?

Dr. King, thank you for your dream.

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Brad Kolar is the President of Kolar Associates, a leadership consulting and workforce productivity consulting firm. He can be reached at brad.kolar@kolarassociates.com.