hitch one's wagon to a star

present singular third person hitches one's wagon to a star · participle present hitching one's wagon to a star · participle past hitched one's wagon to a star · past hitched one's wagon to a star

1. CanadaUSidiomaticTo commit to an aspirational goal or course of action that will lead to fulfillment.

   Pick a star, or hero, or whatever product/service/idea you are presenting, and hitch your wagon to it.

   2014, Ozana Giusca, More and Better Customers - Blogging Action Plan, page 19

   3 more examples

   [Emerson] was not afraid to be homely and racy in expressing thought of the highest spirituality. "Hitch your wagon to a star" is a good instance of his favorite manner.

   1891, Henry Augustin Beers, “The Concord Writers 1837-1861”, in Initial Studies in American Letters

   Well, he was done, he solaced himself. He had hitched his wagon to a star and been landed in a pestiferous marsh.

   1909, Jack London, chapter 41, in Martin Eden

   So if you've had enough of life as an employee and you're planning to set up your own home-based business, do the sensible thing and hitch your wagon to the fastest rising star today — the Internet.

   2002, Luis S. R. Vas, Business Ideas You Can Turn Into Cash