Stop Dreaming and Start Doing

It’s one thing to want something. It’s another to actually do something about it. Dreams don’t just happen. Hard work is involved. It takes clarity and tenacity. But like all good things in life, it’s worth it.

In this short and witty talk “5 ways to kill your dreams”, Bel Pesce takes an unconventional approach to  drive home a powerful message. That believing in common myths about what it takes to be successful is the reason why so many of us have dreams ….. yet so few of us actually do anything about them.

It also reminded me of some important home truths we often forget when we daydream about what our life or job could be.

1.  Get clear and specific about what you really want 

Get out of fantasy land. It’s nice to sit and fantasize about the life – or job – you’d like to have. It’s another to actually do the work to get really clear and specific about what you want.

Is your dream life just a blurry black and white picture that’s filled with ‘nice to haves’?  Or can you see the personal and professional life you want in full HD color with details so defined and real that you can clearly picture yourself living it?  Perhaps even more importantly, dig deep to understand why this matters to you. And ensure you’re also clear and specific about what you don’t want for your life.

2.   Be accountable 

In her TEDTalk, Bel Pesce mentions the myth of “believing the fault is someone else’s” as one of the surefire ways of not achieving your dreams. There’s only one certainty – there will always be hurdles along the way.

Only one person is responsible for your life – you. If you’re serious about wanting meaningful change in your personal or professional life, be accountable to make it happen. No one else can do it for you.

3. Commit to the hard work that’s involved

Someone I respect greatly recently shared a picture of an iceberg in one of her talks.

The point she was making is that when we think of successful individuals, we can only see their results – things they’ve achieved. This is the part of the iceberg that sits above the water line – the part that’s visible. In reality, the vast majority of an iceberg’s volume sits beneath the water.  This is what we don’t see and often don’t realize which is the sheer amount of hard work and determination that has gone into achieving those results.

So if you really want to make your dream a reality, then you’ve got to work for it. You’ve got to be prepared to put in long hours, bounce back from inevitable set backs, and push past any fears or self doubts you may have. And being really clear about what you want and importantly why (see point #1 above), will help build your resilience and keep you moving forward.

Bel Pesce is a young lady who has achieved more than what most of us have accomplished in our entire lifetime. Her story is an inspirational testament of what’s possible when you’re clear on what you want and set your mind to achieving it.

Most of all, I love the last point in her TEDTalk – the journey is just as important as the goal itself.

Onwards and upwards in your journey.