If I were to describe someone as a dreamer, what comes to mind? You’d probably think of someone young and naive. Someone with a grand vision for how everything will work itself out, but no plans or work ethic to support it.
But what if I told you that it’s dreamers who will enjoy the highest levels of success? It’s dreamers who will create work that they love. It’s dreamers who will the non dreamers will work for.
Day dreamers to be specific.
Because there’s a huge difference between those who dream by day, and those who dream by night. T. E. Lawrence said it best:
“All men dream: but not equally. Those that dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they act their dreams with open eyes, to make it possible.”
It’s the day dreamers who can see in vivid detail the life they’re building. They take steps to get closer to that world every single day. In their minds it’s as clear as walking to the store. Turn here, turn there, walk up a hill (or two), and you’re there.
And that’s exactly why day dreamers are so powerful: Their dreams are a crystal clear destination they’re navigating to.
When Day Dreams Become Delusions
If you’re a night dreamer this probably sounds a little crazy to you. “Of course I want a zillion dollars and to pass my days island hopping on my yacht! I can see it all very clearly right here on my TV. I’m just not crazy enough to think that’s realistic.”
And you’re right, that’s not realistic (a zillion isn’t even a real number you know). But don’t dismiss the power of day dreamers just because some people are delusional.
There’s a fine line between a powerful, empire building day dreamer and a big fast waste of space dreamer. And that line, is action. Well planned, strategic actions aimed at carefully crafted goals.
How to Craft Dreams Into Wins
Let’s look at the big picture: We start out with a dream. It’s fun and exciting and easy and nice to think about, but that’s it. And in this form it’s not going to get you anyplace worth going.
You need to turn your dream into a vision. A vision is like a dream, but it’s really concrete and realistic. Your 100 foot luxury yacht might turn into a 45 foot cruiser. Maybe your private island becomes a lake house.
The important thing is to think through the details of that life and make it something that works. For example, you can’t be jet setting all over the world if you want your kids to grow up in a traditional school setting. Think about it. Make it real.
When you’ve turned your dream into a vision, the final step is to take those visions and turn them into goals to get you there step by step. A goal is really just a dream with work clothes on.
The Key to Long Term Wins
If you approach your life like this, you will win. Your goals will no longer be just a list of things that sounded good to write down. They’ll be directions to your dream. Turn right here. Go up that hill.
That’s the biggest key to long term success, and the reason day dreams are so powerful. Pick a dream that fires you up to your core and you’ll never run out of fuel again.
What keeps you motivated towards long range goals?
