Let's all be frank, we all have dreams. We all want different things out of life. Some want more than others, some want less and some simply demand everything at the moment they want it. These dreams are what make life exciting; they motivate us and make us get out of bed each and every morning.
The promise of achieving the things we want from life keeps us evolving. If we had no chance we'd still be cavemen, stagnant and content with our rocky lives. The whisper of opportunity to attain what we want drives us to attain the truest form of happiness and brings us purpose from our lives.
That's the great pursuit: to get what we want, to be perceived as a powerhouse by society and to show the world we have the courage to accomplish something special. Because settling for mediocrity is too easy, too boring and it won't look good in our autobiographies.
We like to challenge ourselves and see how well we can clear obstacles. It's why men love to meet new women, because we see them as a challenge. We look at the game of life and business the same way. Women have a similar thought process as well.
What it all simply comes down to is the courage to go after what you want. Many people want things and only a few get them. That's because they saw it through a dream, the reality, the road and the future. That is the process to your dreams.
As great as money sounds, and looks, and how much fun it might be to jet pack through the Mediterranean or take trips to space, it should never be the primary motivation. There's no yellow brick road or a shiny pot of gold at the end of a rainbow.
Money is simply to measure how far you have gotten. It's about your legacy and what you have left behind. It's how you have inspired people and it's how you will be remembered, and it's an achievable feat by starting from your dream, going into your reality, road and future. Steve Jobs's legacy is worth far more than all the money he made.
Your life is determined by how you transition from your dream into your reality. That is the hardest step to take and the biggest gap to bridge. That is where most people have the issue of understanding how to move forward. The two most necessary things for this are focus and courage. With these in your mind, you will be able to move forward.
The Dream
I'll say it again: we all have dreams. We all want things. But it's not the dream in itself that matters, everyone and anyone can dream; it's what you decide to do about that dream. It's about taking the appropriate actions towards it and understanding how to turn it into a reality. This is the inception of all greatness. It's about knowing what you want and then figuring out how to get there. This is the progression of humanity.
Out of all the people who dream, which is nearly everyone, only 10% decide to do something about it. Only this motivated minority makes it a reality, and the rest are too afraid of failure and the unknown. They shy away from the “what ifs,” but they should be worried about the “what if” they don't pursue their dream.
It comes down to understanding why you dream it. If it's just about money than your dream is most lacks purpose. Your dream needs to be about changing the world, making a legacy and showing that you can amount to something. That is what will get your through the obstacles that you will be faced with along your journey.
Your dream is what will define you as a person and what you do about it is what will define your life. Every successful person had stemmed from a dream and then worked their way into everything else. Figure out what you want and then have the balls to get it.
The Reality
The reality is that no one is perfect. The reality is that this is the stage where most people give up on their dream because they let their current reality and their present worldview make them feel like they won't be able to accomplish their dream. So they get scared and turn away from it, they say it was fun while it lasted and close the door on the only thing that will make them happy in life.
They will settle for the easy way out, working 9-5 everyday, but then wonder why they end up depressed at 30. That is because their life lacks the only thing they ever wanted, which is their dream, and they feel rejected just like when a lover rejects you and walks out of your life. It's like dealing with a bad break up, but with yourself, your dreams and your idealities.
Your dream is all you have in this world. It's all you want from life, so why not go out and try to get it? If you really want to be happy in life, you need to chase your dream. It's not going to be easy, your work is cut out for you, but it's about perfecting your craft. It's about how bad you want it and it's about learning from your failures. Because you will fail a lot, but at least, you are going above and beyond your boundaries. Something that so many people are afraid of doing.
When you love what you do, which you will, because it is your dream, it won't even feel like work to you. Everyday will be filled with new learning experiences, both from a failure and success standpoint.
The reality isn't the dream, yet. The reality is let's you know it's going to be tough to accomplish what you want and to attain the success you want. It never comes easy and there are no handouts. It's truly about working hard, believing in yourself and your purpose and giving it all you have got. It's about sacrificing what you have now to get what you want later. This is what everyone before you has done.
The Road Less Traveled
There are two roads in life, the one less traveled and the one everyone takes. The oft-treaded road is settling for what they have, being content and mediocre because it's easy and simple and everyone is doing it. The road less traveled is the road people use to embark on their dreams. It doesn't have a set path like the other one does.
It's about paving your own way and making your own journey to accomplish your own audacious goals. Sacrifice, discipline and perseverance are prerequisites on the road less traveled. They are what you need to get to the finish line, wherever it may be. Many people have turned back around, and retreated towards the easy road, because they have become so scared. Don't let that be you.
Set a big goal, but don't ever tread lightly. Break down the barriers that threaten to slow you down. Failure isn't the end; it's a part of the process. And a necessary one at that. Don't worry about how others judge you while you are on the road less traveled, they don't even have half the courage you do, so why would their opinion matter?
At the end of the day what it comes down to is your mindset. It's your beliefs and mental strength. That is what will get you through the road less traveled. It is believing in yourself and what you are doing — and never having any doubt. Doubt is weakness and only hurts you.
The Future
Your future is a direct result of your previous three steps. How well you execute, how strong you are mentally and how much you love what you do will play within your result. At the end you will feel the satisfaction of knowing you have done great things with your life and have left a legacy. You have done what others feared to do.
Treat your dreams as if they are already here: waiting for you to accept them, waiting for you to make the right moves, take the necessary steps, do the work, make the sacrifices and take the risks you need to take.
Don't ever stop moving forward. Look at where you will be, what you will have and the life you will live, every single morning and night. Don't let a day go by when your dream isn't ingrained in your soul like the red-hot brand on the ass of a cow.
Then do everything in your power to make that dream a reality.
Preston Waters | Elite.
