Carly Ries
“The people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do.” — Steve Jobs
Dream big. Many of us are told this often throughout our lives but few of us actually do it. Why is that? Why do we so often impose limits on ourselves?
“When I grow up, I want to be an astronaut” is a lot easier than “I’m grown up, now how do I become an astronaut?”
The reality is, dreaming big is easy. Actually going for that dream is scary. Really scary.
But you know what’s even scarier? Waking up one day realizing that it’s too late.
Overcome your limiting beliefs. Reach higher than you ever thought possible, and if you don’t make it to the very top, odds are you had one amazing adventure attempting it while learning a lot and doing a lot along the way. If you only strive to achieve small things, your rewards and the journey themselves will also be small.
Actionable Steps
Get a Clear Vision of Your Dream
Whether it’s through vision boards, hanging a picture on your refrigerator, or waking up in the morning thinking about it, make sure it’s absolutely clear what you’re striving for. Don’t leave room for any ambiguity.
Ask Yourself What You Would Do If Fear Wasn’t a Factor
Now that’s a doozy, isn’t it? Can you imagine? Think about that long and hard. Once you get that image in your mind, think what fear may prevent you from achieving it in the real world. Then decide if you’re able to overcome that fear and what steps you need to take to do so.
Dream Big but Plan Small
If you write on your to-do list “work towards achieving my dreams,” that will be a big pill to swallow. Break down a step-by-step task list of the things you actually need to get done to achieve your dream. Once you have that list, break those into subtasks and get as granular as possible so that it begins to get easier to start tackling these items. Start by asking yourself - what is the next action I can take to move me toward my dream? It shouldn’t be, get my college degree or write a novel. It should be research college majors or outline a plot and characters. These are concrete steps you can do today!
Track Your Progress
See where you’re coming from and understand where you need to go. Set benchmarks along the way so that you know if you’re making strides towards achieving greatness. Plus, it’s always fun to look back and see how far you’ve come when you have it all documented.
Surround Yourself with People Who Support You
Make sure your friends and family are your greatest fans and also believe you can change the world. Don’t let anybody in your circle hold you back.
Take Action
If you want to reach your goals, start today. Make this dream of yours a top priority.
Take Care of Yourself
On the road to greatness, don’t forget to take care of yourself. When you’re motivated, it’s easy to get in the zone and just want to go nonstop. Remember to get rest, nourish your body, stay hydrated, and exercise.
It's time to get started! Need help starting, running, and/or growing your solopreneur business? The Solopreneur Success Cycle can help! Access it here.