Shifting From Dreaming to Doing
Time to read: 3 minutes
Hi Reader
We've all said it. "It would be great if..." when talking about our future plans. But for too many, those words stay as thoughts – big ideas that never become reality.
So what makes the difference between those who only wish and those who actually move toward those aspirations?
Because ambition without action isn't really ambition at all. It's just dreaming.
The Dreamer's Dilemma
Earlier in my career, I knew someone with incredible ideas – dreams that were fascinating and full of potential. We'd often talk about the exciting things they might do in the future, the options they could see, the impact they might have.
But they never made the leap.
They stayed in their career and by all external measures were successful. Still, I always wondered: What might they have been capable of if they had acted on those dreams? What potential remained untapped beneath the surface?
Fast forward to today: The people I work with have those same dreams. But they also take that crucial step – they take action and "do".
What makes the difference?
Why do we hold back?
It's tempting to assume my clients are more certain about their outcomes. But they're not – not at first anyway. If anything, their bigger ambitions leave more room for uncertainty. They have just as many questions and doubts as that colleague from years ago, sometimes far more.
But there's a fundamental difference in how they approach their aspirations. And before we get into that, let's remind ourselves why we stay stuck.
Sometimes what stops us isn't the dream itself – it's what that dream might change about our identity, our security, our comfort.
We get stuck cycling through fears:
- What if it doesn't work? (Fear of failure)
- What if I lose what I've already built? (Scarcity)
- What if I succeed and my life changes too much? (Fear of success)
- What if others are already doing it better? (Unhelpful comparison)
- What if it changes how people see me? (Fear of judgment)
I see these fears in action every day, even with people we'd consider to be "highly successful" . The executive who won't pursue their true calling because they've invested years in their current path. The consultant whose brilliant business idea stays on a notepad forever because "someone else is probably already doing it better." The solo business owner who's at a plateau because their bigger dream excites them but also ramps up their negative self-talk.
From Dream to Action
So what's the difference for the people I work with?
Well, one of the vital steps is that we change the paralysing what-ifs for ones that are way more empowering:
→ What if my fear is a signal this is important?
→ What if I never bring my full impact to the world?
→ What if it changes everything – for the better?
→ What if this is the path to my most purposeful work?
→ What if the regret of not trying would be worse than any failure?
→ What if I already have everything I need to start?
They're purposeful, ambitious people who got tired of having ideas that never materialized. Their progress accelerated when we transformed that hazy aspiration into something clear enough – not perfectly mapped out, but clear enough to take a bold first step.
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You can choose to make the same shifts in your own "what ifs".
You don't have to have full confidence in the outcomes. You don't even need full confidence in the path. You just need enough trust in these positive "what ifs" to want to try – to do something more impactful and yes, maybe a little riskier than staying comfortable.
That sliver of trust is often all it takes to start moving.
Every single client I've helped move from stuck to thriving has had to cross this threshold – moving beyond the "what ifs" that keep them in stasis, to permitting themselves to pursue something meaningful, even when it felt uncomfortable or uncertain.
So give yourself permission to try. To experiment. To be imperfect but in motion.
Wrap up
Dreaming keeps us inspired, but doing is what transforms our lives and our impact. The gap between the two isn't as wide as we think – it starts with one decision, one action, one moment of courage to start. Your dreams deserve that chance to become real.
So let me ask you:
What big, purposeful dream have you been sitting on that deserves action?
Reply to this email and let me know. I reply to every response and would love to hear what thoughts this has prompted for you.
And if you're tired of just dreaming and ready to start doing, I can help. Book a free consultation call and we'll map out your first steps together. No pressure, just clarity.
Stay ambitious.
Rob
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