People are constantly told to follow their dreams, but doing so is futile without execution. Dreaming is a blueprint for future success; however, some people live in the dream instead of working to make it a reality. Ambition is insufficient to reap success, and many fail to realize their potential. Success is only actualized when you stop dreaming and start doing.
Some believe that reading motivational books will lead them to prosperity, yet reading without application has never generated success. In a documentary about his life, Warren Buffett says that he reads voraciously to acquire useful skills. Reading without applying newly discovered principles is like going to school and remaining trapped in the same class. It’s a stagnant process that bears no fruit. That some people should not be in school or even reading books is a hard pill to swallow.
But if one does not have the tenacity to succeed, he should consign himself to a less complicated life. Most aspire to unimaginable heights, yet after reading a self-help book they will not invest in a professional course. Others dream of getting rich by investing, but they refrain from doing business and purchasing stocks. Such people expect a shower of prosperity in the absence of smart work.
This problem could be abated by accepting that the average person doesn’t have the willpower to be a Bill Gates. There are different levels of success, and if you are happy being the manager of a small business in the Midwest, don’t waste your time becoming Bill Gates. Likewise, if you prefer work-life balance to material success, then don’t aim for stratospheric success. Highly successful people spend hours working and sometimes don’t see family and friends for months.
The outcomes of success are admirable, but apparently fans don’t listen to Bill Gates and Elon Musk when they talk about their insane work ethic. A parallel story is an admiration for young influencers who started their projects quite early. People who become millionaires by thirty usually begin working in their youth. Anybody can dream to become a millionaire by thirty, but those who began to work on producing something commercially useful in youth achieve this feat.
Men like Steve Jobs, Warren Buffett, Bill Gates, and pioneer titans such as Cornelius Vanderbilt and John Davison Rockefeller found their passions quite early and commenced working earlier than most people. Unfortunately, some young people are distraught when they don’t secure their dream job after graduating. However, why are they surprised when they were not honing skills in youth? Education is not a substitute for human capital. Human capital refers to actual skills. So, if you were trading or forming business as a student this demonstrates to employers that you possess know-how.
Often, if one becomes super successful at honing his skills, after graduating he might be employing people rather than seeking employment. Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg dropped out of school to pursue entrepreneurship, and both became wildly successful. They could have failed like the typical start-up, but exceptional people pursue risks that most people avoid. On the path to success, there will be many reminding you why your project will come to zero. So, your goal should be to prove them wrong.
People will get rejections from venture capitalists, banks, and graduate schools. Rejection is a normal part of life, so if you fear rejection then please be content with an unexceptional life. Sometimes rejection is even positive because you might have been a bad fit for a particular organization. Rejection could be an opportunity to chart a better course.
In addition to working hard, you must be willing to seize opportunities. Many bloggers monetized the opportunity presented by the Johnny Depp trial to become self-made reporters. Sitting on your talents is wasteful. If you are a good writer, share your thoughts with the world. Never be satisfied with compliments from friends; always aim to actualize your talents.
Absolutely nothing is wrong with self-promotion. If promotion was not crucial to success, then celebrities would not have publicists. Even if you have the sweetest personality in the world, you will still be exposed to hateful people. But your job is to ignore them because in the grand scheme of things they don’t matter. Focusing on the business of you is a more enriching exercise.
As a writer, I have been exposed to racist comments, but this has never prevented me from churning out pieces. Always remember to make your dream a reality by ignoring unproductive elements. You will never become your best self by dreaming or listening to poisonous voices. If you remain committed, critics will respect you in the long run. Strangely, some people who thought I was weird in high school now value my insights.
