I wonder, I really do. How many times a day do you suppose some parent, some well-meaning mentor, some motivational speaker or some success guru says to an individual or an audience: “Follow your dreams!” It gets spouted from platforms at commencement ceremonies. You can find it emblazoned on lapel pins, bookmarks and on at least one poster in every guidance counselor’s office. It was the implicit theme of more than one 80’s chick flick. The “follow your dreams” mantra seems to have invaded the American consciousness as the one universally accepted common denominator of every successful, happy life.

Follow your dreams…indeed. What sappy, mawkish drivel!

Here’s some truth: If all you do is follow you dreams, you will never achieve them. If all you ever do is follow your dreams, prepare to be frustrated. People who follow their dreams, and never catch them, live mediocre lives.

You must CHASE them.
You must PURSUE them.
You must STALK them.
You must hunt them down and CAPTURE them.
You must OVERTAKE them and force them to become real.

You must do things that others don’t like to do.
You must do things that you would rather avoid.
You must do it when you are tired.
You must do it when you are discouraged.
You must plan your next day’s effort every night before sleep, because it won’t happen on its own.
You must endure setbacks and frustrations and keep going, because dreams throw obstacles in your path to test your passion and commitment.
You must get up every morning and ask yourself as you sit on the side of the bed, “What will I do today to make my dreams a day closer to reality?” And you have to keep reminding yourself that for every day you DON’T do something the dream is delayed by 1 day.

Anyone can FOLLOW their dreams… but ACHIEVING them takes extraordinary WORK!

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