Dreaming big is scary. Daring to do things that have rarely been done before ties knots with your insides and sends shivers down your spine. It can feel paralyzing. But don’t fret. And definitely don’t quit before even starting the journey towards the impossible, because here’s the reality that most don’t know: there’s less competition for the big goals. The bigger the goal, the fewer people vying for the prize. And that’s a huge advantage.

A Bachelor’s degree used to be an admirable goal that provided a well-lit path to success. Finish college. Get a job. Climb the corporate ladder. Get a house, a dog, and 2 ½ kids. Retire. Smile. Wash, rinse, and repeat. Well not anymore. As students finish school with student loans the size of a mortgage and no job in sight, they either take minimum wage jobs or go back to school to defer payment of their massive school loans. How long before a Master’s degree succumbs to the same fate? Even today, will a Master’s guarantee you ‘success’ and financial freedom?

Dreaming big and subsequently chasing that dream is now necessary for our youth to succeed. Especially when you consider the many facets of success. With a large goal, you are more likely to stay focused, live with purpose, and withstand the obstacles and challenges that will surely find their way onto your path. Success thus becomes a lifestyle as you overcome the hurdles that steer others off the course. The truth is that the majority of the college experience has been transformed into one big Girls Gone Wild frat party. Many of these parties last long after the tassel has been turned. Students choose between path A or path B on a daily basis. But why miss the party if nothing down path B looks that great? This is exactly why dreaming big can help. It’s a much needed compass in times of confusion. Short-term raging or long-term fulfillment? Which will it be? 

The single best argument for being a big dreamer is that you will learn and experience so much more in the process of challenging yourself beyond your self-imposed and perceived limits. You will be forced to cultivate and learn new skills, become a master at your chosen craft, step outside your comfort zone on a continual basis. Growth, growth, and more growth. All in the name of a higher purpose that fuels the fire deep inside of you. If a lifetime is measured by how much you learn and experience, then there is no better way towards that aim than chasing the wildest dreams imaginable.

Get ready for critics, too. They’ll tell you not to plan so far ahead. That you have to live in the moment. That’s akin to telling aspiring children and student-athletes that they shouldn’t attempt to reach professional levels because it’s too far in the future and chasing that dream would prevent a life from being lived. As a former student-athlete I can honestly say that the majority of the leadership, determination, work ethic, and passion that define my character to this day were forged as a result of being focused on working towards huge goals, which coincidentally included playing professional football. This lesson isn’t just for kids. It’s for everyone. It’s for you. It’s never too late to dream big, sacrifice the trivial and superficial temptations surrounding you, and pursue that which will leave your soul fulfilled. What’s the worst that can happen?

Most people chase small goals. This is not a problem in of itself. Lofty goals are usually broken down into smaller and more attainable goals so that the path towards the impossible is filled with smaller checkpoints and reasons for celebration are earned. Small goals build patterns and habits of success. That is not the issue being examined here.

Others are completely comfortable and happy with their current situation. Obviously, this message is not for them either. Happiness and purpose are subjective. Not everyone wants to follow the path into uncertainty.

The issue being presented here is for the countless of individuals setting small goals when deep down inside they yearn for more. A lot more. These people have lofty goals, but for whatever reason, they shy away from fully committing and bury their goal out of conscious awareness. Ironic that chasing smaller goals means being pooled with pretty much everyone else. There is a lot of competition for being just average.

You never know what you are capable of doing or handling until you test yourself and jump into the deep end head first. Only then will you know your own potential and limitations. Don’t be surprised if you find that you are more capable than you previously thought. Lastly, after facing the many challenges associated with lofty goals, everything else in life will seem easy. You will have a cool, calm, and collected demeanor that can handle all of life’s hardships with balance and ease.

Go ahead, scratch that itch. Dare to do something different. Don’t settle on small dreams if your heart and soul yearn for something greater. Chase the dream that everyone else calls impossible.

You are the writer, actor, producer, and director of your own life story. How does your story end?

Still not motivated? Well here’s your pep talk…

“Healthy Living. Lifelong Learning. Endless Fun.”