We all have big dreams, but why is it that only a small portion of us actually achieve them? More than 90% of people give up too soon, often abandoning their dreams or at least, stopping the pursuit of them.
In life, there are dreamers and achievers, and what separates them is consistent action. Achievers do what dreamers often fail to—take action consistently, no matter how small or imperfect.
I used to be a dreamer. I believed that the idea was the most important component of any project or business. I’d get extremely excited but lose all that excitement once I realized how hard the journey was. However, through consistent action and delayed gratification, I became an achiever, and that's something I'm incredibly proud of.
Dreamers are obsessed with the excitement of big goals, like starting their own company. And yes, that’s something to be excited about, but they often fail to follow through on the necessary steps to achieve those goals. They want the prize but are unprepared to pay the price.
Achievers, on the other hand, understand that success comes from showing up every day and putting in the work, even when it's neither glamorous nor exciting. They know that success has a price, and it must be paid upfront. They also understand that, in the short term, nothing seems to change—but over months and years, the compounding effect works its magic.
Another key difference is that dreamers are often perfectionists. They think they have to take the perfect step or do nothing at all. They’ll spend months picking the best name and logo but won’t focus on providing the best service or product. They fall in love with the idea, not the execution.
Achievers do the opposite. They take consistent action, even if it's small, insignificant, or incomplete. They know that, in the short term, those actions might seem to make no difference, but over time, they lead to pivotal changes.
The only thing dreamers and achievers have in common is that they both have dreams—just like we all do. But their execution is completely different.
The core difference in their mindset is this: dreamers are driven by motivation, while achievers are driven by discipline and purpose.