“The graveyard is the richest place on earth, because it is here that you will find all the hopes and dreams that were never fulfilled, the books that were never written, the songs that were never sung, the inventions that were never shared, the cures that were never discovered, all because someone was too afraid to take that first step, keep with the problem, or determined to carry out their dream.”—Les Brown.

The world is littered with dreamers; they see the greenery of a better future in their mind, but are too weak to get their feet there. Dreamers who know they have the skills and potential to win, but never make the first move to try. Whether for fear of the future or for the pleasure of the present, many of us have refused to turn our dreams into actions.

It is cheap to dream, every man can do it. Taking actions, however, is what sets us apart from dreamers. Consequently, life does not reward the dreamer, no. It rewards the action to make dreams come true. And like the popular saying goes: “fortune favours the brave”. How do you turn dreams into actions?

First, write it down. Writing down your dreams and aspirations is likened to the sketches of a skillful artist; it is not the complete form, but it gives physical life to your mental idea. By writing it down, you are describing it to yourself—what is my dream?

Next, what can I do to make it happen? This line of questioning is as important as the answers you write down. List out everything you think this dream will require to come true. Remember, at first, you may not know all it can take, so you may need to research to find out.

Then, put a timeline to each action that is required to make this dream come true. This part is how your dream goes from a wish to a goal. In management studies, there is an acronym that works well here: S.M.A.R.T. (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-bound). Using this method, you can turn any dream into actionable steps.

Ultimately, friend, you need to start achieving your goals. Away with all these fears and waiting for a perfect time. No time is perfect. I imagine that you have been sitting on many ideas for years now, sleeping on many plans you mapped out in the past, drooling while your life ebbs away. Let this be your call to action.

And you know, I am always here rooting for you. Cheers.