Do You Know the Difference?

Do you know what the difference is between a dream and vision? The answer is commitment. When people talk about their dreams, it is in broad terms with no action plan or completion dates. My dream is to have my own business, or my dream is to be successful. When you ask, what kind of business or how do you define being successful, the answer is typically, I don’t know. Dreams are great for the imagination, but without commitment and an action plan, they will just stay as dreams floating around in your head.

I recall a hearing a speech by Mike Singletary, former Chicago Bear, 10-time Pro Bowl Player, and member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, about how he began defining his vision for life at the age of 12. His plan consisted of finishing high school, graduating from college, becoming an NFL star, becoming a Coach, buying his mother a house, and taking of her. Mike wrote down all of these events. He also talked about getting teased by his siblings who told him he would never do it, and he we would tear up the list and throw it on the ground some days. He also spoke of getting the list off the floor, putting it back together and putting it back up on the wall. Mike stayed true to his vision and accomplished the items on his list. He believed in himself, put action behind his vision and committed himself to completing the tasks.

When you put commitment to your dreams, they become vision. With defined vision, your potential in life is unlimited. Embrace the “C” word and change your life.