I regularly ask myself,
Am I moving forwards or backwards?
If you are slacking on your goals, overwhelmed by your goals, or are waiting to start on your huge dreams one day in the future, maybe this post is for you.
I’ve analyzed what helps me stay moving forward, whether I’m planning a new travel adventure or starting my own micro-business.
Watch this 100 second film to know exactly why this inspired me (it usually takes people a few minutes to get it):
I want to change the world in a huge way.
I respect the people who say,
If I change one life, I’ll be happy.
This just isn’t me.
I’ve already changed hundreds of at-risk teen’s lives working one-on-one with them in the lush, Virginian forests.
I also made a video that 100,000 people watched in less than a week, which led to a flood of inspired emails.
One girl told me since she had watched my video she had saved 700$ towards traveling the world. Another was so frustrated with her options for a career, she googled, homeless and happy, and guess who she found… She is now inspired to find her passion in life.
I’m only just starting though… I want to move millions of people.
Hard Truth: No one really cares about my dreams and no one really cares about your dreams.
We have to go make our dreams happen for ourselves.
Are you ready for the most rewarding challenge of your life?
***
Here is what I need to turn my dreams into reality:
1. Limit myself to less than 3 concrete goals at once.
2. Be accountable to others (this is why I’m telling you).
3. Regular assessment of my goals.
4. Rewards when I rock it.
I have a lot of ambitions, but for this phase of my life I’m only working on three priorities:
1. Grow this blog, until it is my primary source of income.
2. Deepen my connection with my girlfriend, Angela.
3. Make award-winning videos that millions watch.
Within each of these priorities, I’ve set up concrete goals:
1. My Blog: By January 1, 2013, I will be making 100$ a day from Adventure Sauce.
2. Angela: My goals with Angela are private…
3. My Videography: By January 1, 2013, I will have won an award from at least one festival for my documentary AND I will have a viral video on Youtube and Vimeo (with at least one million views in a week).
For some people, 3 is too many to pursue at once. They do better going after one thing at a time and maybe this is you.
I’ve found 3 is my sweet spot.
Do you want to stop overwhelming yourself with too many ambitions and make measurable progress toward 3 of your biggest dreams?
Great… Here is what works for me, feel free to tailor this process to what works best for you:
1. Write a list of your priorities
My list had the above 3 goals and also other things I care about, like deepening my connections with my family and friends, making new rockstar friends, eating healthy, learning yoga, meditating daily, living in San Francisco, New Orleans, Brooklyn, Paris, and anywhere else in the world that I feel like it.
Write down anything you care about now.
2. Narrow this list to your 3 main priorities
Time to make hard decisions. Be ruthless and decide what your 3 main priorities are for the next 6 months to a year.
Crossing my family off was painful, but I realize this doesn’t mean I don’t love them. I just can’t focus on everything at once.
Important: This isn’t forever. When I’ve made significant progress on one of these goals, then I’ll add in my other priorities.
Make the hard decisions now.
3. Set up goals
Your goals must be measurable, concrete, and have an end date.
Making 100$ a day is concrete and measurable, but saying I will make a living from my blog is not.
Winning an award at a film festival is measurable, but saying I will be the best filmmaker ever is not.
Extra Sauce: Shoot for the moon on these goals too.
Aim where you don’t actually believe you can go (ps. I don’t actually believe I’m going to make 100$ a day. I’m not sure how I will do it. I still kinda think at any point I’m going to be a homeless dude, smoking crack to avoid the pain of my failure… but I push on anyways).
4. Tell people about your goals
Tell everyone you can about your goals. Write it on your blog. Stand on a building downtown and scream it at strangers as they pass.
Let everyone know you are going to rock it.
5. Zone out when the dream killers talk
Many people will not be happy with your dreams, because they aren’t going after their own dreams. They will sabotage you and tell you why you will fail.
They will tell you the one story they know about someone who went after their dreams, but is now flipping burgers for life.
Fuck them… Zone out.
I just say, “Uh huh… uh huh…. yeah… oh really…” and think about how awesome it is going to feel when I accomplish my dreams. When I notice they have stopped talking, I come back to life and usually talk to someone else.
Don’t try to convince them, just go do what you have to do.
6. Smootch the people that support you
These people are your people. Be so damn good to them, because if they support you on your crazy dreams, then they really love you. Give these people your love back and give them huge, wet smootches.
Go have a fat, bubby IPA with them. No have 3 IPA’s. Fuck it… go have 10!
Celebrate that you are now going after your dreams.
7. Now get your ass to work
Sure, you are hungover from the 26 IPA’s you had last night and have bruises from dancing on table tops. I don’t care.
Now you have to get to work.
This is the most important step in this whole process. Steps 1 through 6 are easy compared to this step.
Do one thing towards your goal today. No excuses, no waiting untill tomorrow.
There is no fucking tomorrow. There is only today.
If you don’t work now, you never will, and you will have to tell everyone that your word is worthless.
Do one thing today.
8. Get your ass to work today and every day for the rest of your life.
This is really the most important step.
For the next year or for the next 5 years or maybe for the rest of your life, you will have to get up every day and work for your dreams.
Sure you get to take mini-retirements. Sure you love your work, so working 84 hours a week (my schedule for the last month) isn’t sucking your soul away from you.
But going after your dreams ain’t easy either.
For me though, it is the only way I can live.
***
Final question:
Are you moving forwards or backwards?
If you enjoyed this post, please share it with your friends who have big dreams like you and I. They probably need it.
Also, if you ever need any help on your dreams, write me on Twitter or in the comments. I respond to everyone with my true self.
Seriously, if you skipped it above, check out this really short film: