SDS 062: Dreams vs. Goals

So this notion of dreams and goals, we’re all familiar with it. We all use these terms. And sometimes we’ve used them interchangeably. We talk about our dreams in life, we talk about our goals in life. But today I wanted to clear up a framework, or explain a framework, which I follow, which helps me distinguish the two, and helps me not confuse when something is my dream and when something’s a goal, and what is the difference. I heard about this framework from one of my mentors, from Vitaly, and he actually heard it from his mentor, who is a very renowned consultant globally. I think he lives in the US. And so the difference between dreams and goals is very simple, is very straightforward. Again, this isn’t the only source of truth. You might have heard a different framework, you might have a different definition. And that’s totally fine. But this is one of the ways. So if you don’t have a definition for the two, then maybe you might adopt this one. It might help you in life.

The difference between the two is very simple. Dreams are things that you want to aspire towards, but you don’t have a timeline for them. Whereas goals are things you want to aspire towards, but you do have a timeline for them. So for instance, if you want to climb Mount Everest some day in the future, that’s a dream. If you want to climb Mount Everest and you know how to get there, then you set yourself a timeline, and you say I’m going to climb Mount Everest in December 2018, or no – what’s the best time climb Mount Everest? April – in April 2019, and that becomes a goal. That’s all the difference there is to it.

So it seems pretty simple, but the question is, why? Why should we distinguish between the two? Why can’t we just use them interchangeably, and why can’t we have our dreams be our goals, and our goals be our dreams? Well, the approach you take is very important, because if, for example, you take a dream and you turn it into a goal, you will very quickly get frustrated that you’re not getting closer to the goal. For instance, let’s take this example of Mount Everest. If you want to climb Mount Everest some day in the future, it’s your dream. And you need to realise that you don’t know how to get there yet. You haven’t done any climbing whatsoever, you’re not fit at this stage, you’re not fit enough, and things like that. So you haven’t done even any research in this space. So in no way can you set yourself a reasonable timeline. You don’t know the steps you need to take in order to be able to climb Mount Everest.

But if you go ahead and still set it for yourself as a goal, and you say, “I’m going to climb Mount Everest in April 2019,” even though you have no idea what the steps are to get there, then what will happen is very likely, is that you’re going to be searching, you’re going to be trying this, trying that, and so on, and time is going to be passing by.

And as time passes by, because you didn’t set out these milestones, these steps to get to your goal, you will be very frustrated that you’re not getting closer and closer to your goal simply because you don’t know the steps you need to take. Therefore, instead of enjoying the journey of getting to your goal, you’re going to be just frustrated all the time that you’re not getting any closer. Whereas if you set it for yourself as a dream, and then you focus on the more immediate things, or other goals that you’ve just set yourself, and then one day when you do find out what you need to do, you do realise the steps it takes to be able to climb Mount Everest, and then you do set yourself Mount Everest as a goal, and then you step by step go through all of these milestones that you’ve set yourself, and you know that you’re getting every point. Every new milestone that you conquer, you’re getting closer and closer to your goal, you will actually not just get closer to your goal, but you’ll actually very much enjoy the journey of getting closer to your dream.

And so this boils down to being fulfilled in life. If you set yourself unrealistic goals, which should actually be dreams – it’s ok to have dreams. Dreams inspire and help people aspire towards things. But if you set them as goals, instead of having an inspired and fulfilled life, you’ll have a very frustrating journey which might not even get you to those goals. On the other hand, if you set them as dreams and then turn them into goals as it’s clearer how to get to them, you’ll actually enjoy getting to them.

So that’s what this framework of the difference between goals and dreams is all about, and once again, this is just the one I know and I use. See for yourself, how does that apply in your life? Are there any goals in your life that you’ve been trying to achieve for a long time but really they should be dreams, at least for now, until it’s clearer, and maybe if you make them into dreams, it’ll be much more enjoyable to think of them and have them as a guiding light ahead of you, which one day you will turn into a goal. And on the other hand, are there any dreams in your life which it’s time to turn into goals so that you can actually undertake the steps that are required in order to get to those goals?

So there you go, that’s something for you to think about over this weekend. I hope you have a fantastic time, and I can’t wait to see you next time. Until then, happy analyzing.