Stop playing it safe. Your biggest dreams are waiting.
Here's something that might surprise you: The most vulnerable thing to admit to isn't your deepest wound or your greatest failure. It's not the job you got fired from, the business that tanked, or the promotion you didn't get.
The most vulnerable thing to admit to is not your deepest wound. It's what you really, truly want.
We're talking about your biggest, craziest dreams and desires. The career aspirations that make your heart race and your inner critic scream "Who do you think you are?" The visions of success that you've buried under layers of "realistic expectations" and "practical concerns."
You know exactly what I'm talking about: that secret ambition you've never said out loud. The career pivot that feels too bold. The business idea that keeps you up at night with equal parts excitement and terror.
Why We Hide Our Dreams (And Why It's Killing Our Careers)
Society has trained us to be ashamed of wanting more. We've been conditioned to believe that big dreams are selfish, unrealistic, or reserved for "other people": the lucky ones, the connected ones, the ones who had better starting points.
But here's the truth that most people never realize: Your dreams aren't too big. Your belief in yourself is too small.
There’s a big chance that whatever successful person you admire started pretty much where you are right now. They had a dream that felt ‘big’ and a choice to pursue it anyway. The difference between them and the millions who stay stuck isn't talent, luck, or connections. It's the willingness to be vulnerable with their desires and take action despite their fears and a willingness to tackle obstacles in their way.
When you hide your dreams, you're not protecting yourself from disappointment. You're guaranteeing it. You're choosing the slow-burn disappointment of a life of ‘what-ifs’ over the temporary discomfort of going after what you really want.
The Hidden Cost of Playing It Safe
Let me paint you a picture of what "realistic" thinking actually costs you:
Sarah spent fifteen years climbing the corporate ladder in accounting because it was "stable" and "practical." Meanwhile, her true dream of becoming a sustainable fashion designer remained locked away in a Pinterest board titled "Someday Maybe." At 38, she realized she'd built someone else's definition of success while her authentic self slowly suffocated under spreadsheets and quarterly reports.
Marcus had the vision to start a consulting firm specializing in helping small businesses go digital. Instead, he convinced himself he needed "more experience" and stayed in his corporate job for seven more years. By the time he finally made the leap, three competitors had already captured his target market. His "practical" delay cost him his first-mover advantage and added years to his journey.
Jennifer dreamed of becoming a keynote speaker who could inspire women in STEM fields. She told herself she wasn't "ready" and needed more credentials first. Five years later, she watched someone with half her experience land her dream speaking contract simply because they had the courage to put themselves out there.
The brutal truth? Playing it safe is often the riskiest thing you can do with your career. While you're waiting for the "perfect moment" or building up your courage, opportunities are passing you by. Others with bigger dreams and smaller fears are claiming the success you think you're not ready for.
The Power of Getting Vulnerable (At Least With Yourself)
Here's where transformation begins: be vulnerable, at least with yourself. Then write it down. Yes, on actual paper.
There's something magical that happens when you move your dreams from the ethereal realm of "someday" thoughts to the concrete reality of written words. Writing forces you to get specific. It transforms vague wishes into actionable visions.
But most people skip this step because it feels too real, too scary, too... vulnerable. They prefer to keep their dreams safely abstract, where they can't be measured, judged, or pursued.
That's exactly why you need to write them down.
When you commit your dreams to paper, several powerful things happen:
Clarity emerges from chaos. That swirling mass of "I want something different" starts to take shape. You begin to see the specific components of your dream and can start planning accordingly.
Your brain shifts into problem-solving mode. Instead of seeing obstacles as roadblocks, you start seeing them as puzzles to solve. Your subconscious mind begins working on solutions even when you're not actively thinking about your goals.
You can spot patterns and connections. Written dreams reveal themes and common threads that point toward your true calling. You might discover that your seemingly separate interests actually form a coherent career path.
You become accountable to yourself. There's something about seeing your dreams in your own handwriting that makes them harder to dismiss or abandon when things get tough.
From Dreams to Done: The Strategic Approach
Writing down your big wants is just the beginning. The next step is where most people stumble: Make a to-do list and maybe even tell someone. Make it happen.
This is where dreamers separate themselves from achievers. Dreams without action plans remain fantasies. But dreams with strategic, concrete next steps become inevitable outcomes.
Here's how to bridge that gap:
Break the impossible into possible. Your big dream needs to be reverse-engineered into smaller, manageable actions. Want to start a consulting business? Your to-do list might include: research your target market, identify your unique value proposition, create a basic website, reach out to five potential clients, develop your service packages.
Set milestone markers. Big dreams can feel overwhelming without progress markers. Create specific benchmarks that let you know you're moving in the right direction. These victories will fuel your momentum when motivation inevitably dips.
Build your support network. This is where "maybe even tell someone" becomes crucial strategic advice. Find people who believe in big dreams – not necessarily your biggest cheerleaders, but people who understand the entrepreneurial mindset and can offer both encouragement and honest feedback.
Plan for obstacles. Every significant career change comes with predictable challenges. By anticipating them and creating contingency plans, you remove their power to derail your progress.
Why You Need to Tell Someone (And Choose Wisely)
Sharing your dreams is terrifying because it makes them real in other people's minds too. But it's also essential for several reasons:
Accountability amplifies action. When someone else knows about your goals, you're more likely to follow through. The prospect of explaining why you gave up is often enough motivation to keep going.
Fresh perspectives unlock solutions. Other people can see opportunities and connections that you might miss. They might know someone who could help, or have insights from their own experience that shortcut your learning curve.
Emotional support sustains momentum. Pursuing big dreams is emotionally exhausting. Having people who understand your vision and can encourage you through the inevitable tough times is invaluable.
But choose your confidants carefully. Not everyone is equipped to support big dreams. Share with people who:
Have pursued their own ambitious goals
Understand that extraordinary results require extraordinary actions
Can offer constructive feedback without crushing your spirit
Genuinely want to see you succeed
The Truth About "Making It Happen"
Here's the final piece that most self-help advice gets wrong: You Can Do This. Not because you're special or chosen or destined for greatness. You can do this because dreams aren't achieved through magic. Success is achieved through strategy, persistence, and the willingness to stay uncomfortable long enough for breakthrough to occur.
Every person living their dream career had to navigate the same psychological barriers you're facing right now. The fear of failure and most likely imposter syndrome too. The voice that whispers "who do you think you are?" The difference is they chose to act despite these feelings, not because of their absence.
Success isn't about eliminating fear. It's about developing a bigger tolerance for discomfort in service of your dreams. It's about choosing the discomfort of growth over the discomfort of regret.
Your Dreams Are Waiting
Your wildest career dreams aren't as crazy as you think. They're not reserved for other people. They're not too big, too ambitious, or too unrealistic.
They're just waiting for you to get vulnerable enough to claim them, strategic enough to plan for them, and brave enough to take the first step.
The question isn't whether you're capable of achieving your dreams. The question is whether you're willing to be uncomfortable long enough to find out.
Your biggest, craziest career dreams are on the other side of your willingness to be vulnerable with what you truly want.
Are you ready to write them down?
Ready to turn your career dreams into your career reality? Stop wondering "what if" and start creating "what's next." Schedule your consult call today and discover the exact roadmap to make your wildest professional ambitions your everyday reality.
You and your dreams have waited long enough-
EBS
