The Incredibly Simple Difference Between Those Who Live a Dream And Those Who Don’t

I step into the dojo.

My mind lightens, my heart softens.

They teach – I do.

It’s so simple… And it’s the difference.

Listen, Learn, Adjust.

I want to become an expert in Aikido.

So, I train extensively.

If I want to improve my Aikido I should do things that will improve my Aikido.

Makes sense, right?

Actions Are Your Evidence, Not Your Words

Do you really want to follow your dreams?

It’s simple – identify the 1 thing you want to be insanely awesome at then focus on growth everyday.

Do you want to run a business? Write a book? Travel the world?

It doesn’t matter what you want to do – all that matters is that you’re moving towards it. [click to tweet]

Talk means nothing. 

The Dumbest Excuse in All The Universe

I want to kick the following excuse in the nuts!

“But what if I fail”

I’m talking about a straight up destruction of the nuts!

What if I told you “I want to give my life to Aikido but I refuse to try it because I might fail.”

Sounds crazy, right?

Then why is it okay when someone says

“I want nothing more than to live my dream but I refuse to try because I might fail…”

…

You say you want to live your dream – what did you do today to move towards it? [click to tweet]

Prove It

Do you really want to live your dream?

Don’t stare at the screen and tell me “yes” while doing nothing.

The day is now, the moment is here.

You can’t hide from it – Either you follow it or not.

It’s not complicated. It’s simple.

Identify what you want – then do whatever it takes to make it happen. 

Don’t just dream it. Live it. 

 

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  • http://twitter.com/ryzeonline Jason Fonceca

    Wait..

    So like… I have to act at some point?

    This is so weird :P

    • http://www.30yearoldninja.com/ Izmael Arkin

      Dude! Jason – you are a career coach. You’re telling me you don’t deal with people who are stuck in analysis paralysis?

      I’d rather be weird than normal any day of the week :) . Normal is boring. Weird… is weird.

  • Jessie

    Very simple and very true. This reminds me of another saying I love, “do you want reasons or results?” I feel like sometimes I can complicate really simple things and find excuses to not do things…Thanks for a great kick start to the day.

    • http://www.30yearoldninja.com/ Izmael Arkin

      Hi Jessie :) .

      I feel you on that one. I cannot count how many times I have made my life more complicated than necessary. One quick example is with blogging. I love writing and I want to spread the message of my site. The easiest way to do this is by writing guest posts. Initially I created this huge long detailed plan on how to do guest posting. It took a while. Then one day I just had it and started writing guest posts.

      I didn’t need a big long massive plan – all I needed to do was start. By starting I was able to gain new experience. With this new experience I gained new knowledge. It’s all a process :) .

      Thanks for taking the time to comment Jessie.

  • http://twitter.com/aditi_nature11 Aditi B.

    This is so amazingly true, Izzy!! “Actions are your evidence, not your words”.. And it IS incredibly simple ‘coz once I start taking action for my dream, no matter how small the action is, it gives me momentum and then its barely possible for me to stop from living my dream.. I dont have to wait for the conditions around me to be in-line with what I want.. I take action and ‘live’ my dream..
    And when I wasn’t taking action in the past, I felt stuck, doing nothing, only thinking negative thoughts, and felt I would never live my dream..
    How wrong I was! And now I do things and live my dream..

    Awesome post.. :)

    • http://www.30yearoldninja.com/ Izmael Arkin

      “once I start taking action for my dream, no matter how small the action is, it gives me momentum and then its barely possible for me to stop from living my dream.”

      Aditi you are speaking crazy powerful words. But they are so powerful because I know you couldn’t write that unless you were living it. It is one of the most remarkable things I have ever experienced – it is the power of pursuing a dream.

      Once a person fully commits to their dream they can become an unstoppable force. All failure is seeing as a challenge to be pushed through. Barriers are viewed as part of the process. Each and everyday becomes an obsessive opportunity to make progress.

      I am so excited to hear about all your progress! It is truly wonderful to hear :) .

  • http://twitter.com/MagicalSpain Dan O’Beirne

    Great post!!! My experience after leaving a safe corporate USA job to work in Latin America & later Europe 15 years ago, is that daily actions (small or big) is the 100% key to everything.

    This builds up your –Action Muscles– and surprising things can happen. Somehow this can get you prepared 4 more abundance in what ever you are seeking….BUT only if you keep taking action & keep ignoring all those well meaning but fear-based naysayers.

    IF you do this sooner or later life will presents you with subtle opportunities. But guess what?…. you have to act. Maybe you fail but fail falling forward like a good NFL running back, then you get up, dust off, learn lessons and refine your game. Next just keep taking action and doors will open.

    Gotta run, my lovely new wife is calling me for tapas & vino dinner here in Spain so time for action :-)

    • http://www.30yearoldninja.com/ Izmael Arkin

      Hi Dan :) .

      I love you put that man – “Action Muscles.” These are muscles that for the longest time I didn’t know existed. When I was back in college I thought it was all about “the great idea.” Now, I don’t buy into that nonsense anymore :) .

      All that matters is execution. And even if I screw up it doesn’t matter because I learn from it, get back up and keep moving forward.

      “just keep taking action and doors will open.” Awesome line!

  • http://karenyvonne.net/ Karen

    And then, I will kick you in the nuts!

    this is retweetable!

    • http://happierhuman.com/ Amit Amin

      Izzy quote of the year!

      • http://www.30yearoldninja.com/ Izmael Arkin

        I’m dead serious guys! I want to kick that excuse in the nuts!
        :)

  • Sean

    “They teach – I do.” it’s so simple and as kids we tend to do exactly this. I think that somewhere along the way we forget that old minset… that everything is a skill and the only way to improve is to do and learn. For me it probably happened after leaving college, which is odd considering I work in an academic/research field.

    I’m starting to realize how much my mindset has changed, Izzy. When I read the line “But what if I fail?” my first thought was “What if I succeed!”. Then I got to “kick you in the nuts” picture and laughed.

    Cheers.

    • http://www.30yearoldninja.com/ Izmael Arkin

      What’s up Sean :) .

      One of the biggest changes that ever happened in my life was when I started to see everything as a skill to be developed. Yes, I do believe we have somethings that are a little more natural to us but they will never amount to anything unless we develop it.

      It’s a crazy thought to buy into. If we believe that we can develop a skill we are willing to work to accomplish big things. But if we believe that everything is based on talent then wil will never try.

      Great comment man :) . Stoked you enjoyed the cartoon.

      • Sean

        Oh man, Izzy. Talent. I grew up playing music and could write numerous comments about talented friends getting beat out for spots by non-talented players who simply worked harder at it.

        Talent is definitely an advantage. But I see it merely as a head start – a gap that can be closed by those who practice more often.

        It’s not a crazy thought at all. I see it in music all the time. No doubt others have seen it in sports, academics, work, etc…

        • http://www.30yearoldninja.com/ Izmael Arkin

          “I see it merely as a head start – a gap that can be closed by those who practice more often.”

          Sean that is an incredible quote! Wow :) .

          If this statement is true (and I completely believe it is) imagine how that could change all of society if everyone understood this.

          I really appreciate your well thought out comments. It stimulates the mind :) .

  • Erik

    Great post, Izzy. If we don’t act now then when do we ever see it happening?

    • http://www.30yearoldninja.com/ Izmael Arkin

      Too true! You know what phrase I hate “I’ll do it tomorrow!” – I want to kick that phrase in the nuts as well :) .

  • Tomo

    “Thus conscience does make cowards of us all;
    And thus the native hue of resolution
    Is sicklied o’er with the pale cast of thought,
    And enterprises of great pith and moment
    With this regard their currents turn awry,
    And lose the name of action.”

    • http://www.30yearoldninja.com/ Izmael Arkin

      Tomo – that is some crazy deep poetry! I think I read it 10 times.

      I was hooked after the first line: “Thus conscience does make cowards of us all”. I have never thought of it that way.

      Powerful stuff.

      Nice job mixing up the commenting styles :) .

  • Fabio

    Since I started following this site, i got into the habit of asking myself the question:

    “What did I do today to achieve my dreams, my goals??”

    It makes the difference, man.

    • http://www.30yearoldninja.com/ Izmael Arkin

      Fabio that is so freaking awesome to hear!

      “What did I do today to achieve my dreams, my goals??”

      I think that is one of the most powerful sentences in the universe… Okay, I’m being dramatic. But regardless, it’s crazy powerful

      If you ask yourself this everyday and listen to your answers – you are going to do amazing things.

  • Aileen O’Brien

    hey Izzy, thanks for this post. i needed a reminder to kick myself in the butt and focus more on my dream, not others image of what my dream should be.

    • http://www.30yearoldninja.com/ Izmael Arkin

      Awesome Aileen :) . I’m thrilled that you connected with the message.

      I hope you went out and did some crazy things :) .

  • http://www.facebook.com/kyle.rothfork.3 Kyle Rothfork

    I want to finish an Ironman. I wake up at 5:30am, I’m in bed by 8pm. Friends call me an old man for going to bed early. It doesn’t bother me. The dream is more important.

    • http://www.30yearoldninja.com/ Izmael Arkin

      Hahaha! Shoot! They can call you old all they want… There not the ones running the iron man.

      It takes balls to commit that much to something. Don’t ever settle! If you want to do crazy things, you got to make crazy choices :) .

      Thanks for taking the time to comment Kyle.