Detailed(diˈtāl,ˈdēˌtāl) dreams(drēm) blind(blīnd) you to new means(mēnz)

Detailed(diˈtāl,ˈdēˌtāl) dreams(drēm) blind(blīnd) you to new means(mēnz)

By Derek Sivers

There’s a fable(ˈfābəl) of a man stuck in a flood(fləd). Convinced(kənˈvinst) that God is going to save him, he says no to a passing canoe(kəˈno͞o), boat(bōt), and helicopter(ˈheliˌkäptər) that offer to help. He dies, and in heaven(ˈhevən) asks God why He didn’t save him. God says, “I sent you a canoe, a boat, and a helicopter!”

We all have vivid(ˈvivid) imaginations(iˌmajəˈnāSHən). We get a goal in our mind, and picture the path so clearly(ˈkli(ə)rlē). Then it’s hard to stop focusing on that vivid image(ˈimij), to see what else could work.

New technologies make old things easier, and new things possible. That’s why you need to re-evaluate(iˈvalyo͞oˌāt) your old dreams to see if new means have come along(əˈläNG,əˈlôNG).

Some actors move to Hollywood(ˈhälēˌwo͝od) hoping to get noticed. Others use every new outlet(ˈoutˌlet) to make themselves unavoidable(ˌənəˈvoidəbəl).

Some authors are just waiting for a publisher to sign(sīn) them. Others are getting rich just self-publishing.

You need to distinguish(disˈtiNGgwiSH) between what is your real goal, and what are the unnecessary(ˌənˈnesəˌserē) details. Don’t let the details distract(disˈtrakt) you from your goal.

For each of your dreams, occasionally(əˈkāZHənl-ē) ask yourself what was the real point. Then look for a better way to get to that point.

Let go of out-dated(ˈdātid) dreams that keep you from noticing what’s here now.

https://sivers.org/details