Summary

The article emphasizes that realizing dreams requires determination, hard work, and a combination of skills, connections, and passion.

Abstract

The text discusses the journey of turning dreams into reality, equating it to the symbolic Paramount Movie mountain, which is actually the real-life Fusillade mountain in Glacier National Park, Montana. It stresses that dreams are realized through sweat, determination, and hard work, much like the efforts of George Bird Grinnell, who named the mountain. The article highlights the importance of having a good idea, acquiring the right skills, building trustworthy connections, and being open to feedback and collaboration. It suggests that dreaming should be a collective effort with a group that is optimistic, transparent, and diverse in gifts and aptitudes. The process involves embracing failure as a learning opportunity, being flexible, and having the courage to dream big. The author encourages breaking down dreams into actionable parts and persistently working towards them, even if it means starting small and building gradually.

Opinions

The author believes that dreams become reality through passion, skill, and collaboration, not magic.
Trust is a critical component in partnerships, and one should be cautious of those who might take credit for others' ideas.
Failing is seen as an essential part of growth and a stepping stone to success.
The author advises against downgrading dreams to fit reality, instead suggesting upgrading conviction to match one's destiny.
There is an emphasis on the importance of a supportive and diverse group for feedback and encouragement.
The article promotes the idea that confidence grows with an actionable plan and positive momentum.
The author encourages readers to start working on their dreams today, suggesting that even small steps can lead to the fulfillment of one's

The Dirt Road to Building Dreams is Life

Find the stuff dreams are made of

A dream doesn’t become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination and hard work. — Colin Powell

Look at the featured image. It’s purposely chosen to be reminiscent of the Paramount Movie mountain. When we watch movies we dream or willingly suspend reality to live the dream of the actors on the screen as though it is our own life calling. It’s inspiring, thrilling, romantic, comedic, scary, a horror picture show…

Paramount immediately came to mind when I found the featured image and saw the stars. You know, the mountain at the beginning of a movie and the stars that move from one side to another as we enter the land of make-believe. The place where all dreams are possible. Paramount shows us the stuff dreams are made of.

Is the mountain fiction of someone’s mind or is there a real-life version?

A couple of quick rabbit trails and a question answered on Quora lead to the real-life mountain. Its name is Fusillade mountain and is located in the Lewis Range, Glacier National Park in the U.S. state of Montana.

George Bird Grinnell is credited with naming the mountain. He was an American anthropologist, historian, naturalist, and writer. Grinnell was born in Brooklyn, New York, and graduated from Yale. It takes a forward-thinking individual to graduate with a Ph.D. in 1880. I’m pretty sure he had the magic that dreams are made of because not many people had doctorate degrees in the 1800s.

I imagine his interest in Native American cultures and work on legislation to preserve the American Bison had him spending his downtime in Glacier National Park. He likely spent so much time there that he named the mountain like you or I would name a pet. He loved this place and it centered him, his life, and his efforts. He spent time there to further his dreams. And, his dreams became what we know as the Paramount mountain.

Deep down everyone wants to live up to their dreams.

Everyone has dreams, but how do we bring them to life?

The screen writer’s dreams, the producer’s dreams, the director’s dreams, the actor’s dreams…they are all someone else’s dreams and they are real.

The mountain is real too.

Dare to dream with such passion that dreams become real.

What about us?

How do we get the dreams in our head to come to life so passionately that they become real?

It starts with an idea

Building bridges takes technical skills and the right kind of tools. Building dreams takes different skills. If you don’t want to build a road to nowhere you have to get skills and a plan. Success is rarely a self-made skill. It starts with an idea, but not just any idea, a good idea.

How do you find a good idea?

Good question.

It starts with something you are passionate about. It is something you care about or have the most life experience to solve someone’s pain point. What question do people repeatedly ask you to solve? If you can honestly, genuinely solve someone’s pain they will pay you money for the solution.

An idea and passion come together with skill, but that’s not all that’s necessary.

It takes others who have mutually beneficial skills.

Connections

Knowing and becoming friends with people who have good connections is essential. It’s part of the magic that brings dreams to life.

First, and foremost you need to trust the people you are connecting with if you are to further each other’s dreams. Sometimes this is a dirty job discovering who to partner with and who to exclude from involvement. You’ll meet people who are takers. They can and will take credit for your ideas and put them under the umbrella of theirs without giving you credit.

That’s life.

And, that’s not someone you want to trust with your dreams. Move on to people who are go-getters, like-minded in having drive, people who aspire to be better and challenge you along the way. Surround yourself with hardworking people who will hold you accountable.

Bounce ideas off of a group

Dreaming together can be a mob mentality, so don’t fall into that trap. Solicit feedback on your big-picture dreams.

You need a group of people who are:

optimistic
transparent
committed
trustworthy
open
inclusive
have diverse gifts
have different aptitudes
a learning mentality
flexibility

Get the basic fundamentals of what you need then get going building your dreams.

Don’t get stuck in “we vs. me” mentality.

Failure

Get comfortable failing. It’s the best recipe for growth. Be comfortable being uncomfortable.

Failure is a bruise, not a tattoo.

Try new things. Find “you” in the process. It’s your touch, your voice that must come through if your dreams are to come alive.

Don’t downgrade your dream. Instead, dig down deep and be prepared to work your butt off.

Don’t let your dreams become a missed grief in the land of opportunity.

Don’t downgrade your dream just to fit your reality. Upgrade your conviction to match your destiny. — Stuart Scott

Maybe your dream will happen in stages. Rome wasn’t built in a day and your dream won’t be either, but it won’t ever be built if you don’t get going. Break down the big picture show of your dreams into actionable parts so that fear doesn’t keep you behind the start line.

They say I dream too big, I think they think too small.

Challenge yourself to dream big and watch your confidence grow with an actionable plan. Once you have positive momentum you will gain confidence one step at a time on the dirt road of life.

Phone a friend for encouragement when you get stuck. The hard work will pay off and you will see the stuff that dreams are made of.

I hope you find the stuff dreams are made of.

I believe in you.

How will you get started today?

This story is published in The Startup, Medium’s largest entrepreneurship publication followed by +421,678 people.

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