From Martin Luther King Jr.s Dream to Yours - The Real Work behind Big Dreams

On Monday, January 19th, 2026, we celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day — a day that honors the life, legacy, and enduring message of one of history’s most influential leaders. Across the United States, this day is commemorated not only through service and remembrance but also reflection — on his unwavering pursuit of equality and the power of his vision. When we think of dreams, Dr. King’s iconic “I Have a Dream” speech inevitably comes to mind. His words remind us that dreams, when fueled by conviction and courage, can change the course of history.

When we encourage our kids to dream big, we often tell them they can achieve anything they want. However, is that truly solid advice? I’ve thought deeply about what dreams signify, and how best to explain that while we can’t achieve anything we want, we should think big while staying grounded in our gifts and actions. This reflection also made me realize how many adults have stopped dreaming altogether. That’s what drove me to write this piece — to explore what it really takes to do your dreams.

The word dreams project an excitement that no other word can. Dreams are a vision for your future which pulls you to wake up every morning with a smile and look forward to each day with excitement. In my opinion, get excited about your life first and then you can truly wake up with a smile. If you want to wake up early, then a dream can get you going without an alarm clock. That's what a dream can do for you — it will get you up and running early. That is why it is important to find your why in life.

However, I would like to caution that unrealistic pie-in-the-sky dreams can result in disappointment and heartbreak. For example, if I have a dream to be a world class tennis player, it would be futile and not aligned to any of my talent. A dream, while not always being realistic, should at least be in your strength zone.

Sometimes we think that in order to be truly successful we need to do something big which is recognized by the whole wide world. The fact is such success is rare, and most of us will achieve other types of success which may not make us household names. It is very critical to understand how success looks to us measured against our talent. Comparing with other icons is an unnecessary distraction. While they can be inspiring, they shouldn't be considered role models. You have to define the dream that works for you.

In order for you to succeed in your dreams I believe you need the following elements. I also like what John Maxwell said: “While the dream is free, the journey isn’t.” It takes hard work and perseverance to do your dream whatever it may be. Here are some of the keys to pursue the journey towards to your dreams.

Discipline – The first step is to be absolutely clear on what your dream is. You need to be disciplined to understand why you want to do your dream. In other words, you should have such a burning “yes” that you say “no” to everything else. For example, Federer is great in tennis, but does it matter if he knows 10 languages or plays an instrument? This is where focus helps. The problem is sometimes we look at peers or friends and see them so talented in multiple disciplines. However, to me, you can be successful only if you are disciplined in a few areas and focus only on that. If learning and instrument is not going to get you anywhere, I would rather spend the same time improving my skills at what I do for a living to increase my value. Of course, this is a personal choice, but to me the only way to achieve anything is to be disciplined on the things that matter to you and your career. We cannot spread our energy in multiple directions. Even Angela Duckworth says grit is useful only if you are passionate about what you do. In other words, if learning something makes you miserable, it doesn't make sense to grit it out endlessly. You should quit such activities. However, if you have something you are good at and need to push further, then in those circumstances you need to grit it out. Remember your willpower is limited, so don’t waste it on things that don’t really matter. Align this thought with a growth mindset we have a better shot at pursuing our dream.

Relentless – Once you decide what your dream is, you need to be totally relentless in your pursuit of it. There is nothing that should stop you till you achieve what you want. Of course, if you’ve tried it for five years and still aren’t making progress, then be flexible and take new actions. You can change your direction, but don’t change the destination. Michael Jordan tried baseball and it didn’t work out. Not everyone can do everything, but in the few things that you can do, be absolutely relentless and go for it. You really need to burn your boats to achieve what you want. It doesn’t matter if you know 100 things — all that matters is whether you are super good at what you do for a living. Focus on that and be relentless. As Seth Godin mentions in Dip successful people quit all the time but only on the things they cannot be the best at. They persist in all other areas where they can win big.

Enthusiasm – You need to be enthusiastic about your dream. Obviously, you are going to encounter setbacks along the way, and the only thing that will keep you going is your enthusiasm for your dream. Remember, it is your dream and no one else can do it. So, it is up to you to keep your spirits high no matter what obstacles you encounter. It is not about acting enthusiastic. It is about being absolutely disciplined about what you want to do with your life and then mustering up the enthusiasm to keep the inner fire burning. J. K. Rowling is a great example of overcoming failure. She once said, “It is impossible to live without failing at something, unless you live so cautiously that you might not have lived at all — in which case you fail by default.” The point is, even if you do meet temporary failures, your enthusiasm for your dream is what will keep you going.

Action – There is no substitute for action. We all have dreams, but the only way anything is achieved is through action. You can even have the highest IQ, but only if you take consistent action will you move toward your goals. The only way to achieve something big is to break it down into daily actions. Take daily action toward your most cherished dreams. I just love this quote: “Cherish your visions and your dreams as they are the children of your soul, the blueprints of your ultimate achievements.” – Napoleon Hill.

Mastery – You need to become absolutely competent in whatever you do for a living. Find out who the experts in your field are, read their books, read their blogs, listen to their podcasts, document what you have learned, and share it. Every single thing you need to master has information available — all you need to do is take the time to learn. Once you become a master, you can live your dream. Deliberate practice is the key. Two great books here are Talent Is Overrated by Geoff Colvin and Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell. Another excellent one is Peak by Anders Ericsson on what it takes to be the best in whatever you do. The point is, every master has invested hours of arduous practice over a long period of time. They persisted through resistance, and once they made it big, people thought it was innate talent — which it was not.

Success – This is one of the most important steps of all. What does success really look like to you? What will happen when you achieve your dreams? What drives you to achieve them? If achieving your dream results in family discontent, is it worth it? You need to evaluate the cost of your dream and understand if the price — in terms of effort and sacrifice — is worth it. Success has to be personal; it’s not determined by what others think of you. I’ve thought long and hard about this topic. You can check out my article on A to Z of Success, which condenses everything you need to know about success.

A dream is wonderful to have, but we must really evaluate our dreams to see if they make sense not only for us but also for those close to us. As it’s often said, a person with a dream will not be denied — but only if they have the commitment to follow through. I believe we should teach kids to understand where their passion and complementary skills intersect — and when they find that point, go for it. That’s the dream worth striving for. Be prepared for a long, arduous journey in the pursuit of your dream.

Thanks for reading this post.

The views expressed here are my own and do not represent my organization.