What Separates Dreamers from Doers?

While searching the Internet for something recently, I stumbled upon an old video interview of the late Steve Jobs (1' 29") talking about a characteristic that separates the people who accomplish great things from the people who just dream about them. In this video he describes an event that had a profound impact on him ...

"I called up Bill Hewlett [co-founder of Hewlett-Packard (HP)] when I was 12 years old. 'Hi, I'm Steve Jobs. I'm 12 years old. I'm a student in high school. I want to build a frequency counter, and I was wondering if you have any spare parts I could have.' He laughed, and he gave me the spare parts, and then he gave me a job that summer at Hewlett-Packard... and I was in heaven."

... and then Jobs conveys a powerful message:

"Most people never pick up the phone and call. Most people never ask ... you've got to act [emphasis added]."

What makes Jobs' story so poignant is you'd be hard-pressed to find a working adult today who hasn't been encouraged—many from the time they are born—to "Go after your dreams." And yet, while anyone can go after their dreams, not everyone will or does ... many simply don't act.

To want to achieve; to want to be successful; to want to attain; to want to acquire is not enough. The people who only hope or wish (however well-intentioned)—without action—are the Dreamers. Conversely, the people who take action on their dreams and aspirations are the Doers and Achievers ... the individuals who—through willpower, strength, and perseverance—see their dreams through to reality.

High Value Activity (HVA) Action Steps

If you have an employee you're coaching or mentoring who leans more toward being a Dreamer, here are four HVAs that will help activate his/her 'Doer' gene:

• Recognizing Value: A powerful first step is to help the individual gain a realistic and respectful perspective on the value he or she brings to the organization. Many employees struggle with unhealthy attribution views—attributing their failures to personal weaknesses ("I'm just no good at this, no matter how hard I try.") which can contribute to elevated levels of self-doubt and ... inertia.
• Create Specific Goals/Deadlines: Have the individual write down specific goals and discuss realistic deadlines. Using a tool like the Step It!™ Worksheet will allow you to break down these goals into bite-sized steps that make the larger goal less overwhelming.
• Take Daily Actions: Dreaming is a source of inspiration, creativity, and a way to reach for the stars, but dreaming is nothing without action. Encourage the individual to make daily contributions toward his/her goals. No matter how small, every action someone takes helps build momentum and brings him/her closer to attaining the goal.
• Join a 'Doer Club': There is much truth to the popular adage "Birds of a feather flock together." When an individual is surrounded by 'Doers' they inspire each other and provide an excellent support network when challenges occur.