Paul Levesque is an American professional wrestler, executive, and actor. He is more commonly known by his ring name "Triple H". He is a 14-time world champion in WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment) and is currently the Executive Vice President of Global Talent Strategy & Development for WWE.
Paul discusses how when he first heard the question "Is that a dream or a goal?" it stuck with him because he'd never thought about the difference. Many people think goals and dreams are synonyms, however Paul realized, "a dream is something you fantasize about that will probably never happen...[while] a goal is something you set a plan for, work toward, and achieve".
It's important to make the distinction between a dream and a goal because everything you do should be in order for you to reach your objective. If you think of it as a dream, it's not concrete. It's something you'd like to do, but there's limitations and excuses stopping you from doing it. A goal on the other hand is specific, attainable and requires focus and a plan.
Our Marketing Manager, Rukmani, used this distinction to help her look for a job after college.
"Before the pandemic I really wanted to get a corporate job. It seemed really challenging because I wanted to go into a field completely different than my degree. A couple months later, I was still applying and trying to find a job thinking it would be a dream to get into a new field. I then reached out to my advisors and mentors who gave me different tips to try. I decided then that I was serious about getting a job in a new field and made it my prime focus. I planned how I was going to implement the advice from my mentors and make it happen. A few months later I had a few interviews and was on my way to receiving offers. Just dreaming about getting a job wasn't enough, I had to plan it and put in the work. After I changed my mindset, everything I did was in some way connected to securing my next position." - Rukmani
What dream do you want to turn into a goal?
Ferriss, Timothy, and Arnold Schwarzenegger. Tools of Titans: The Tactics, Routines, and Habits of Billionaires, Icons, and World-Class Performers HMH Books, 2016.