The Difference Between “Dreamers” and “Do’ers” & How to Find Your Purpose

“Alright, I have a question for you,” I posed to David O’Neil. I always love taking to this guy. His brain thinks on an entirely new level – it’s incredible. Every chance I get to pick his brain and have a progressive conversation, I take it.

“Do you think a man’s purpose is pre-determined, or do you think he chooses his own purpose?” I stated. In 18 days I leave for Nanaimo BC to try out for a Football team. I’ve loved the game of Football since I started playing at 14 years old. Football seems to be one of the areas of my life that I put an obsessive amount of time in developing without questioning any of the work I’m doing.

“Neither,” David stated. “I believe a man’s purpose is derived from the thoughts he holds inside of his mind that compel him to move. I don’t think a man’s purpose is pre-determined, and I also don’t think that he chooses his own purpose. I think there are certain thoughts inside of a man’s mind that MOVE him,” David finished, reaching his hand over his heart and grasping at the air in front of his shirt, as if to rip his passion from his chest.

Make Your Move

The past few days I’ve been thinking about why some people pursue their dreams and live a life they’ve always wanted, and why some are stuck in some rut and never able to fight their way out. Why some people live extraordinary lives, and some live less then their full potential, when we’re all cut from the same cloth.

Everything starts with an idea. The computer you read this post off of, the keyboard I type this post onto, even the coffee shop that I’m sitting in in this moment was first an idea inside of someone’s mind until they made it a reality. There are some ideas that make it into the physical world for us and others to see, and there are some ideas that never make it (being successful, making a million dollars, having your dream job).

I thought to myself; “if EVERYTHING starts with an idea, why doesn’t every idea turn into reality?”

The Window of Opportunity Has A Time Limit

Gregorio and I walked into the locker room and began changing after an intense workout last Friday. I LOVE being at the gym and pushing myself, especially when I have someone I care about with me. I always push myself to higher levels in the company of my good friends – we inspire each other through action. I changed out of my gym shorts and into my pants. My phone vibrated, notifying me of a new message.

It was a “250” number. “250” is from BC. There’s only one person this could be.

I called the Coach from the Vancouver Island Raiders back and was met with no answer. It was late at night, it’s likely that he wouldn’t be up at this time. I froze in nervousness when met with his voicemail. It all seemed so surreal – I can’t believe he called me back. I sent out an email asking for an opportunity to earn my way onto his team just a few days ago and was met with a hasty response.

I have 18 days left until I leave the city I’ve grown comfortable in.

I’ve lived in Calgary for most of my life. I have a network that I can rely on when times get tough, most of my family lives here and leaving this city means leaving everything I’ve ever grown up around and learned to love.

Moving to Nanaimo means I need a job in Calgary for the next little while to get extra cash, I need to book more clients for Kingpin Social, I need to get a job out in Nanaimo, I need to get a place out in Nanaimo, I’ll need to build my network out in Nanaimo, I’ll need to try out for the team in Nanaimo. There are so many logistics that came with making my decision, which lead me to realize why people don’t pursue their dreams.

Because Pursuing Your Dreams Means Taking Massive Action.

David and I talked about the “x” factor that turns dreams into reality. Together we came to the conclusion that the “thing” that turns ideas into reality is decisions.

Decisions are the determining factor between YOUR IDEAS and YOUR REALITY.

I’ve always wanted to play Football at the next level. The idea had circulated through my brain for YEARS, and it pained me to think that I would never play again after separating my shoulder. I got in touch with my dream due to the study of Relationships through Kingpin Social.

All relationships are based off an exchange of value. At every moment I am spending my time and energy, and receiving value back. I am either receiving value that makes me feel a positive emotion, or am I receiving value that makes me feel a negative emotion. I started to ask myself “What have I done with my time and energy before that has made me feel the best emotion?

Example: I used to work at a construction company making $12.50 an hour. I worked there for 9 hours a day and I absolutely hated it.

At ALL moments in time you are spending your time and energy. Every second that ticks away on the clock is a second that you will never get back. I worked at a construction job making $12.50 an hour and I felt a negative emotion about the time and energy that I spent there. There are still 16 other hours in a day, but when I have 1/3 of my day that I can’t STAND, it’s likely that the relationship with myself is going to be overall negative.

Think about your life for a second. What have you done with your life that makes you feel the best emotion? At every moment you are spending your time and energy. When you are receiving a positive emotion back from the time and energy you spend, you KNOW you’re on the right path

On the flipside, when you spend your time and energy and you feel a POSITIVE emotion, you have a positive relationship with yourself. When I play Football, and I get the opportunity to run at someone bigger than me, play against someone faster than me, on a field full of players who are equally as talented I feel heightened levels of positive emotion. Football is the outlet for my energy that makes me feel the BEST emotion. When I spend my time and energy and I feel a positive emotion, I have a positive relationship with myself.

David and I talked about a man’s purpose, and came to the conclusion that a man’s purpose is determined by the thoughts that compel him to move. I also believe that the relationship with yourself prospers when you feel heightened levels of positive emotion, which I believe is achieved by spending your time and energy doing things that you love to do. I think that the “x” factor that turns ideas into reality is DECISIONS. I believe that most people never make the decision to chase their dreams because of the amount of massive action that must immediately follow the decision to live a life of your dreams.

Your Time is Ticking Away

Who are you? Are you the dreamer? Are you the person that takes action, but you feel a negative emotion when you spend your time and energy? Or are you the person living your dreams, understanding what makes you feel the best possible emotion and pursuing it to endless degrees?

I leave for BC in 18 days. I’m moving to a city where I know absolutely  no one for an opportunity to try out for a team I may not even make… but that’s the beauty of it. Success, failure, it doesn’t matter. All that matters is that I look back on this moment, on this decision, and I tell myself “I’m glad I took the chance.”

It’s your turn. What are some of your ambitions? What have you always thought about doing, but left the idea on the backburner?

Every second that ticks away is a second that you will never get back. Are you spending your time and energy doing something you love, or are you spending your time and energy doing something that makes you feel a negative emotion?

It’s your life. Make a decision.