Dreamers vs. Doers #Shonda Rhimes

Yesterday I wrote about dreams and how I love helping to make dreams come true because it opens my eyes to possibility. Then last night I listened to the commencement speech given by Shonda Rhimes at Dartmouth University’s Graduation Ceremony and had to reframe what I wrote.

Shonda told the audience that there are doers and there are dreamers. Dreamers are the ones who blue sky their dreams. Spend time dreaming about what they are going to do. Planning what they are going to do. Often are the ones who say I want to be a writer. I want to travel around the world. Constantly saying I want, I want, I want.  These people never do anything but dream.

Whereas the doers just go out and do. They know that if they want their dreams to come true, they can’t just speak it, they have to do it. Shonda told her audience if you want to travel the world, sell your crappy car and travel around the world. She talked about how Oprah did not just dream about being the powerhouse she is today, she worked hard to become who she is and works hard still to remain where she is and to go beyond where she is. She doesn't sit on her couch dreaming about what she wants to do. She gets up off her couch and does what she has to do.

Shonda talked about how she never aspired to be a TV show writer. Her dream was to be the Pulitzer Prize writer, Toni Morrison. But she soon realized that job was taken by Toni Morrison herself and she had to do something for herself rather than trying to be someone who already was. She had to become herself in order to be anything. And once she did, the way cleared for her to become the Shonda Rhimes she is today – soon to command Thursday night television and the owner of her own land – Shondaland. Breaking down barriers the dreamers would have used as excuses for keeping them on the couch. All because she stopped dreaming and started doing.

So yes we can dream and should dream but the dreaming is not enough. The doing is what we need to do in order to be who we came here to be. Wanting something and doing nothing about it is the sure way to kill a dream.  For anyone who wants a pep talk about life and doing what needs to be done to become who you are here to be, go to YouTube and watch Shonda Rhimes commencement speech to Dartmouth University. You won’t be disappointed.

She is an amazing lady. A woman of substance. A woman who made her life by doing what she was sent here to do. Not just dreaming it. Doing it.  Remembering always there is a difference between those that dream and those that do. Dreamers watch life pass them why wondering how the lucky ones keep getting all the breaks. Doers live life fully and unapologetically.  So let’s not just dream if we want to fully embrace life, we have to start doing. And in order to do, we have to know who we are and become who we are. Then do the hard work to become the dream beyond our wildest dreams.
Because as Alicia Keys says, "Life begins outside your comfort zone."