“Believe you can, and you’re halfway there.”—Theodore Roosevelt
THE DREAMER’S CURSE
Have you ever woken up from an epic dream and tried to explain it to someone else? You probably stumbled on your words and forgot the nuances that made it great. Remembering the essence of a dream is easy, but sharing it with others is a challenging feat.
That’s the dreamer’s curse. Every creator dreams of what the world will look like if they implement their idea. The problem comes when they struggle trying to explain their dream to others. Other people’s confusion often translates into doubt, disbelief, and negative criticism making the creator feel misunderstood and alone. Unfortunately, the only way for other people to see your dream the way you see it is to pursue it yourself. While publicly building your idea, people will eventually get a clearer picture of your vision.
Coco Chanel was a French fashion designer famous for revolutionizing women’s fashion. Before her time, women’s fashion was dominated by corsets, bustles, and other constrictive undergarments paired with layers of skirts and flashy hats and jewelry. Coco Chanel flipped everything on its head. Starting her career, she faced resistance from the fashion industry. Her minimalist designs were a stark contrast to the elaborate women’s fashion trends at the time. Some critics dismissed her designs as too plain, while others said they lacked imagination. The designer Paul Poiret famously called her designs “unforgivable” and criticized her for copying men’s fashion.
Chanel persevered. She continued to innovate. She rejected traditional designs, opting instead for simple lines and looser clothing, letting the body move freely. She used neutral colors and subtle touches, such as pearls and chains, to create a sense of elegance and sophistication. Coco Chanel went on to create some of the most iconic designs of the 20th century, and her dream for fashion continues to influence designers today.
Nobody is going to believe in you if you don’t believe in yourself first. Your ideas are yours, nobody else’s. So, proudly take ownership of them. Your belief in your dream is the fuel needed to bring it to life. If you don’t believe in it, who will?
WE’RE ALL HUMAN
When we look at the massive marble sculpture of David, the hyper-realistic sci-fi movie Avatar, or technological advancements like artificial intelligence, it’s easy to feel inadequate or inferior by the massiveness and complexity of those creations. Michelangelo, James Cameron, and Sam Altman seem to possess some innate, god-like creative ability to bring their ideas to life. But that’s a false narrative you’re telling yourself. Thelonious Monk wasn’t born with extra fingers to play the piano, even though his music sounded like he was. Elon Musk doesn’t have more hours in the day, even though his achievements seem like it. Johnny Depp isn’t a shape-shifter, even though his acting roles look like it.
We compare ourselves to the most outstanding creators to walk this earth without acknowledging that they’re human, too. They’re humans who believed they could accomplish great things and dedicated their lives to bringing those dreams to life. They’re no different from you and me. These creative geniuses put the time into their craft to become who they knew they could be. It doesn’t matter your age, skill level, or background. In the words of Franklin D. Roosevelt, “The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today.” Greatness starts in your mind. Believe in your ability to change the world. Use the achievements of other humans you admire as evidence that you can do it, too.