Dirty Work

Big Dreams And What Actually Keeps You Moving Forward

We love setting big goals. It’s easy to dream big: imagine the perfect outcome, visualize success, and aim for the moon — "because even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars," right?

But what happens when those dreams stall? When your motivation fades, and your energy dips just weeks into your fitness journey, entrepreneurial pursuit, or personal growth plan?

That’s the turning point — where most dreams die. Unless you plan in advance or learn to shift focus: From the moon... to the dirt.

The dirt – that gritty, dark matter beneath you. It’s real. It’s hard. It’s the bare minimum you can require of yourself that’s needed on the days when your big goals feel galaxies away.

Because here’s the truth: the moon will feel out of reach. And unless you’ve laid down some ground — some non-negotiable, low-bar action — you won’t have anything to stand on.

I know this from experience.

For a long time, while I maintained my nonprofit in its inception years, often I wished for a way out. "Please," I’d pray, "Just send someone else to take over so I can move on." I was raising a family, paying myself a meager salary, and molding myself into a role I didn’t especially feel thrilled about. How did I go from an active wellness professional to keeping up with tax forms, accounting deadlines and never ending emails? Dear God, I just wished to be outside.

But I made one promise to myself: If runners applied for my 3,260-mile relay for MS, I’d continue to lead it — no matter how I felt.

And every year, runners applied. First, it was a few extra. Then double. Then more. We eventually had more applicants than spots for the 21 relay segments — many applying well before the deadline.

I kept showing up. Not because I felt like it, but because I had laid my ground rule and committed it to God. And eventually, it worked — not because I was constantly inspired, but because I had already identified the smallest action I could consistently take.

Now, over fifteen years later, I no longer dream of leaving my role. I’ve evolved — as a leader, as a person, as someone who’s still learning the value of consistency over perfection. I don’t depend on old rules to keep me moving forward. But I do constantly ask myself: What’s the least I can do today that aligns with who I am and my goals?

So what will it take for you to show up today? Maybe it’s not the number on the scale or inches off your waist, but rather whether or not you can tie your gym shoes. Forget the scale. Can you lace up today? Great, let’s fucking go. What will it require you to show up for your side hustle? Don’t worry about launching the store, but rather whether or not you have the supplies to simply do the work. Maybe it’s not the publishing deal, but rather a commitment to 500 words a day — period, even if they suck.

We often obsess over shining bright — chasing the sun — and forget to feel the solid dirt beneath our soles that keeps us solid all the while.

If I shoot for the moon, I can’t promise I’ll land there. But I can promise myself a hundred smaller, doable ways to make myself proud — and then actually allow myself to feel proud, no matter the outcome. What sustains me — in my nonprofit, my workouts, and my writing — isn’t raw ambition. It’s my deep commitment to the least I can do... and doing it anyway.

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