How a Dream Becomes a Goal

I’m not going to lie, I’m nervous.

This is my first entry for 100 Naked Words — my first of what will be 100 in 100 days (and hopefully beyond) — and I’m worried I’m not going to follow through.

Because I’ve struggled to follow through in the past.

While I am a full-time magazine writer, my true passion is writing about more personal subjects — personal growth, my inner demons, the search for purpose, the everyday Seinfeldian conundrums.

The problem is I’ve never done it consistently enough. I’m a professional at procrastination, a master at clicking open a new browser tab to do anything but what I need to be doing.

But when I came across Johnson Kee’s story last week about how he’s written on Medium every day for a year straight, I felt a jolt of energy. I felt like this could be my shot to turn the tide.

And thankfully, Johnson has given me that shot to contribute to this publication he’s built from his first 100 words.

Still, I’m anxious. Why will this time be any different? What can I do to make this time different?

In his 2010 induction speech at the Pro Football Hall of Fame, former running back Emmitt Smith cited the piece of advice his high school coach gave him that set him on the course to the NFL:

“It’s only a dream until you write it down — then it becomes a goal.”

In that spirit, it’s time to write down my goal:

I will publish (at least) 100 words on Medium for 100 consecutive days.

So…same time tomorrow?

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This article originally appeared on 100 Naked Words.