Column by Theo Paphitis
When it comes to achieving success, I think most people would agree with me in saying that it’s never going to be just that one thing that gets you there. Achieving it requires a cocktail of dogged determination, passion, tenacity and common sense at a minimum.
But one thing so often overlooked that underpins success is that initial dream – because without those dreams and the ambitions that stem from them, there would be nothing to spur you on to keep climbing the mountain to success!
When I was growing up, for the most part, because of my dyslexia, I used to struggle in school. It was like trying to put a square peg in a round hole – never going to work! But, because of this, I was always looking for and thinking about the next opportunity.
I’d often find myself daydreaming at school, gazing out the window, dreaming about the future, visualising a world of possibilities and what-ifs; it’s these dreams that I had, and continue to have, to which I owe some of the success I’ve enjoyed too.
Drawing from my own experiences, I recognised that when you’re an entrepreneur launching a business or trying your hand at something new, the dream is the beginning of it all.
It’s a potent visualisation of what you hope to achieve, where you hope to be and who you hope to become – your passion and tenacity stems from that. Without dreams there is no reality.
The road to success isn’t simply a straight line from point A to point B. There are all too often potholes and speedbumps along the way.
It’s those dreams and ambitions of yours that act as a compass and point you in the right direction in the midst of all that. They give you a purpose and fuel your ambition.
That’s not to say that you can sit back, relax and smoke a cigar just because you’ve had a few dreams and aspirations, far from it. They don’t automatically guarantee you a golden ticket to success.
The dream is where you hope to be. It sets out the path you wish to tread, but the journey itself – the process of turning it into a reality – is fraught with challenges, obstacles and turbulence that knocks you right off your feet.
It’s in navigating these trials and tribulations that those other crucial elements I spoke about earlier come into play. Dogged determination, passion, tenacity and bucketloads of passion.
Whether you’re a small business owner working from your kitchen counter or a leader in a behemoth business already nearing the stratosphere, my advice is the same – never stop dreaming.
Because if you do, you might as well pull the plug on everything.
I still dream, and I’ve had success and ticked a lot of things off the list. I will also never stop dreaming, because without them, what’s the point?
To the business owners out there reading this, keep on dreaming because our dreams truly are the rocket fuel powering not only the UK but also the global economy.
Armed with dreams, a pinch of good fortune, determination and graft to back them up, anyone, and I mean anyone, can turn their dream into a reality!
Theo Paphitis – Small Business Sunday #SBS
If you’re a small business then check out Theo’s free-to-enter #SBS Small Business Sunday competition which runs every Sunday between 5 – 7.30pm on X and Instagram – a free boost for small businesses with ambitions to grow and a chance to join one of the UK’s small business communities. Further information is here: theopaphitissbs.com
