Do you ever notice how we tiptoe around the things we want most? Like if we don’t say them out loud, they’ll stay safe in the “someday” category, untouched by failure or judgment. It’s almost funny how scared we are to just admit what we want.
I get it, though. Saying your dream out loud feels like taking the shrink wrap off. Suddenly, it’s real. Suddenly, it’s not just this hazy idea in your head; it’s something people can see. Something they can have opinions about.
And let’s be honest: people will have opinions.
When I started my last business, I told a few close friends what I was planning. I didn’t expect a standing ovation, but I also didn’t expect, “Yeah, I don’t think that’s a good idea” or “Who’s even going to pay for that?” It felt dismissive, even deflating, like someone taking a sharp pin to the little balloon of confidence I was trying to float.
I think they thought they were helping. Maybe they were trying to protect me from failure. Maybe they wanted me to think through the risks more carefully. But their words didn’t strengthen my resolve. They just made me want to retreat.
The thing is, I didn’t retreat. Not because I was brave or confident, but because I figured, Why not me?
That’s become my go-to question whenever I feel small about a big idea. Somebody’s going to do this thing I’m dreaming about. Somebody’s going to succeed. So, why not me?
Saying your dream out loud is scary because it forces you to own it. There’s no, “Well, I wasn’t really serious about it” safety net once the words leave your mouth. It’s terrifying and thrilling all at once because now it’s out there, hovering in the world, waiting for you to chase it—or walk away from it.
I don’t know about you, but the second I say something out loud, it feels different. My brain shifts from dreaming to scheming. Suddenly, it’s not a “someday” thing; it’s a “what do I do next” thing.
Like this whole YouTube dream of mine. Becoming the most trusted voice on topics like success and failure? Saying that out loud feels borderline ridiculous. Who am I to think I can be that guy? But here’s the thing: saying it out loud isn’t about proving you’re ready or qualified. It’s about starting.
And when you start saying your dreams out loud, something unexpected happens. Other people start rooting for you. Not everyone, of course. There will always be skeptics and critics, but the ones who show up? They matter more than you realize.
Sometimes it’s the smallest gestures—someone sharing your video, someone saying, “That’s a cool idea,” someone offering a connection or resource you didn’t even know existed. But none of it happens if you keep your dreams locked away like some kind of precious artifact.
I’ve noticed this strange phenomenon when people admit their dreams. It’s like the universe—or maybe just other humans—responds to vulnerability with unexpected kindness.
When I first started sharing my dream for this blog and channel, it felt self-centered. Egotistical, even. Like, Who cares what I want to do? But the more I shared, the more people leaned in. Some offered support. Some just listened. Some said, “Hey, I know someone who might be able to help.”
It’s not magic. It’s just that people can’t support what they don’t know exists.
And then there’s the other side of it: accountability. Saying your dream out loud means you can’t pretend it doesn’t matter. You’ve made it real. You’ve put it on the record. That’s scary as hell because now, every time you procrastinate or doubt yourself, that dream is still there, staring at you.
I’ll be honest. I’ve learned to use that fear. Saying my dream out loud makes it harder to quit because now there’s this invisible crowd of people who know what I said, who are watching (or at least it feels like they are).
The whole “Why not me?” mindset doesn’t mean you won’t be scared. It just means you’re scared and doing it anyway.
If you’ve ever had a dream sitting in the back of your mind, something that feels too big, too ambitious, too out there—say it out loud. Say it to yourself in the mirror. Say it to your best friend. Write it in the comments here if you want.
It doesn’t have to be perfect. It doesn’t even have to make sense to anyone else. But say it. Make it real.
And if you’re wondering what I’m talking about, check out this video.
Because the moment you say your dream out loud? That’s when everything starts.
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