Steve Smith makes a crucial distinction between two states of aspiration. A "dream" exists in the realm of imagination—it's something we'd like to happen someday, but it lacks urgency and specificity. Dreams are beautiful but often remain unrealized.

A "goal," however, transforms a dream into a target by adding a "deadline." This time constraint creates accountability, forces planning, and motivates action. The deadline is what turns vague desire into concrete intention, breaking down the journey into manageable steps with clear timelines.

This quote provides a practical tool for achievement. It challenges us to convert our dreams into goals by giving them deadlines, thus activating the mechanism that leads to tangible achievement.