The CURSE of Professional Dreamers

Jake Luehrs
June 14, 2025

ONE QUESTION

What problem am I creating that I’m acting like a victim to?

ONE THING TO PONDER

Worrying is nothing more than “needing” something you don’t have grasping to maintain something you do.

ONE PERSPECTIVE

There comes a moment—and maybe it's right now—when we realize we’ve become a professional at everything except the one thing that matters: doing the actual work.

We can strategize, plan, put systems in place, tell others what we are going to do, get ready to do what needs to get done, but the truth is that action supersedes any words.

The Elaborate Illusion

Thinking about doing the work, isn’t doing the work.

Talking about doing the work isn’t doing the work.

Beating yourself up for not doing the work isn’t doing the work.

Writing out the work I have to do isn’t doing the work.

Making a reel about doing the work isn’t doing the work.

Setting up my schedule to do the work isn’t doing the work.

Waiting for the right time to do the work isn’t doing the work.

Visualizing doing the work isn’t doing the work.

The only thing sufficient approach for doing the work is to do the work.

Here's what stings: You already know this.

The question isn't whether you know. The question is whether you're brave enough to stop.

Deep in your bones, you know when you're performing productivity rather than being productive.

There simply are no substitutes for doing the work, regardless of how crafty we become.

Most things that are meaningful and significant take more time, more money, and more resilience than we anticipate.

Ask yourself this question:

If this took twice as long as I thought and delivered half the results I expected, would I still do it?

If the answer is no, move on. We weren't likely committed—we were just infatuated with the idea of the outcome.

Convenience vs Commitment

Most people will work toward their dreams... as long as it's convenient.

That's not commitment. That's hobby-level engagement with your life's purpose.

The beautiful, terrifying truth? Once we accept that everything meaningful requires inconvenience, sacrifice, and time—we become unstoppable. Because we stop attempting to negotiate with reality.

You’re at a fork in the road, aren’t you? I can feel it:

Path 1: Keep performing. Keep preparing. Keep talking. Keep waiting for the perfect moment that will never come. Stay comfortable in the familiar rhythm of almost-action.

Path 2: Stop the charade. Pick one thing that matters. Do the actual work, even when—especially when—it's inconvenient, uncomfortable, and uncertain.

I'm not writing this to shame anyone. I'm writing this because I've seen what happens when people stop rehearsing their lives and start living them.

Your Assignment (If You Choose to Accept It)

This week, I want you to do something radical:

Pick one thing you've been "preparing" to do and just... do it.

-Not perfectly
-Not when you're ready
-Not when conditions are ideal

Just do it. Badly, if necessary. But do it.

I’ll see you along the way!

Onward and upward!

PODCAST

Dr Russell Kennedy - How To Fix Your Brain’s Addiction To Anxiety & Worry

MODERN WISDOM PODCAST

Commitment to the process is far more important than attachment to the outcome. If obtaining what we wanted really just came down to being hyper attached to having it, we’d already have it. The truth is that commitment to the process, to the actions, to the person you need to become is far more important than ‘wanting’ something with a deep attachment. This is a great perspective to consider!

BOOK RECOMMENDATION

The Path Forward
by Yung Pueblo

This is a book of wisdom. Little bits of truth that are easily digestible and allow for thoughts to consider. There are many truths that are available to us when we get exposed to them. This is a book that will offer some things to contemplate to improve and develop both personally and professionally.