What should I do with my life? What do I want to do next? What are my goals for the future?

The late, great Steve Jobs has an idea for you.

In Carmine Gallo’s book about Steve Jobs, Gallo tells a story about a guy who was in charge of renovating the chain Disney stores. When he asked Jobs for advice, Jobs had two words for him: “Dream bigger.”

It’s a great suggestion for anyone trying to figure out what they want, and where they should be going. While your hard work is the daily fuel you run on, a bigger dream—a vision—can point you toward your ultimate destination.

But what does it really mean to “dream bigger”? It means you’ve got to be brave.

Dream Braver

This is where the “big” part comes in. A dream, by definition, isn’t going to be easy. And that’s okay! Setting yourself a brave goal means you’ll push yourself to reach higher. If your goal’s not scaring you a little, you’re probably not aiming very far from where you are. And that’s fine if you like where you are. But if you want to make a change, you’re going to have to go out on some limbs.

Dream Clearly

This doesn’t mean you should walk around with your head in the clouds: big dreams turn into actual possibilities when they are grounded in specific details. I want to graduate in three years. I want to launch my own tech start-up. I want to make a living from my writing. The more specific you are, the easier it is to think about the concrete details of “how” you can accomplish your goal, rather than the vague or discouraging “if” you can accomplish them.

Dream Your Dream

Some people dream of curing cancer. Others dream of getting a college degree. But neither one of these dreams is better than the other. The point: don’t compare your dreams with other people. They’re yours. And if they’re taking you in a direction that’s new, exciting, and positive, you’re going the right way.

What’s your big dream for the future? Tell us in the comments!

Want to start dreaming big about your career? Check out our Career Profiles to start exploring all the options for your future!