Dream Big, Hustle Harder – Juggling Vision and Reality Like a Pro

Startup Life: Trials, Triumphs, and Tough Lessons
- Dream Big, Hustle Harder – Juggling Vision and Reality Like a Pro

Ask any Founder why they started their company, and you’ll hear a version of the same thing: I had a vision. A big, audacious, world-changing idea.

But here’s the unsexy part no one talks about—having a vision is easy. Executing it? That’s where the real work happens. And along the way, you must maintain a belief in that idea and in yourself. It doesn't have to be a steady belief, you'll definitely bobble here and there, but it does have to be an anchor you consistently return to.

A very simple concept that I read recently was in the book What's your Dream? by Simon Squibb, where he comments about holding true to your vision, because other people are just as likely to be wrong about your idea as you are. I just really liked that. Because it's true. We tend to put other people's opinions of our vision on a pedestal, especially investors or incubators, etc. But they haven't lived our lives, they don't know what we know, they aren't in our heads, and they don't have our vision.

And if these other people aren't actually builders by nature, their tenacity to execute is going to be very different than yours. I fully respect the investment game and the spaces that support other people building things, but living and breathing the building side is quite a different beast. If you "need" to move forward with your idea because the foundational act of giving it a solid try will fulfill something inside you, do it! But know that it might not work; and that uncertainty should feel daunting while also fueling you. Uncertainty can be seen as both a negative and a positive. If you see it as a positive, that's a great starting point for a Founder. Yes, with a capital F 😉, because choosing this journey is a big F'ing deal.

And also know that if your idea is something that could work and people do need, then your level of hustle, perseverance and resilience is likely going to be the thing that makes the difference. If you like the idea of a startup, but you don't believe in yourself, aren't steadfast with your idea, and you don't "need" to give this a go...you probably shouldn't. If you like consistency, a regular paycheque, and to know what your day will be...you probably should avoid this journey.

For every big-picture dream, there’s an equally massive pile of day-to-day reality—the sales calls, the accounting, the hiring, the unexpected fires, and the 1,000 tiny decisions that have nothing to do with “changing the world” and everything to do with keeping the business alive long enough to make an impact.

So how do you dream big without getting buried in the grind? How do you build something visionary while still handling all the things that need doing right now?

Let’s talk about the balance between dreaming and doing—because if you don’t master it, one of them will eat the other alive.

1. Keep Your Vision Big—But Your Goals Ruthlessly Small

Dreams are limitless. Your calendar and energy are not.

One of the biggest mistakes Founders make? They try to execute their entire vision all at once. The result? Overwhelm, burnout, and a business that never quite gets off the ground.

The key is to keep your vision massive but your goals ruthlessly small and specific.

• Instead of “Build the next Airbnb for experiences,” start with “Launch a beta with 20 vendors in one city.”

• Instead of “Disrupt the industry,” start with “Get 10 paying customers.”

• Instead of “Raise $1M in funding,” start with “Secure one investor meeting this week.”

Your vision will keep you inspired—but your short-term, achievable goals will keep you moving forward.

2. The 80/20 Rule: Where Founders Should Really Spend Their Time

There’s no shortage of things to do in a startup. Emails, admin work, product development, marketing, funding proposals, hiring/mentoring/firing, customer service—the list never ends.

But here’s the harsh truth: most of it isn’t moving the needle.

Founders often get stuck in the weeds, spending too much time on what’s urgent instead of what’s important. This is an area I'm trying to make regular improvements in. I know I'll likely never be perfect at this, but consistent regular improvements make a big difference.

This is where the 80/20 rule comes in:

🚀 20% of your actions will drive 80% of your results. Find those actions and make them your priority.

For most startups, those needle-moving activities look like:
✅ Talking to customers (not just building in a vacuum)
✅ Sales and revenue generation (because cash flow is life)
✅ Building the right relationships (mentors, partners, investors)
✅ Iterating on the product (based on real feedback, not assumptions)

Everything else? Either delegate it (if you can) or schedule it so it doesn’t eat up all your energy.

3. Action Without Strategy is Just a To-Do List

It’s easy to get caught up in doing things for the sake of being productive. But being busy and making progress are not the same thing.

Before you grind through another 12-hour workday, ask yourself:
🤔 Is this task actually moving me closer to my vision?
🤔 Would it matter if I didn’t do this today?
🤔 Is there a faster or smarter way to get this done?

A Founder’s job isn’t just to work hard—it’s to work on the right things at the right time.

4. The Vision vs. Reality Tug-of-War

Every Founder lives in two worlds:
✨ The world of what your business could be.
📊 The world of what your business actually is today.

Your job is to constantly bridge the gap between the two—without getting stuck in either one.

• If you focus only on the vision, you risk spinning in circles, never actually making progress.

• If you focus only on the grind, you risk losing sight of why you started in the first place.

The sweet spot? Zooming in and out.

🔍 Zoom In: Focus on what needs to happen this week, this month, this quarter to keep the business running.
🌍 Zoom Out: Step back regularly to make sure your actions align with your long-term vision.

This balance keeps you grounded in reality while still building something bigger than yourself.

5. When Reality Hits Hard, Let It Refine (Not Kill) the Dream

Spoiler alert: your startup will not unfold exactly how you envisioned it.

You’ll pivot. You’ll adjust. You'll evolve. You’ll realize some of your original idea kinda sucked. And that’s normal. That's fine!

Vision isn’t about sticking to a rigid idea. It’s about sticking to the mission while being flexible on the execution.

The best Founders aren’t the ones who never change course. They’re the ones who know when to adapt, when to double down, and when to throw out the old playbook entirely.

The Bottom Line: Dream Big, But Hustle Smarter

It’s not enough to be a visionary. It’s not enough to be a workhorse.

You need to be both.

Dream big, but don’t get lost in ideas. Hustle hard, but don’t grind yourself into the ground. Keep the vision clear, the goals realistic, and the focus sharp—and you’ll find a way to turn the dream into reality, one smart move at a time.

Yours in tourism, innovation and startups,

Founder & CEO
Roamlii