What’s your fuel to achieve your dreams?

There is a quote that I absolutely love and resonates with me on so many different levels: “It’s easy to dream about it, but much harder to execute it.” (Gary Vaynerchuk)

(As an FYI for those who don’t know who he is, Gary Vaynerchuk is an entrepreneur, CEO, investor, author, public speaker, and internet personality. Vaynerchuck now runs VaynerMedia, one of the world’s hottest digital agencies.)

Now back to the dealio: I refuse to give in to the notion that when someone else tells you that you cannot do something — that we simply give up and give in to that new reality. Besides, that’s just that one person’s opinion … right?

When I woke up out of my surgical-shoulder-party-of-one-surgery … My doctor reminded me: “Now, you have two screws in your shoulder and shouldn’t do blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.” (He totally sounded like a creepy-dude in a tunnel)

Anyway … I’m sure I was drooling all over myself with zero makeup and messed-hair. I’m certain the word, “Nuh uh” rolled off my tongue because of the way he frowned down at me. That was then. This is now.

I am doing that thing you told me not to do. And that thing, and oh yeah, THAT thing, too.

It is still easier for me to lay around in my baggy sweats, watching Lifetime movies and dream about being in better shape but, much harder to execute and actually do the thing I promised myself that I would do. Regardless of what is easy and what is hard — the little competitor in me always looks for the fuel. Feel free to tell me that I can’t do something. I’ll do it twice, and take pictures.

Folks: The next time someone tells you that you can’t — use that as your fuel and stop settling for that to be your new norm. Not cool.

Natalie Dreger is a certified trainer and can be reached at nataliedreger.com.