People say 'dream big,' that's kind of one of those motivational

In the words of Jim Nantz, the voice who for decades has narrated the triumphs of sport, we are given a truth that cuts deeper than common phrases: “People say ‘dream big,’ that’s kind of one of those motivational sayings, but I would dream hard, meaning I just wanted it so badly, I could feel it.” Here is a distinction that the ancients themselves would recognize—the difference between a dream that is light and distant, and a dream that burns so fiercely within the soul that it becomes hunger, breath, and heartbeat.

To dream big is to set the eye upon the horizon, to see visions of greatness that stretch beyond one’s reach. There is beauty in this, for it lifts the spirit beyond the smallness of daily life. Yet to dream hard is something greater. It is not to imagine idly, but to desire with every fiber of one’s being. It is to let the dream sink into the marrow of your bones, until the thought of not achieving it is more painful than the sacrifices required to pursue it. This is the dream that drives men to action, the dream that endures when obstacles rise like mountains.

Consider the story of Thomas Edison, who dreamed not only of invention, but burned with a relentless desire to bring light to the world. Thousands of failures met him, thousands of experiments died in his hands, yet he did not cease. He did not merely “dream big” of illuminating cities; he dreamed hard, feeling within him the necessity of success, the conviction that no matter the cost, he must prevail. And so he did, changing the world with light. His story is proof that dreaming hard gives birth to endurance, and endurance brings forth greatness.

The ancients themselves knew this difference. When Alexander the Great gazed upon the uncharted lands beyond Persia, he did not simply dream of empire as an idle fantasy. He desired it with such ferocity that he would march his men across deserts and mountains, refusing to rest until he had touched the edge of the known world. His was not the casual “dream big” of poets, but the burning “dream hard” of conquerors. And though his empire did not last, his name has endured for millennia, etched into the memory of mankind.

The meaning of Nantz’s words is this: dreams without passion are fragile, like smoke before the wind. They may inspire us for a moment, but when the trial comes, they fade. Yet dreams that are felt deeply—dreams that hurt, that hunger, that ache—these become forces that carry us through storm and shadow. To dream hard is to let your vision become a living fire inside you, so strong that it cannot be extinguished by failure, rejection, or time.

The lesson for us is clear: do not be content with dreaming big in words alone. Let your dreams cut into you until they shape your choices, your discipline, your very way of life. Ask yourself not only what you wish to achieve, but what you are willing to endure for it. For the man who dreams lightly will stop at the first hardship, but the man who dreams hard will rise a thousand times from defeat.

Practical counsel is this: choose one dream and write it not only on paper, but on your heart. Each day, take one step toward it, however small. When fatigue whispers, remind yourself that your dream is not a wish—it is a necessity. Surround yourself with reminders of it, feed your mind with stories of others who have walked the same path, and allow the ache of desire to drive you forward. This is how a dream becomes destiny.

Thus, Nantz’s words shine as a teaching for generations: do not dream as a pastime, dream as a warrior. Let your vision be not only vast, but urgent. Feel it in your blood, in your breath, in your bones. For the world is not changed by those who merely dream big—it is changed by those who dream hard, who want it so much that they can feel it, and who will not rest until it is made real.