The Truth About Dreams

07-29-2025

Being an entrepreneur takes more than passion.

If you live in the United States, you may not know Simon Squibb. He’s a UK entrepreneur worth over $500 million. His success began early, as he launched a gardening business at the age of 15, despite being homeless and ineligible for work. Over time, he founded 19 companies and invested in more than 70 startups. One standout win was selling his creative agency, Fluid, to PwC in 2015. Now, he’s written What’s Your Dream?: Find Your Passion. Love Your Work. Build a Richer Life. That story sounds magical, but being an entrepreneur involves much more than a dream.

Some dreams require more than funding.

Simon is an expert self-promoter. On TikTok and YouTube, he runs around asking strangers what their dream is. Then he surprises them with startup money to help chase it. While entertaining, this approach skips over critical steps. Having a dream is wonderful. Acting on one is admirable. But not every idea is practical—or profitable.

Passion doesn’t always equal a paycheck.

There’s nothing wrong with wanting to help others. I feel that deeply, too. But we must also inject some reality. Just because someone dreams of doing something doesn’t mean it can pay the bills—viability matters. So do timing, skills, and commitment.

Passion without numbers is just a hobby.

Take fishing, for example. I might love to fish and dream of becoming a professional bass fisherman. Yet the financial reality hits hard. Entry fees, gear, travel, and maintenance can total $70,000 annually.

Few pros make a full-time income.

Approximately 300 professional anglers compete in elite circuits such as the Bassmaster and the NPFL. However, only 10–15% of them earn enough to do it full-time. That means maybe 30 to 45 anglers in the entire country truly make a living from bass fishing.

Being an entrepreneur is not for everyone.

So again, I’m not bashing Simon. He means well. But asking “What’s your dream?” without vetting feasibility lacks depth. Not everyone is built to own a business. That doesn’t make them less capable—it just means we all have different paths.

Real entrepreneurs respect the grind.

Being an entrepreneur takes grit, risk, skill, and timing—not just inspiration. That’s the truth about dreams, and it’s a truth worth respecting.

If you have any questions or comments, please don't hesitate to contact me. Additionally, please explore the rest of my blog and website to see if any of this information can be helpful to you.

To learn more, visit the blog life, reflection, and faith.