The Subtle Forces of Goals, Aspirations, and Dreams

There are moments when we pause, caught between the practicalities of life and the whispers of something greater. In those moments, what drives us becomes clear—not always immediately, but in the quiet corners of our minds, we start to understand. For some, it’s the steady, reassuring rhythm of goals—tangible, practical, a checklist to be conquered. For others, it’s the fleeting, yet profound nature of aspirations—shifting, evolving, like the gentle pull of the tide, always moving, always changing. And then there are those whose dreams stretch so far beyond the horizon that they dare to touch the stars, even if they’ve yet to build the rocket. Dreams, aspirations, and goals—they nudge us in subtle ways, pushing us toward something more, something greater, whether we realize it or not.

The Convenor: A Quiet Force of Goals

There are people who move through life with a quiet determination, setting goals with the precision of a master craftsman. They don’t announce their ambitions loudly; they don’t parade their plans for the world to see. Instead, they speak them as if they’re the punchline of a joke, a casual remark, and then—somehow, impossibly—they achieve them. Take, for example, my friend, The Convenor. He once floated the idea of climbing Mount Everest as if it were no more serious than choosing a weekend destination. “I’m thinking about Everest,” he said, with a smile that barely hinted at the determination beneath. I laughed it off, of course. But a few months later, on my birthday, I received a call—not from a cozy apartment, but from Base Camp itself. The joke, it turned out, was a prelude to one of the most remarkable achievements I’ve ever witnessed. The Convenor had done it. And this wasn’t just about climbing Everest—it was about how he approached every goal, big or small. Quietly setting his sights on something, working relentlessly toward it, and seeing it through with a resilience that never faltered. People like The Convenor don’t shout about their goals—they just make them happen. Through their actions, they nudge the world, one small ripple at a time. They don’t need validation, and they don’t need applause. Their process is intangible, but their impact is undeniable.

At work, the Convenor is the unsung hero, the one who quietly takes charge of a project without needing to be asked. He’s not the loudest voice in the room, but when it’s time to get things done, he steps up and delivers with meticulous attention to detail. The Convenor thrives in environments where personal accountability is key. He doesn’t need others to hold him accountable—he does that himself. His colleagues may not always realize the depth of his commitment until they see the results: a project completed ahead of schedule, an obstacle navigated with calm precision. His work ethic sets a subtle example, showing others that goals are achieved not with fanfare but with steady, consistent action. And while he may not demand recognition, he earns it, quietly earning the admiration of his peers, not by what he says, but by what he accomplishes.

The Empress: Dreams That Reach Beyond the Clouds

And then there’s a different kind of force—the kind that is unapologetically grand, the kind that dares to dream in technicolour. The Empress, for instance, was a person whose dreams were larger than life, far beyond the reach of what most would call practical. I met her in a library in Oxford, and she was the embodiment of ambition without restraint. She didn’t just dream; she lived her dreams, even before they existed in the world. Her methods were unorthodox—while The Convenor quietly worked towards his goals, The Empress spoke of hers with an enthusiasm so infectious it made everything seem possible. She followed Bob Proctor’s visualization techniques with the devotion of a believer, repeating them like a mantra, shaping her reality with every thought. She wasn’t interested in the process; to her, the dream was the process. And though she may not have had a rigid plan in place, she carried herself with a confidence that made the impossible feel inevitable. There’s a certain kind of magic in The Empress’s approach—a kind of delusion that, in its own way, turns into reality. Her dreams weren’t just big; they were transformative. And against all odds, she made them real. People like The Empress nudge the world with their boldness, daring us to dream a little bigger, to reach a little higher, even when the path ahead is uncertain.

In the workplace, the Empress is the one who inspires. She’s the spark, the visionary who looks beyond the present, imagining possibilities that no one else has considered. Her dreams are big, often grandiose, and while others may doubt her methods, there’s an undeniable magnetism to her approach. The Empress thrives in creative environments where innovation and thinking outside the box are celebrated. She’s the one who’s not afraid to push boundaries, to take risks, to suggest ideas that others might dismiss as too far-fetched. While the Convenor’s path is precise and measured, the Empress’s is adventurous, sometimes chaotic but always compelling. Her enthusiasm can be infectious, nudging others to take bolder steps in their own careers, even if it’s just for the thrill of the chase. Where others might focus on process, she focuses on possibility—on the dream that can become a reality if only one dares to believe in it.

The General: Aspiring, Yet Unbound

But not all are driven by the grand, nor are they focused solely on the pragmatic. There’s a middle ground, a space where aspirations ebb and flow with the tides of time. The General, whom I met at work, is the embodiment of this balance. His aspirations weren’t etched in stone; they were fluid, evolving as he moved through different phases of life. He wasn’t driven by a single, grandiose goal, nor was he compelled by the relentless pursuit of a dream. His aspirations were about progress, about becoming better—not just in career but in life. Perhaps he wanted to own a villa, or perhaps he wanted to be invited to the right parties—what he aspired to changed, depending on where he stood in any given moment. One year, he might aim for the role of CMO, and the next, he’d be content with the idea of a new startup venture. There was no urgency in his ambitions, no burning need to prove anything. Instead, there was a slow, steady progress—a commitment to self-improvement, even if it didn’t always manifest in dramatic ways. The General wasn’t one to broadcast his aspirations; they were personal, like quiet thoughts shared only with those who asked. But in his steady, measured approach to life, he created an example that nudged others to reflect on their own paths, their own aspirations. He may not have shouted his ambitions to the world, but his quiet consistency created a ripple that others couldn’t help but notice.

At work, The General is the steady presence, the one who adapts to change with ease.

He’s not in a rush to climb the corporate ladder, but when he does move, it’s with intention. His goals may not always be as specific as those of The Convenor or as grand as those of The Empress, but they’re grounded in a desire for continuous self-improvement. The General excels in environments that offer room for growth without the pressure of constant, lofty expectations. He’s the one who quietly works behind the scenes, always learning, always evolving. His colleagues respect him not for any single achievement but for his consistent, measured progress. He may not always nudge others to chase audacious dreams, but his calm approach to aspiration reminds others that progress doesn’t have to be dramatic—it can be steady, gentle, and deeply fulfilling.

The Subtle Nudge: How These Forces Shape Us

What’s fascinating is how these different forces don’t just shape the lives of those who possess them—they nudge the lives of those around them as well. The Convenor, with his methodical pursuit of goals, inspires through quiet action. His achievements don’t just happen—they’re earned, one step at a time, and in watching him, we realize that we, too, can accomplish what we set out to do. The Empress, with her boundless vision and infectious belief, encourages us to dream bigger, to embrace a little bit of that magic and delusion that makes the impossible feel within reach. And The General, with his steady progress and shifting aspirations, teaches us that it’s okay to be fluid, to evolve, and to grow at our own pace.

These forces, in their subtle ways, create ripples that move through the lives of others. They nudge us, not with words, but with actions, with confidence, with the quiet conviction that we, too, can be more than we are today. The Convenor may not ask for applause, but his quiet determination leaves an impression that lingers long after the goal is achieved. The Empress may not always follow a plan, but her boldness encourages us to dream bigger and without apology. And The General? He nudges us to embrace the process, to keep moving forward, even if the destination is always shifting.

Goals, aspirations, and dreams—they shape us, they guide us, and they nudge us, sometimes without us even realizing it. They are the quiet forces that push us toward something more. And in the end, perhaps that’s all we really need—to be nudged, ever so gently, toward the best version of ourselves.

Disclaimer: I am no psychologist. This was an observational essay I wrote for a class on how I view people and how they approach ambition. Originally written in 2024.

P.S. Dedicated to the Convenor, Empress, and General.