Are we dreaming big enough?

Arab News

23-05-2025

Recently, I came across a post online in which the writer shared a conversation with his son about choosing a future college major. What began as a simple question — 'What do you want to study?' — quickly turned into a deeper reflection about goals, purpose and how we plan for the future.
It resonated deeply with me and got me thinking, not just because of the topic itself, but because of how often we tend to limit ourselves without realizing it.
Many people, whether students, professionals or parents, set goals that feel safe, familiar, and easy to achieve. While there is nothing wrong with celebrating progress or enjoying small victories, we rarely stop to ask ourselves: Is this goal truly the best we can aim for, or simply the most convenient?
When the goal is too small, the effort to reach it will be just as small. And thus we often ignore a bigger truth: We were capable of so much more. A simple goal leads to simple preparation. A low bar leads to a low ceiling.
As a result, we may reach our goals and still find ourselves underwhelmed, not because we failed, but because we never pushed ourselves toward our full potential. We plan within a narrow frame, not realizing the only thing limiting us is our own expectations.
Another equally important dimension is how short-sighted our planning can become. We often focus only on the immediate next step, whether it is passing an exam, getting a degree, landing a job or securing a promotion, without pausing to ask what happens after.
Caught up in short-term milestones, we rarely take the time to think about the bigger picture. What kind of life do we truly want to build? Where do we see ourselves five, 10 or 20 years from now?
In the absence of long-term vision, it becomes easy to spend years climbing a ladder of success, only to discover too late that it was leaning against the wrong wall. Sometimes, the wisest move is not to keep climbing, but to step down, take a breath, and check the wall. If the path ahead does not feel aligned with our deeper goals, then it is not only okay, it is necessary to adjust and proceed differently.
That realization requires a pause, a moment of courage to reassess where we are really headed. While many people fear adjusting course, believing it signals failure, the truth is often the opposite. Changing direction can be a powerful act of self-awareness. It allows us to correct our course before reaching a destination that no longer fulfills us.
I say this not as a theory, but from personal experience. I began my academic journey with a degree in chemical engineering, followed by a master's in construction engineering and management. Interestingly, I never actually worked in either of those fields. Over time, I discovered that what truly interested me was not traditional engineering work, but the space where engineering meets technology and systems thinking.
Today, I work as a petroleum engineering applications specialist. I achieved this role by blending my academic background with the areas I genuinely enjoyed. Although I do not write code, I have immersed myself in the technical and analytical aspects of the field. I taught myself what I needed to know, stayed curious, and kept growing.
Some might say I stepped down from the ladder that was leaning against the first wall. But I took with me all the knowledge, courage and soft skills I had built and used them to climb a different wall that aligned more closely with who I am. The best part is that I am still climbing it with joy, energy and purpose, celebrating new milestones along the way.
One powerful example of this is the story of Steve Jobs. After being ousted from Apple, the company he co-founded, many assumed it would be the end of his influence in the tech world. But instead of giving up, Jobs used that time to explore new ventures.
He launched NeXT and invested in Pixar, both of which would later play pivotal roles in shaping technology and entertainment. His return to Apple years later was not just a comeback; it was a reinvention fueled by clarity, vision and a deeper understanding of purpose. His journey reminds us that stepping off the ladder is not the end. Sometimes, it is about how you find the right wall against which to lean it.
Ultimately, true success is not defined by speed or status. It is defined by alignment. Are we pursuing something that truly matters? Are we thinking big enough, and far enough ahead, to build a future we will not regret? These are questions we all need to ask ourselves from time to time. Because it is not just about getting somewhere. It is about making sure we are heading in the right direction.
• Firas Abussaud is a petroleum engineering systems specialist with more than 22 years of experience in the industry.