Dreams Don’t Work Unless You Do | Kevin Sutton

INTERVIEW TERRELL “ReaLife” BLACK PHOTOGRAPHER Sweets Devon Warren

In the world of music and entrepreneurship, talent alone is rarely enough. Many artists and creatives find themselves stuck on a “hamster wheel,” constantly producing work but unsure of how to turn their dreams into tangible success. Kevin Sutton knows this struggle firsthand, and he’s made it his mission to guide others through it.

In his new workbook, Dreams Don’t Work Unless You Do, Sutton combines personal experience, hard-earned lessons, and actionable strategies to help artists and entrepreneurs move from uncertainty to achievement. Designed to be 50% instruction and 50% hands-on work, the book challenges readers to examine their goals, define their business, and take concrete steps toward success.

In this interview with VALIDATED, Sutton discusses the inspiration behind the book, the mindset required to balance vision with action, and the daily habits that separate those who dream from those who achieve. From confronting fear and procrastination to building accountability and embracing failure, Sutton shares practical insights that can help anyone turn ambition into reality.

Whether you’re an aspiring artist, entrepreneur, or someone striving to reach the next level, this conversation provides a roadmap to move beyond excuses and start doing the work—because, as Sutton emphasizes, dreams don’t work unless you do.

VALIDATED: What inspired you to write Dreams Don’t Work Unless You Do?

KEVIN SUTTON: I see so many artists stuck on a hamster wheel—constantly putting out music without a real road map of where they’re going. Some get burned out, while others have hot records but don’t know what to do with them.

My mission is to help artists help themselves by providing a clear road map to success. This workbook is designed to be 50% instruction and 50% hands-on work. It challenges you to ask important questions: Is this truly a business? Are you simply playing in the studio? Or are you just hanging out with friends? Most importantly—what is your business, and how do you make money from it?

Through my own failures and successes, I’ve learned the importance of setting a clear course and working as hard as possible to achieve your goals. I’ve seen people’s dreams come true—and the common thread among every successful person I know is the same: work, belief, and direction.

VALIDATED: Can you share the moment when the title came to you, and what it means to you personally?

KEVIN SUTTON: I remember sitting in front of my computer, thinking about this book. I had carried the idea with me for at least five years.

The first thing that came to mind was, If this is truly a dream of mine, it won’t get done unless I put the work in.

This book is a personal goal I accomplished—a reminder that dreams don’t work unless you do!

VALIDATED: How much of the book is drawn directly from your own life experiences?

KEVIN SUTTON: Everything in this book is based on what I’ve seen and what I’ve gone through. It reflects the things I needed to know, the research I had to do for myself, and the soul-searching required for me to reach the next level.

VALIDATED: Did you have a specific reader in mind when writing this book?

KEVIN SUTTON: Entrepreneurs and artists with talent, but lost and unsure of where to go next or how to get there.

VALIDATED: Your title emphasizes both dreaming and doing—how do you balance vision with action?

KEVIN SUTTON: That’s a loaded question. Your vision has to be almost delusional in its ambition, yet grounded enough to recognize your realistic next step.

A perfect example: there are singers and rappers who may not be the most talented, yet they’ve made it onto the radio and onto big stages. How? Because they decided, “I’m going to be a star.” Then they followed it with, “I’ll do whatever it takes.” They booked studio time, connected with whoever they could, pushed their music into the right hands, and kept moving forward.

See my point? There are big dreams, but they’re built on small steps of accomplishment. There’s no single clear road, because every path is different.

VALIDATED: What’s one misconception people have about chasing their dreams?

KEVIN SUTTON: That is far from easy! Being an entrepreneur is so hard. Some days, you don’t even know where your next meal is coming from. People often think success happens overnight, but the truth is, it doesn’t.

There is a constant grind—a daily commitment to learning and growth. I’ll say this: if you don’t feel like doing it, that’s exactly when you need to push yourself to go do it. Self-doubt and excuses can easily become a crutch, causing you to delay your project or skip the learning sessions you should be attending.

VALIDATED: Can you share a personal story from the book that really embodies its message?

KEVIN SUTTON: I want people to purchase the book, but what I will say is this: when I was coming up in the industry, I used to rhyme—though very few people knew it.

VALIDATED: How do you address fear, doubt, or procrastination in the book?

KEVIN SUTTON: I remind people that fear is only about the unknown. The hardest part of doing a push-up is simply getting on the floor. The fear comes from believing you won’t be able to complete even one once you get down there.

VALIDATED: If someone finishes your book today, what’s the very first step you’d want them to take?

KEVIN SUTTON: Take a look at your surroundings and identify what is helping your success and what is hurting it.

Write down five action items for the week, five for the month, and five for the year. Then, start immediately—taking action in that very moment to begin crossing items off the list.

VALIDATED: How can readers keep themselves accountable when pursuing their goals?

KEVIN SUTTON: You should go back and review the chapters you’ve read and the goals you’ve accomplished in the book. The main reason this is called a workbook is because you actually have to do the work.

Go back and honestly review your statements. Find an accountability partner—someone who is not a “yes man.” This should be a person in your life who will say, “No, this is what you said you wanted, and this is what you were going to do.”

The main reason people fail is that they lie to themselves repeatedly. For example: “I’ll start this diet tomorrow.” “I’ll write that verse later.” “People are just hating—this is hot, I don’t need to study—experience is the best teacher.”

VALIDATED: What are some daily habits or practices you personally use to stay on track?

KEVIN SUTTON: Always find a way to learn something about your craft. When you are “outside,” ask yourself: What am I really doing here? Is this contributing to my success, or am I just having a good time? Am I helping others more than I am helping myself?

Every day, do at least one thing that gets you closer to your goal. Just one small action a day adds up—365 days of working toward your dreams!

VALIDATED: How do you recommend people push through when the “work” part gets overwhelming?

KEVIN SUTTON: Keep going! Not every day will be great. As entrepreneurs, you must take the good with the bad.

There will be times when you have so much on your plate that you feel like you want to drop it all. But if it were easy, everyone would do it!

Millionaires share one key trait: they make others work toward their vision, work smarter—not harder—and learn to delegate responsibilities to avoid burnout.

VALIDATED: What do you hope readers feel after turning the last page?

KEVIN SUTTON: Motivated!

VALIDATED: Have you seen examples of readers putting your advice into action?

KEVIN SUTTON: Yes! Shout out to Yung Dave 67. After reading the book, he has booked paying gigs, sold more T-shirts, and expanded his brand.

I can see the shift from hobby to business, and I am loving the growth.

VALIDATED: If you could sum up your book’s core message in one sentence, what would it be?

KEVIN SUTTON: DREAMS DON’T WORK UNLESS YOU DO!

That sums it up—plain and simple. If you put in the work, you will succeed. The only people who fail are the ones who quit. I promise you that.

VALIDATED: Do you see Dreams Don’t Work Unless You Do as just a book, or the start of a larger movement?

KEVIN SUTTON: It’s a workbook, a mindset, and hopefully a mindshift. This is more than a movement—it’s the physical act of moving forward and getting out of your own way.

VALIDATED: Where can people purchase the book, and how can they support you or contact you to inquire about your services?

KEVIN SUTTON: https://a.co/d/3WmrJL8  or www.1122mmg.com 

VALIDATED: Do you have any final thoughts you’d like to share?

KEVIN SUTTON: Please, I beg you to start and complete your vision—you will thank yourself later. I compare it to going to the gym: the first few weeks are hard, but then it gets easier. Once you see results, it motivates you to change everything about your life—your eating habits, your routines, everything.

When you stick with it, you get into the best shape of your life. You feel better, attract more people, and your confidence increases, which can even improve your finances—all because you took that first step and didn’t quit.

Now, look at the people who start and stop. They lose a little, gain a little, and then get frustrated. “My clothes don’t fit the same,” “The gym doesn’t work for me,” “I’m too old to work out,” “Being out of shape is in my genes,” “The fat looks good on me”—all types of excuses.

Deep down, you already know what you need to do and what you want to do. Go do it—because DREAMS DON’T WORK UNLESS YOU DO!