“An idea is a dream until you write it down, and then it’s a goal” is a saying that has been printed on many images. “It’s a dream until you write it down. Then it’s a goal,” Dallas Cowboy running back Emmitt Smith told Sports Illustrated on February 14, 1994.
 
NFL Hall of Fame football player Emmitt Smith used the quote many times, and he attributed it to his high school football coach, Dwight Thomas. “‘An idea is just a dream until you write it down…then its a goal’  -anonymous” was posted on Twitter by Chelsea Reilly on January 26, 2010.
   
   
Wikipedia: Emmitt Smith   
Emmitt James Smith III (born May 15, 1969) is a former college and professional American football running back who became the National Football League’s (NFL) all-time leading rusher during his fifteen seasons in the league during the 1990s and 2000s.
 
14 February 1994, Sports Illustrated (New York, NY), “A man of vision,” pp. 142-151:
I (Emmitt Smith—ed.) say: “It’s a dream until you write it down. Then it’s a goal.”
 
Google Books
Emmitt Smith:
Relentless Rusher
By Stew Thornley
Minneapolis, MN: Lerner Publications
1996    
Pg. 18:
When Emmitt’s freshman season began, Thomas handed out cards to the players so they could write down what they hoped to achieve. “It’s a dream until you write it down,” Thomas told the players. “Then it’s a goal.”
   
Google Books
Emmitt Smith
By Richard Rambeck
Chanhassen, MN: Child’s World
1998
Pg. 16:
He also listened to his coaches, one of whom told him, “It’s a dream until you write it down. Then it’s a goal.”
   
Google Books
Wake-up Calls
By Joan Lunden
New York, NY: McGraw-Hill
2001  
Pg. 29:
It’s a dream until you write it down…then it’s a goal. — Unknown
     
Twitter
JHolty
@JHolty
A dream is a dream until you write it down..then it becomes a goal.
11:51 AM - 10 Jan 2009
   
Twitter
Allyson Spellman
@AllysonSpellman
It’s a dream until you write it down, and then its a goal.
10:17 AM - 7 Apr 2009
 
Twitter
Chelsea Reilly
@Chelsea_Reilly1
“An idea is just a dream until you write it down…then its a goal”  -anonymous
5:25 PM - 26 Jan 2010
 
WWNN (UK) 
Emmitt Smith’s Hall of Fame Speech
Written by: Charles Martel on 8th August 2010
(...)
Thank you to my high school coach Dwight Thomas for teaching me how to set goals, become a team player, and to shine the spotlight upon others such as my offensive linemen.
(...)
For example, I wrote down my goals and how I was going to achieve them because Dwight Thomas used to tell us, It’s only a dream until you write it down, and then it becomes a goal.
 
The Portgual News
Dreams and goals
By Advertiser, in Sport · 07-09-2017 12:47:00
They say, “An idea is just a dream until you write it down, then it’s a goal.” When you write down your intentions it’s a signal to the world what you are about to do. This is a very important process when coaching.
 
Pro Player Insiders
Emmitt Smith; Life after Football
Posted on Monday, September 18th, 2017 at 1:50 pm.
Written by Fago Franklin
Dallas Cowboys Hall of Famer Emmitt Smith had an iconic career on the field, but after he retired he turned a different direction and excelled
(...)
One of Emmitt’s quotes that he uses to inspire others to pursue their dreams is, “It’s a dream until you write it down and then it becomes a goal. Every day we have to be motivated to do something for ourselves and others.”
 
Twitter
Mark Laing MBA
@mark_laing
‘It’s a dream until you write it down, and then it’s a goal’. Anon #quote
10:17 PM - 30 Jun 2019