“Some people dream of success; others stay awake and achieve it” (also, “Some people dream of success, while others wake up and work hard at it” or “Some people dream of great accomplishments, while others stay awake and do them”) is a motivational saying that has been printed on many posters. “Some people dream of success. Others keep awake and achieve it” was cited in newspapers in 1914.
 
However, the saying appears to have been rarely used until it was repopularized in 1994. “Some people dream of great accomplishments while others stay awake to do them” was cited in January 1995. “Some people dream of success…while others wake up and work hard at it” was cited in June 1995, when it was featured on the cover of a catalog. “Some people dream of success while others wake up and work hard” was cited from a wall poster in December 1995.
 
 
Old Fulton NY Post Cards
2 June 1914, Yonkers (NY) Statesman, pg. 2, col. 1:
Some people dream of success. Others keep awake and achieve it.
     
Google News Archive
1 July 1914, Sydney (Australia) Mail, “Humour,” pg. 2, col. 2:
Some people dream of success. Others keep awake and achieve it.
 
16 September 1980, Washington (DC) Star, pg. D-8, col. 2 classified ad:
Some people dream of success; others pursue it.
 
Google Groups: alt.sexual.abuse.recovery
I’m sorry
Tara Leigh Boe
1/7/95
(...)
RISK: some people dream of great accomplishments while others stay awake to do them.
 
1 June 1995, Medicine Hat (Alberta) News, “Motivational words to get you going” by Ken MacQueen, pg. A10, col. 2:
The cover of the 32-page spring catalogue shows a framed poster of a sun-dappled golf green with a few footprints marking the early morning dew. “Success,” it says with plenty of portentous capital letters. “Some People Dream of Success . . . While Others Wake Up And Work Hard At It.”
(Successories catalogue.—ed.)
 
Google News Archive
28 December 1995, Milwaukee (WI) Journal-Sentinel, “Her goal is teaching Healthy Weighs: Weight-loss class emphasizes diet, exercise and education” by Heidi F. Schudrowitz, Neighbors-Southwest, pg. 14, col. 3:
On the walls, posters spoke to the importance of positive thinking: “Some people dream of success while others wake up and work hard” and “Get the Power.”
 
Google Groups uw.math.tsa
Netscape
Rob McCarter
5/13/96
(...)
—Favourite Quotes————————————————————————-
- Some people dream of success, others stay up and make it happen.
 
Google Books
Why Climb the Corporate Ladder When You Can Take the Elevator?:
500 Secrets for Success in Business
By John M. Capozzi
Fairfield, CT: JMC Industries
1997, ©1994
Pg. ?:
Some executives dream of success while others stay awake and achieve it.
 
Twitter
Wellz
‏@wellzy718
RT @DearSommer: RT @DjSuperstarJay: #superstaradvice Some people dream of success others stay awake to achieve it http://myloc.me/3fXYq
10:33 AM - 27 Jan 2010
 
Twitter
Fitness Motivator
‏@Fit_Motivator
Some people dream of success… others stay awake to achieve it. -Unknown
4:02 PM - 14 Oct 2014