How do you transform dreams and vague plans into real aims?
And how do you get yourself on the way reaching 'em?
Depends.
I have two sorts of interests.
1) The recurring ones. If you make a graph out of them, they look like a sinusoid.
2) The short-lived passions. A graph of them would look like a sharp gaussian.
If I get a crazy idea that takes a LOT of work, I bounce it around in my head for a while before I try to realize it. I would make some sketches or preparations, but nothing too time-consuming.
After a while, I can tell which category of interest the crazy idea belongs to.
If it's in a recurring interest, I start right away.
If the crazy idea connects with a short-lived passion, I either abandon it or I chip it down to a plan which is feasible in a short amount of time.
This doesn't work always, but it does help! Let me give some examples.
1) Writing. I've written a novel. I'm writing a second one. I've been working on it, on-and-off, for two years now. Both "writing" and the story are recurring.
2) The Christmas present I made for my husband. My first idea would take a very long time and I knew right away I'd lose interest in it. I let it mull around in my head for a while, not consciously thinking about it, and after a while it has spawn 1000 new ideas. One of them met my requirements: easy enough to make, not too much work, husband will probably appreciate it,... I've made the present in under two hours.
3) The Halloween comic I've posted on this forum. I know my MBTI interest will not last. I was NOT going to draw it, because I didn't want to commit my time to something I would probably lose interest in. But then people asked me to draw. I've got positive reactions. That helps, too.
I guess in function language it would read something like this.
Let Ne run wild but don't listen - just get on with your boring day-to-day work to keep your environment happy.
Let Ti select the feasible ideas.
This works well, until Fe shows up. If Fe gets triggered by compliments it will side with Ne and no amount of reason will stop them!