It’s not just a distant, imagined fairytale to actually work in the job you dreamed of.
There are so many people in the world doing just that. Waking up each and every morning excited and grateful to be going to work doing something they are genuinely passionate about. So much of the time, we brush this off as a childish idea.
Why do we still take it as a normal thing to be in a job that you don’t really like all that much?
That’s a waste of a life, we say. And you know this too.
We all deserve to be doing something we love. When we truly have a passion for the work we are doing, then we put the effort in. We get very good at doing that. We don’t count down the days for the weekend. We don’t grumble when we wake up on a workday.
Do you want this feeling? To walk out of your home with a spring in your step in total happiness for how you’ll be spending your day? It’s possible.
So if you’re stuck in a dead-end job that doesn’t inspire or excite you, maybe it’s time to consider other options. After all, if you stay there, then you are the one making yourself stay there. Plain and simple.
Where do we start? Go back to school? See a career advisor? It can be daunting to consider starting again. Or for those who are fresh out of education, it is still a scary thing to wonder what is right for us, and how to break the barriers that are holding you back from a life you love, keeping you locked into the normal, run-of-the-mill, working role.
It requires courage, for one. And determination. Going after what you love may not always be the easiest decision or thing to create. Once you get there, however (and you will, because you love it!), nothing can beat that feeling. Because you would’ve created a life that is enjoyable, rich, rewarding and on purpose. YOUR purpose.
So to help get you started on this path to really landing that dream job, you need to have a sense of what your dream job actually is, so that you can start the process of going after it. We get that this is a big question to ask.
Though all of us have a sense of what we are interested in, and what kind of actions made us happy and hold value for us.
What is also valuable here is to also consider not only what you do love, but also the kinds of careers and work schedule that you don’t like. If you like order and systematic ways of working, for example, then maybe a set 9-5, 40-hr work week is something that can work well for you in a job. If variety is something you crave and hold as very important for your inspiration and sense of freedom, then something that is a little more open and free for you to choose your work hours and set your schedule is something you need to consider when looking at potential careers.
All too often we make compromises in going into a line of work or particular job when we think it may just be for the ‘experience’ or for the short-term, and then 10 years down the track we realise we are in the same place, and leaving this role would be so much harder than staying. It would be great to prevent this before it even happens – but in the case that you are in a career crisis that you wish to change, which is why you’re reading this, then know that it can be done. Assessing and reassessing your true desires for work is the first step to make your change.
We’ve got a few questions for you to consider that can really help boil down these points for you to get clear on your passions skills, preferences and non-negotiables in work.
#1: Do you prefer solo work (introvert’s preference), or working on a team with lots of human interaction and collaboration (extroverts)?
#2: Is the location of this job (where you’ll be working) an important factor for you? Or do you not really care as much about where the work is?
#3: What is on the top of your list when you consider what you really want from a job? (For example – that the work is meaningful, that it is of service to the world, that it pays well, that you have the opportunity to advance and grow, that you enjoy your work friends and community etc.).
#4: What kind of salary do you desire? Get clear on the bare minimum you would comfortably accept, and the salary that would really make you feel great.
So #4 is a big one. When we consider salary, it can be the breaking point for us in a decision to take a job we don’t love, or to stay in that job even when something we are more in line with comes along. Money makes a difference, AND it can keep us locked into a situation where we are ultimately unhappy, which then makes us wonder – what was the money even for?
When it comes down to it – happiness (and a safe standard of living, of course) is key. Beyond being able to pay for life, we want a good pay because there’s the belief that with good money comes a happier life (more things to do, own, etc.). Shift your focus here. If you are working in a job that is already making you happy, the money is secondary. It doesn’t mean that it isn’t important and that you can’t go after a high wage. It just means that it is not the deciding factor, promising you riches of joy, despite the fact that you are miserable in your work.
The people who are some of the most successful financially, are often doing something they love. When you truly love and care about your work, then it is much more accessible for you to really make that money.
