Many people will admit that they have caught themselves daydreaming during work hours, dreaming of something else, of something different. A job where they feel fulfilled, valued, excited to go to on Monday mornings. A job that brings out the best of them and they bring the best of themselves to. A job that sustains their life and feeds their soul. But *snap* their attention comes back to the job at hand and they quickly dismiss the possibility of pursing the dream.
So do dream jobs really exist or are they an illusion, overly promoted by motivational speakers? The good news is that they can. The question is, are you willing to make the trade offs to allow that dream to come true? Dream jobs most often don’t land in our laps. They require time, hard work and trade offs.
First take the time to dream. Dream about possibilities without boundaries. Be careful not to quickly squelch or dismiss options. There are always options. Take time for assessment and self discovery to truly understand yourself, your skills, and your values, as these will anchor you in the process. Be realistic about what you want and need from a job and what you are willing to trade for it. Too often external factors influence career decisions vs personal values.
Second, know that there may be many steps between now and the dream job. A plan to realize that dream job will likely require a multi-step plan, that could take months maybe even years. It may require skill enhancement, more education, maybe relocation. The path to cultivating your dream job will be hard work, but work well spent.
Thirdly once you are clear about what your dream job looks like and what it takes to realize it, now ask yourself what are you willing to trade for it. Are you willing to trade a higher salary for a more fulfilling job? Are you willing to learn a new craft even if it means starting over? Are you willing to give up security for something new?
Dream jobs aren’t always perfect jobs 100% of the time. Dream jobs have their challenges. But if at the end of the day, you sit back feeling satisfied and restored and find yourself saying, “today was a good day” for most days, you are living the dream.
Good Luck and Sweet Dreams!