Stop dreaming and start doing

I’m pretty sure a lot of us get to the point in our lives where we dream of something bigger and better when it comes to our careers. No matter how cushy a job may seem, do you find yourself wanting to work somewhere better or do something different? You know, the metaphorical greener grass?

You can actually make your dream job a reality. I had a long hard ponder on it and realised that no matter what, we tend to get bored and wish for the next new thing. So why not make sure that we’re seeking what it is that we really want - not what we’re convincing ourselves that we want, or what looks good from the outside.

Whatever the discipline, you can turn things that you enjoy into a career. If you really want it, you can find a way.

Here are some pointers to help steer you in the right direction.

Note: I too am taking these steps.

These tips can help you find your way to a happier and less stressful work life:

1) Ask yourself "What do I really want to do?": what makes you happy? One of the fasttrack solutions to manifesting your dream is to take something that you enjoy doing and make a career out of it. In doing so, the "work" doesn't feel like work so to speak - it's something that brings contentment anyway. The benefit of this is that you can now make money doing what you do for fun. What can feel better than getting paid to do what you do for fun?! #DreamJob

2) Break it down into actionable steps: sometimes looking at the big picture can be daunting; it's easy to get overwhelmed and feel intimidated. Breaking it down into a series of smaller steps makes it less daunting and much easier to manage as you progress forward. You wouldn’t expect to be able to eat a whole cow in one sitting, but via a succession of burgers and steaks you can eventually consume the equivalent.

Shoutout to the non-meat eaters who were able to open their minds to the analogy.

The actionable steps approach will also boost your self-esteem and confidence. You may feel a sense of pride in knowing that a step has been completed. The fact that you're accomplishing what you set out to do will also enhance the feeling of gratification and confidence.

3) Don't be afraid to start low on the totem pole: some ‘undesirable’ work may be involved no matter what field you work in. Approach it as an initiation ritual of sorts. It could be a lower end job at the company you really want to work for - it still gets your foot in the door and, in time, you can make your way up the ladder. How else are you going to be in the right place at the right time?

4) Find a mentor: mentors are golden when it comes to getting your dream job. They accomplish a dual purpose of showing you the ropes and helping you to attain the required skills, while also acting as a great reference for when the big moment does come. If you're having trouble finding a suitable mentor, a good role model or icon will work just as well - you could aim to follow in the footsteps of your favorite performer in your desired field, for example if you are into music you could follow in the footsteps of your most esteemed musician.

5) Ignore the pessimists: this is probably the biggest one for me. You may face negative feedback from cynics and even friends and family. For example, if you want to write a novel or work for NASA, you may be asked what your "real" job is or you may be reminded about how unlikely it'll be that you'll land such a job. Detach from such comments.

• Always acknowledge that your goal is in the sphere of possibility, it may take some legwork to break into the field, but it can be done. Books get published all the time and there are more than a few staff at NASA. Just saying.
• Remind yourself that it's what you want to do. Think of the benefits you'll enjoy once you succeed. In this instance, remind yourself how amazing it will feel to have a copy of your book in your hand!

Your dream job may appear to be a challenge to acquire, it might even have you feeling like a contender in Takeshi's Castle! Nevertheless, it's possible to attain, no matter how high the marker may appear. Put in the effort and follow a set of simple guidelines to keep you on track; you can find yourself landing the dream job you always desired

Today’s random-ish link looks at 12 hobbies from which you can make money ; it’s actually not random at all. Don’t worry - the next one will be, promise!

Keep up with my selfie shenanigans on my modelling profile on Insta: @althie_model

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About the author [that would be me]: I am a Senior Project Manager by day; by night (aka any other time), you can find me lifting heavy metal things (aka powerlifting), threatening to dust off my belt in the name of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (I will make myself re-worthy of my blue belt), or finding ways to get in front of a camera and labelling it as modelling in some way shape or form.

I started writing to build on my modelling portfolio, and it reminded me of how much I love to write. I will continue to write as my model portfolio grows, just so that you can get to know the real me x

References:

• Photo by Nadi Lindsay from Pexels - https://www.pexels.com/@nadi-lindsay-1130679?utm_content=attributionCopyText&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=pexels
• Photo by Jason Leung on Unsplash - https://unsplash.com/@ninjason?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText
• Photo by Glenn Carstens-Peters on Unsplash - https://unsplash.com/@glenncarstenspeters?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText
• Photo by Christina Morillo from Pexels - https://www.pexels.com/@divinetechygirl?utm_content=attributionCopyText&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=pexels
• Photo by SOULSANA on Unsplash - https://unsplash.com/@soulsana?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText