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Take the Plunge Into Your
Dream Career
Find the courage to take that first step
By: Nancy A. Sullivan
“What do you want to be when you grow up?” That
was the question teachers loved to ask in elementary school.
It gave our imaginations the freedom to picture ourselves
as anything. A doctor, an astronaut, even President of
the United States. The possibilities were endless.
As we grow older we tend to only allow our imagination
to “dream” about practical things. Why should
that change? The possibilities are always endless no matter
how old we are. We spend the majority of our lives at our
job. Who wants to be miserable for most their life? A lot
of people stay at dead-end jobs because they are afraid
of trying something new, they have too many responsibilities
at home, or they don’t want to put themselves out
there in fear of failing. It all comes down to whether
or not we are fulfilled and happy. You wouldn’t stay
in a relationship that didn’t make you happy; the
same should go for your career.
Choosing a career, for some, can be as difficult as deciding
what to eat for dinner. Once you have found a career to
sink your teeth into it doesn’t get any easier. For
a lot of people; that is as far as they go. It’s
making the dream a reality that is the most difficult part.
The first thing a person should do is consult with anyone
they know that already has the job they want or be aggressive
and go out meet new people in the field you are looking
to get into. The pearls of wisdom you can obtain from someone
who has “been there” can be priceless if you
use the information to your advantage.
It’s important to have confidence and believe in
yourself. Tell yourself “I have something to offer
that nobody else can”. Don’t let the idea of
others being better than you get in the way. You have to
believe that you are the only one that is meant for this
job. If you don’t believe it the person on the other
side of the interview table certainly isn’t going
to.
Surround yourself with family and friends that believe
in you. They are your biggest fans and closest allies.
Let them be there to give you a shoulder to lean on when
you need it. I read on a fortune cookie a few years ago: “Don’t
give up. The beginning is always the hardest”. Taking
that first step is scary; you are committing yourself to
saying “This is who I am and who I hope to be”.
Your determination, talent, and most importantly your
persistence will take you far in your career. Don’t
stop setting goals for yourself either, even if you think
that you can go no farther. There is always something new
to be learned. Don’t ever stop dreaming of
the possibilities.
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