How many times have you dreamed of doing something different with your career? Your life?
You stare out the window while the computer pings new messages. The office buzzes with sounds while your mind wanders as you think, “What if..?”
If I’ve learned one thing from my life and career so far, it’s that dreams are just that: dreams.
Nothing’s going to happen unless we take the steps to make it happen.
I can hear you now – or maybe it’s the voices in your head – crying some version of, “But how?”
Quite frankly, I don’t know how. That’s because I don’t know exactly what your dreaming about.
What I do know is this: there are endless possibilities out there for all of us, just waiting to happen. Pursuing these possibilities takes a few steps. Specifically, we need a plan to pursue our dreams. Or to see if it’s possible for the dream to become a reality.
Assuming you have a dream you want to pursue, consider the following:
Step 1: Research your dream
For example, if you want to become a dog walker for a living, research the competition in your area. Visit with them. Determine the pay scale. Is the market saturated with dog walkers? Is the wage realistic for full-time work or is this a part-time gig?
Step 2: Develop a business plan
This includes any funding you might need, creative/marketing plans, legal work, etc. Include metrics for success and time frames for accomplishing your goals.
Step 3: Share your plan with a TRUSTED partner
Not someone you just met at a bar who claims to know something about business. This person should be someone you know well and trust implicitly. Someone who also knows you very well, what you excel at, and what you don’t. This person needs to provide constructive criticism and ideas and be strong enough to say, “No, this is not a good idea”. You need to be strong enough to hear what this person has to say.
Step 4: Gain the support of your spouse/partner
Taking a leap of faith and leaving a salaried position, or taking on a part-time role affects the family. It’s always better if everyone is on board.
Step 5: Have an exit strategy; a Plan B.
What will you do if things don’t work out or you decide the “dream” is not what you expected?
Bottom line: I’m a firm believer in trying something new, especially when it comes to a well-thought-out career move. So, wake-up, make a plan, and give it your best shot to turn your dream career into a reality.
No regrets, right?
Like Tami, I was terminated once (By my best friend, BTW – he is now on the board of the agency I lead, so I got him back – ha!), but you don’t have to be unemployed to learn something from this book. 
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