I’m in the process of reading a book called “The Career Guide for Creative and Unconventional People” by Carol Eikleberry, PhD to help me sort out my next steps in finding my true calling. I believe writing is only part of what I want to do, but I guess I’ve been so ingrained with the business world’s non-creative positions I’m a little afraid of making the full-time leap to a creative field. I have so many interests to apply my creative abilities to that I almost feel like I’m unable to make any decisions as to what I really want to do!
What I have realized is I have to be patient with myself, which is no easy feat. I am normally very impatient, getting easily frustrated when things don’t go the way I planned in the timeframe I worked out. I believe in myself and my capabilities and that I will someday be very successful at what I love; I just have to realize it won’t happen by tomorrow. If anyone has any success stories to share, please do so! I’m always inspired by those who had a dream and watched it come to fruition.
Showing posts with label dreams. Show all posts
Showing posts with label dreams. Show all posts
Monday, November 17, 2008
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Looking for the dream job
In keeping with my personal philosophy, “If you are not happy, move on”, I decided this week that if telework is so important to me, I need to start looking for it now. My hope
was my current office would consider adopting it, but it doesn’t look like that is going to happen. In my years of working I have always sacrificed some personal beliefs and/or desires believing that doing so is a normal way of life. However, I can no longer deny these beliefs because doing so is making me one miserable individual! I also fight the tendency to ruminate over how I should have done this years ago. I know I’m not the only one who is in the same predicament so here is my personal list of steps to take to make your dream job a reality:
1. Do not deny your personal beliefs and desires! In order to be happy, you must hold these sacred and search for the right company/institution that honors your beliefs and desires. In a quick search online, I found over the course of this weekend that these types of companies do exist! Start your search at: http://http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/bestcompanies/2008. From here you can plug in “perks” you are looking for in a company and it delivers the specific companies to match those perks you find important.
2. Realize that the perfect company to work for may be you! This is something I am seriously considering and right now I’m in the process of developing exactly what I would like to do. This includes market research and developing a business plan. If you are serious about starting your own business, I suggest one of your first steps should be to meet with your local Small Business Development Office representative (http://http://www.sba.gov/aboutsba/sbaprograms/sbdc/index.html).
3. Searching for a new career is like holding down a part-time job. Allow yourself the time to conduct you research, to amp up your resume, and to then apply for jobs.
4. Be open to relocating, if needed. If you own your own home, I know the real estate market right now does not lend itself to moving, but realize you may have to move in order to acquire your dream job. This has been my hang up for years now. I live in northeastern Maryland and have limited myself to just the immediate commute area for job opportunities. Do not fall into this trap! Open yourself up to relocating and the world is yours for the taking! My husband wants to wait another 18 months before we move, but I no longer think I can wait that long. However, since I am searching for telework opportunities, I should be looking for companies that would allow me to remain where I am for now with the possibility to move in the future.
5. Block out the naysayers! This is critical to realizing your dream job. Many, many negative individuals are out there waiting to hold you back because they do not have the courage nor desire to actualize their dreams. Stay true to yourself and believe in yourself whether you want to be a world-renowned chef or open up a local pet-sitting business. For me, I sometimes keep the bulk of my plans to myself, only sharing them with a few trusted individuals (i.e., positive and inspiring individuals). This mitigates hearing a bunch of negative garbage that I can do without.
Today for me will be sorting out whether I can be satisfied changing career fields in order to achieve the benefits I want: telework, fun and casual work environment, room to advance, generous paid time off. I also need to sort out whether I would be willing to accept a pay cut to achieve these benefits. My gut reaction is yes, but I need to discuss that with hubby first. He has been very open to me taking a pay cut, as long as I can wait for him to finish college (the 18 months discussed above) and for him to get a higher paying position.
Go forward with your dream – today is the best day to start.
was my current office would consider adopting it, but it doesn’t look like that is going to happen. In my years of working I have always sacrificed some personal beliefs and/or desires believing that doing so is a normal way of life. However, I can no longer deny these beliefs because doing so is making me one miserable individual! I also fight the tendency to ruminate over how I should have done this years ago. I know I’m not the only one who is in the same predicament so here is my personal list of steps to take to make your dream job a reality:
1. Do not deny your personal beliefs and desires! In order to be happy, you must hold these sacred and search for the right company/institution that honors your beliefs and desires. In a quick search online, I found over the course of this weekend that these types of companies do exist! Start your search at: http://http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/bestcompanies/2008. From here you can plug in “perks” you are looking for in a company and it delivers the specific companies to match those perks you find important.
2. Realize that the perfect company to work for may be you! This is something I am seriously considering and right now I’m in the process of developing exactly what I would like to do. This includes market research and developing a business plan. If you are serious about starting your own business, I suggest one of your first steps should be to meet with your local Small Business Development Office representative (http://http://www.sba.gov/aboutsba/sbaprograms/sbdc/index.html).
3. Searching for a new career is like holding down a part-time job. Allow yourself the time to conduct you research, to amp up your resume, and to then apply for jobs.
4. Be open to relocating, if needed. If you own your own home, I know the real estate market right now does not lend itself to moving, but realize you may have to move in order to acquire your dream job. This has been my hang up for years now. I live in northeastern Maryland and have limited myself to just the immediate commute area for job opportunities. Do not fall into this trap! Open yourself up to relocating and the world is yours for the taking! My husband wants to wait another 18 months before we move, but I no longer think I can wait that long. However, since I am searching for telework opportunities, I should be looking for companies that would allow me to remain where I am for now with the possibility to move in the future.
5. Block out the naysayers! This is critical to realizing your dream job. Many, many negative individuals are out there waiting to hold you back because they do not have the courage nor desire to actualize their dreams. Stay true to yourself and believe in yourself whether you want to be a world-renowned chef or open up a local pet-sitting business. For me, I sometimes keep the bulk of my plans to myself, only sharing them with a few trusted individuals (i.e., positive and inspiring individuals). This mitigates hearing a bunch of negative garbage that I can do without.
Today for me will be sorting out whether I can be satisfied changing career fields in order to achieve the benefits I want: telework, fun and casual work environment, room to advance, generous paid time off. I also need to sort out whether I would be willing to accept a pay cut to achieve these benefits. My gut reaction is yes, but I need to discuss that with hubby first. He has been very open to me taking a pay cut, as long as I can wait for him to finish college (the 18 months discussed above) and for him to get a higher paying position.
Go forward with your dream – today is the best day to start.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Moving forward
As I sit contemplating how much I no longer want to work where I am currently employed, I actively engage in positive thought processing. That is, I am mapping how I will make the transition from working outside the home for an outside employer to working for myself full-time. I can wish all I want for the life I desire or actually do something about it, which is something that sets successful people apart from those who never achieve much in life. It’s a matter of always moving forward and taking risks. Successful individuals are not afraid of the unknown because they know that taking risks is a part of achieving a dream. Successful individuals may make mistakes, but they learn from those mistakes and keep moving on.
I am grateful I found a mentor in a local writer who is very successful in his freelance career. I started working for him part-time a couple of months ago. I only wish it was full time! Aack! No wishing here – just doing! J He has taught me a lot so far and I look forward to him showing me more of “the ropes” in having a successful freelance career. I have also started researching potential markets for me to break into (low-paying, but good for gaining experience) and compiled some article ideas. Next I have to create some query letters to send out and to line up experts to interview for my articles. I am also moving ahead with my memoir, more aggressively than ever, so I can get that to an agent. I indicated previously I wanted this accomplished before year-end, but as long as my schedule doesn’t derail, it should be by the end of November.
Stay positive, stay focused!!
I am grateful I found a mentor in a local writer who is very successful in his freelance career. I started working for him part-time a couple of months ago. I only wish it was full time! Aack! No wishing here – just doing! J He has taught me a lot so far and I look forward to him showing me more of “the ropes” in having a successful freelance career. I have also started researching potential markets for me to break into (low-paying, but good for gaining experience) and compiled some article ideas. Next I have to create some query letters to send out and to line up experts to interview for my articles. I am also moving ahead with my memoir, more aggressively than ever, so I can get that to an agent. I indicated previously I wanted this accomplished before year-end, but as long as my schedule doesn’t derail, it should be by the end of November.
Stay positive, stay focused!!
Friday, September 26, 2008
Welcome to the Treadmill Tribune!
No, the Treadmill Tribune is not about purchasing treadmills or using them for indoor running. It serves as a metaphor for me. I often feel like life is like a treadmill – you’re running in a forward projection, doing something good for yourself, seeming to make progress in improving yourself, but you get off and realize you really haven’t gotten anywhere! For years I have been dreaming of working independently, not having to be tied down to a schedule inflicted upon me by my employer. The work I have been doing, while profitable, has been and still is, completely unfulfilling to me. Upon reading Sully Erna’s The Paths We Choose, I realized I had been settling in life. His story is one of perseverance, believing in yourself that you can make your dreams come true by working hard and ignoring the naysayers. He never gave up on himself, and although it took awhile, his dream became a reality and he is now quite a success. I realized after reading his book that there are people out there making a living doing things they love and are passionate about. Why wasn’t I? I wasn’t because I allowed myself to flow with the status quo, believing that grown-ups don’t dream – reality is working 9-5 and paying the bills and trying to do something enjoyable on the weekends. NO MORE! I cannot go on spending the majority of my life commuting 45 minutes one way, each day, to a 8X8 cell (sorry, cubicle), chained to a chair for nine hours a day, plugging away on a computer with work that does not inspire me, does not interest me, nor that I even believe in. Change is happening and it is happening NOW!
The Treadmill Tribune is a forum for adults to unload their frustrations with life and share their dreams of their future and what they are doing to make their dreams a reality. I will be sharing my life and dream plans along the way. Likewise, I want to her from people who are living their dream and how they accomplished it. I originally planned on narrowing the blog to just other women who do not have children and feel the way I do, but I realized we could learn a lot more by including everyone. With that said, this blog is for adults only. No, there will be nothing pornographic about it. But those with children – mentally find a babysitter and come here for you only. Even though you have kids and the thought process is to put them first, here I say no, put yourself first. Realize your dreams and inspire your children to do the same. We will also discuss ways to make your life better in terms of fitness, nutrition, spirituality, and the like.
Life is too short to shrug off dreams. Get off the treadmill!
The Treadmill Tribune is a forum for adults to unload their frustrations with life and share their dreams of their future and what they are doing to make their dreams a reality. I will be sharing my life and dream plans along the way. Likewise, I want to her from people who are living their dream and how they accomplished it. I originally planned on narrowing the blog to just other women who do not have children and feel the way I do, but I realized we could learn a lot more by including everyone. With that said, this blog is for adults only. No, there will be nothing pornographic about it. But those with children – mentally find a babysitter and come here for you only. Even though you have kids and the thought process is to put them first, here I say no, put yourself first. Realize your dreams and inspire your children to do the same. We will also discuss ways to make your life better in terms of fitness, nutrition, spirituality, and the like.
Life is too short to shrug off dreams. Get off the treadmill!
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