Think of building your dream career as you would any project. Create a master project plan that includes everything you need to be, do, know and have in order to be in your ideal career, doing what you love. Finding your niche in life may seem overwhelming or you may not necessarily know where to begin or exactly what steps or actions to take, but remember that any big project becomes much more manageable when it is broken down into small steps. The following six steps will guide you through the process of developing your own Master Project Plan to achieve your Dream Career:
At this point we are assuming that you have already generated lots of possible options and have researched them well, that you know what skills, talents, education and credentials you'll need to do that career, that you have compared the specifics against your Dream Career Profile/Vision and that you have chosen the one option (your niche) that best matches your vision and resonates with what you want. The next step is to revisit your Dream Career Profile/Vision and get even more specific. In the process of researching and deciding on this particular career option, what new information do you now have about your dream career? What greater clarity have you gained about what you want in your ideal career? How do you see your chosen niche helping you to achieve all the important elements you mentioned in your Dream Career Profile/Vision Statement? Add that information to your Dream Career Profile/Vision Statement and, if appropriate, change it, build upon it and expand it in any way that more clearly reflects the vision of the career you now envision. Again, this vision statement should include anything and everything that inspires you toward the fulfillment of your vision.
Time spent on your vision is time well spent, so respect your vision as a creative point of focus, because what you focus on expands. As you continue to think about your vision, more new ideas will occur to you, which will go a long way in helping you move toward your dream career. Consider your vision statement as a living, breathing organism that continues to grow and change as you learn more about what you really want and as you get closer to fulfilling your dreams. In other words, update this vision statement regularly so that it always represents the best, most accurate and inspirational vision that you can imagine.
Before moving ahead with specific plans for the fulfillment of your dream career, you must first be clear about where you are now, so take some time to assess your current situation. For example, if you have decided that you want to teach Business Economics at a university, then make a list of the experience, education, degrees and certifications you already have that will support that career and your present life circumstances, which need to be taken into consideration before securing a position teaching in a university.
When you look at the vision of your ideal career and compare it with the resources you have to work with in your current situation, you will notice "gaps" - things that you don't have now but will need before your vision becomes a reality. Gap analysis is the process of identifying those "gaps" so that you can create a plan to fill them, because once you fill those gaps, you will be well on your way to having created the career of your dreams. For example, let's say that your dream career is to be a corporate attorney, but you do not have a law degree. So a few gaps in this case would be being educated in corporate law, acquiring a law degree from a qualified law school, passing the bar exam, getting a license to practice law in your particular state and finding a corporation to hire you or setting up your own office.
At this point you may not necessarily be able to identify every single one of the gaps you have and that is okay. The point here is to get you started in a definite direction. As you move ahead with your initial plans, you may discover new gaps and you can add them to your list at any time. As with every other part of building your dream career, you will want to remain open to new information and ideas that will help you, whether it's identifying more gaps that need to be filled or a new idea about how to go about accomplishing your plans.
Don't succumb to the temptation of feeling discouraged because you think you have too many gaps. And don't feel bad just because you don't yet see how you are going to fill those gaps. Remember, the point here is not to get down on yourself for all that you don't have, but rather to build upon all that you do have and are - your dreams, your intelligences, your skills, your experiences, your talents, etc. Use the gap analysis as a tool to identify what more you can be or have as it applies to your dream career. For instance, if one of your gaps is that you need to learn how to use the Internet, then instead of feeling bad about your lack of knowledge in that area, use that gap information as an opportunity to learn something new. Remind yourself that you have learned many new things in the past that you didn't know before, and start focusing on ways that you can begin learning and mastering the Internet.
In other words, instead of focusing on the problem, focus on the solution. One way to focus on the solution is to pay attention to the questions you are asking yourself. Are you asking for ideas about how a particular problem can be solved? Or are you asking why you got the problem in the first place? The former question will provide an opportunity for a solution to appear, while the latter simply holds the problem in place.
If allowed to do so, the mind will come up with an answer to any question you ask it. Of course, that assumes that you listen for the answer, take the time to understand what the answer is saying and take the time to see whether or not you resonate with the answer. For example, when people focus their thoughts on the problem, they are asking themselves questions like, "How will I ever learn this? What if I try and fail? I don't have the money for a course, so how am I supposed to learn? And even if I did have the money, how do I even know I will understand the instructor?" Etc., etc., etc. By focusing the mind on those questions, the only possible answers that can arrive are excuses about why you can't learn, why you can't take the course, why you don't have enough money, why you will fail. Our minds will supply us with the answers to the questions we are focused on, so if we ask a negative question, we can expect to get a negative answer. Try it and see. If appropriate, ask yourself why you are so afraid of failing or why you feel inadequate and notice how your mind will have no problem coming up with lots of evidence to confirm why you are so afraid of failing or feeling inadequate. You might find yourself saying things to yourself like, "Yeah, I've never been very smart. Remember that time in math class when everyone but me knew the answer and all the kids laughed at me. Remember that time I was learning tennis and I just couldn't get my serve down and I lost the tournament. I'm just not good enough. I'm just not cut out to learn new things. I just don't have what it takes to be a success"
The remarkable thing is that we can come up with just as much evidence that we are smart and that we are good enough if that is what we are looking for and asking about. So ask yourself why you are so smart and competent and see what kinds of answers your mind comes up with then: "That's true, I've always been good with people. I'm really smart that way. I am sensitive to their needs and know what to say to make them feel better. I taught myself how to play the piano. I know a lot about marine biology. I regularly achieve what I set out to achieve."
When we focus our mind on the solution instead of the problem, something quite different happens to our attitude, motivation and creativity. We ask ourselves a different set questions like, "I wonder what the best way to accomplish this would be? I wonder who could help me learn this new skill? I wonder if there is a book that could help me?" And we come up with an entirely different set of answers. We focus our attention on how we can accomplish it rather than on if we can accomplish it. We don't question whether we are smart enough or good enough. We just assume we are and go about finding the best way to do it. (We will cover this angle more in step number five, "Explore Possible Ways to Accomplish Your Goals.")
A positive way to view your gaps is to not think of them as something you "lack" but rather as something you are "moving toward." One way to do that is to turn your gaps into goals, which will give your mind a positive point of focus to work with. It is much more uplifting to work toward something you want to accomplish (goal) rather than to dwell on what you don't have (gap). For example, let's say that your desired dream career is to be a travel guide who leads groups to the most beautiful destinations in the world. However, one of your gaps is that you don't know the first thing about the travel business. You might catch the chatter in your mind saying, "Well, I don't know the first thing about the travel business, so I can't possibly do that." That statement focuses on what you don't have - knowledge about the travel business - which could cause you to feel discouraged and to lack confidence in your abilities. Of course, being discouraged does nothing toward helping you turn your dream career into a reality. On the other hand, if that statement was changed into a positively stated goal, "It's time to learn all that I can about the travel business to further my goal of becoming a travel guide," then you would feel inspired to achieve your goal.
Although both the gap and goal statements contain essentially the same information, your mind "sees" and acts upon the information very differently, because the goal statement is worded from a "having" perspective while the gap statement is worded from a "lack" perspective. As a goal, it is something you can begin to achieve; as a gap, it is something that you already have but don't want.
To take this process one positive step further, if you like, you can also create an affirmation that states your goal in the present tense, as something you are already achieving. For example, "Every day I learn more and more about the travel business." Or, "Each day I move closer to becoming a travel business expert." Can you feel how much better and more inspiring the affirmative statements are, especially when compared to the gap statement: "I don't know the first thing about the travel business, so I can't possibly do that."? It is all a matter of perspective. If you view your gaps as something you lack, then it is more likely that you will feel discouraged by them. If you view them as goals - something you are working toward - then it is more likely that you will feel encouraged and inspired, because everyday you are moving closer to their completion.
Take out another sheet of paper and label it, "My Career Goals." Take the time now to examine your list of gaps and turn each one of your gaps into a positively stated goal. If you want, you can also create an affirmation for each one as well.
So often goals are not reached not because they are unreachable, but because we haven't been taught to use our creative potential. Each of us possesses an enormous amount of untapped creative potential, but too often we sell ourselves short because we think in terms of lack and limitation. We think of all the reasons why we can't accomplish something instead of all the reasons why we can. We think of all that we are not instead of all that we are and all that we could be. We focus on our weaknesses instead of our strengths. We make excuses about why we don't have what it takes to accomplish our heart's desires, never looking at what we do have. What is lacking is not energy, money, time, connections, etc., but rather what is lacking is the positive and creative use of our minds. Anything is possible if we believe it so, even if we cannot immediately see a way to make it so, for there is always a way to accomplish what we most desire if we are willing to think outside of the box of our old, limited thinking and open ourselves up to new possibilities and new ways of going about things.
One of the ways to free up your creativity in creating plans to achieve your goals is to use possibility questions. Possibility questions are positive, open-ended questions that focus the mind on creative solutions in a spirit of exploration. Possibility questions assume that there is always a way to accomplish one's desires and that, in fact, there may be a number of ways, though those ways may not be obvious at first. Let us give you an example of what we mean. Let's suppose that one of your really important goals is to "Get a Computer," however, you don't have the money to buy one right now. So what do you do? Let's first look at a typical response to such a challenge: "I really need a computer to get going on my dream career, but I don't have an extra $1,000-$2,000 laying around to buy one. So how in the world am I going to be able to afford the purchase of a computer? I guess there's no way to get a computer right now. I guess I'll have to wait and save for months or hope for a big raise at my current job." Thinking like this assumes there is only one way to get the computer, and since that one way seems blocked or impossible, then there is no way to accomplish the goal.
Now let's examine how a possibility-minded person would approach the same challenge. "I need the use of a computer but I don't have the money to buy a new one right now. Hmm. How else could I get the computer?" The following are some examples of possibility questions that this person might ask himself as he explores alternative ways to accomplish his goal:For each goal, take out a separate piece of paper and label it with the positively stated goal. Next, explore possible ways of accomplishing each of your goals. For those goals that may seem like a challenge, ask yourself possibility questions that will help you see creative ways to achieve your desires. Remember not to ask yourself negative questions like, "How in the world am I ever going to do this?" because the tone of that question will most likely net: "You can't because you don't have what it takes." And if those are the kinds of questions you ask yourself, then those are the kinds of answers you will get. So if you don't want negative answers, ask positive possibility questions. This may require that you be a little more creative in the questions you ask yourself. One of the ways to free up your creative mind to see new possible ways of accomplishing your goals is to begin your questions with, "I wonder . . ." and, "What if . . ."
After having explored several ways of accomplishing each one of your goals, you should now have several lists of tasks to do and possible actions to take that will move you closer to the accomplishment of each goal. Having done this initial exploration, you probably have gained a very good bird's eye view of the big picture, of all that needs to be done in total to turn your ideal career into actuality. Now it is time to get organized by creating an action plan so that you can begin taking the necessary action that will eventually create your dream career.
In fact, each morning (or the night before) make a list of items that you intend to complete that day. Don't forget to list resources that you do not yet have, but are wanting. This is like a wish list, but if you don't define what it is you want, there is little hope of it coming to you.
There is more than one way to create an action plan and perhaps you already have a way that works for you. The following approaches are given only as suggestions for those who would like help with this step or who are interested in exploring other ways. Of course, if you have a system that works better for you than these approaches, then by all means use it. As with everything else in this book, take whatever ideas you think are helpful and throw out the rest. The following approaches describe a couple of different ways to proceed from here, depending on your preferred style of accomplishing things.
This approach is for those who feel better having everything planned out ahead of time, the more detail the better. Even if they must change plans in the future, they feel more in control if they have the whole project mapped out, planned out and scheduled ahead of time. They value being organized and they get more done when they have clear, step-by-step plans for the entire project they are working on. Unlike the Free Spirit Approach below, this approach looks at everything that needs to be done from beginning to end and plans for it all.
It is important to note that this "To Do" list serves to merely remind them of the actions needing to be taken soon. As new ideas come to them, they will add them to their list. They may even change their minds tomorrow about some of the items on the list, rearranging the To Do order, removing items entirely or deciding to hold off on some actions for now. For them, the action plan is updated frequently as old tasks are completed, new ones are added and other tasks being eliminated altogether, based on where they see themselves in the moment. The actions are not listed in any particular order, and they will get to each one as they feel it is time. This approach is also known as taking action from a point of inspiration, where no action is taken unless that action feels right and good.
If this approach describes you and your style, then now would be a good time to create an initial short-term action plan based on this approach. Take out another piece of paper and label it, "Initial Short-term Action Plan." Examine all your lists of possible actions, decide which ones you are going to want to work on in the near future and list those actions out. The purpose of this step is to narrow down all the possible actions you could take and to focus your energies only on those pieces that need to be done first.
In addition to the previous six steps there are other more advanced things you can do to ensure that your dream career vision becomes a reality as quickly as possible. Some of those things include:
Do Belief Work - The best-laid plans can go awry by any number of sabotaging factors: feeling resistance to the plan; obstacles, barriers or beliefs that stand in the way; procrastinating; limiting beliefs about your capabilities, fear-based thinking about failure or rejection, etc. What stands in the way of your success? Is there someone who is against what you want to do? Is there something that you feel you are lacking but need before you can succeed? Do you have beliefs that contradict your desires? What outcomes are you expecting that could hamper or interfere with your desired results? Make a list of things (or people) that could prevent you from making this career change, then once you have identified your limiting beliefs you can create new empowering beliefs by realizing how talented you are and looking for evidence where you have been successful in the past.
Network - Most good jobs and opportunities are not advertised in the newspaper, which is why it is a good idea to tell your friends and family members about your search and that if they hear of something to let you know. It's important to mention to tell only those people who are supportive of you. The last thing you need is to tell someone who is fear-based or who doesn't want you to succeed and who will immediately tell you how stupid you are, how foolish this venture is or how you will fail. Another good idea is to build key relationships within the industry in which you are seeking employment.
Find a Mentor - There is no reason to have to reinvent the wheel. You can save immeasurable amounts of time, energy and money by getting advice from or learning from someone who is already doing what you want to do. A little research at the library, on the Internet or reading newspapers and magazines can provide you with a list of those who are already successfully doing what you want to do.
Develop an Effective and Unique Self-marketing Campaign - Remember to think like an entrepreneur. Create a profile of the ideal company you would like to work for, including items such as their size, industry, market, products or services, environment, working conditions, customer profile, the management style of your boss, what your co-workers are like, what the needs of the company are, etc. Then do research looking for those companies that match your profile and approach them. Can you imagine how impressed an interviewer would be to find out that you are thoroughly knowledgeable about their business, their customers, their business environment and their needs?
Create a Unique Rsum - Your rsum is your calling card, and rsums that are unique and customized toward the company are the ones that get noticed. Include items like:Now that you know what you know, does your original plan still apply? Hindsight provides marvelous wisdom. Every day you learn more, experience more and come to new understandings about your self and life. The you of yesterday is different from the you of today. When you are somewhere in the middle of working toward a goal - and, in fact, this step should be done frequently - stop and reevaluate whether or not you still want the goal as originally defined. Goals set by the old you should be continually evaluated by the new you. If your priorities have changed, then consider how the goal should be changed to accommodate the new you.
1998-2012 Carol A James All rights reserved.
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