Part 2 of 3: The Career You Wish You Had…Dream to Reality

Photo by Nobody Famous

By: Lana Perry

In Part 1 of this series, we got comfortable with the mindset needed to make your dream career happen. If you missed it or need a refresher, read the first three steps from Part 1 here.

Moving on to Part 2 of “The Career You Wish You Had…Dream to Reality”, it’s time to get busy. This part is essential because you won’t get anywhere if you never begin.

4. Create resources

If you want to take on a new endeavor, you’re going to have to create space for it in your life and gather certain resources. This can be any combination of time, money, education, your team, etc depending on what you’re trying to do.

How: Make a list of what you’ll need to begin. For many people this means just enough to get started and that’s perfectly fine. Next to each item include details and options for how you will obtain each item and then start attacking the list.

Example: When I decided I wanted to try coaching years ago, I had a 9-5 job like many of you. In order to create the resource of time, I schedule sessions for my lunch hour or in the evening and made it a point to give 110% to each client no matter how draining my day at work had been. I also saved money to invest in educational training, some biz cards and figured out how to create a web presence.

5. Start living the dream

You know that phrase “fake it till ya make it”? Well, it applies here and is a big part of building your new career or empire. If you wait until you have figured out every little piece, or until you are certain it will work out, you may never get started.

How: Begin! Whatever that means for what you are trying to do, you want to start doing something in the direction of your goal. If what you want to do is creative, start creating. If your goal is to be hired to work in a particular industry or for a particular company, start working on something related even if you don’t get paid, so you can build your resume.

Example: When I first started writing, I wrote anything and everything I could…for free. When I first started coaching, I coached anyone who would let me…for free.  But my answer to “What do you do?” was already enthusiastically and matter-of-factly “I’m a life coach and a writer!”

6. Gather proof

Now that you’ve started doing something related to your dream career, it’s time to start showing off a little by gathering testimonials, recommendations and/or creating a portfolio.

How: When you’re beginning, it can be a good idea to give away your services or products for free or a reduced rate in exchange for testimonials and referrals. Collect your testimonials and showcase them on a website or a document you bring into an interview. Have photos taken of your products or creations and get them into an online portfolio or brochure.

Example: After working with my fabulous freebie coaching clients, I collected testimonials as proof that I can gracefully catapult people into the next phase of their lives through my coaching and placed them proudly on my website. For writing, I created an online portfolio with links to the articles, press releases, label 1-sheets, sponsorship decks and marketing copywriting I did.

In Part 3 of “The Career You Wish You Had…Dream to Reality”, be ready to start putting yourself out there!

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© Photo by Nobody Famous