A-Z guide to finding work you love - letter D

Dream

It's important to allow yourself to dream about what you really want to do. The important thing about dreaming is to switch off the part of the brain that says "that'll never work". It's not about whether the dream is realistic or not - that question should come at a much later stage. Holding on to your dream will allow you to answer the following vital questions:

• What is the experience you're looking for from that particular role? 
• What will it give you? 
• What's the big deal? 

Answering these questions will give you your career values. To be satisfied in work, your job needs to be in line with your values. You may then find that there are other jobs that you can do which will give you the experience you're looking for.  

Dismissing your dreams at the outset will mean you don't get to answer these important questions to yourself.

Dream is also an acronym, where:

D = Decide

What is it that you really want to do? What is that role that you keep on dismissing because you think it's unrealistic?

R = Rate It

On a scale of one to 10, how much do you really want to do it? 10 means you really, really want it and one means that it's not that big a deal. Your answer will be enlightening.

E = Encourage

How can you encourage yourself to keep going when things get tough? There will be times when you are tempted to just stick with the way things are, perhaps convincing yourself that your career isn't that bad after all. Maybe self confidence or limiting beliefs might be holding you back. In which case you may want to make yourself accountable to a friend or perhaps a career coach. 

A = Act now

What three steps can you take right now that will take you towards what you really want?

M = Make it happen

What are you going to do within the next fortnight or month? Make your plans immediate. If you set your goals too far ahead into the future, your motivation will diminish.