DREAM-JOB VS DAY-JOB

4:09 PM Posted by MS.NOVA

I have clocked my hours cleaning ashtrays, dumping slop buckets, wiping tables, data entry, exec assistant, ordering water, answering phones and making sure my boss has a straw with his cream club soda. Oh, I have been there sister. But we do what we have to do until we can do what we want to do. Waitressing was the toughest job I ever had and at one point, it's how I paid the bills while interning in the music business. Real women sacrifice to get it done and part of that my sweet is going to be a wittle tiny piece of your pride while you hawk eyeshadow or up-sell sour cream.

Will you retire from this gig? Of course not. Keep that in perspective and keep the eyes on the prize. You know you don't want to be a ________ forever, so what DO you want? Oh, I could TOTALLY see you doing that! Until you can afford to walk away from this place, start planning your escape while maintaining a sense of gratitude, no matter how small, for what your current job allows you to do (like eat).

Keep those goals alive. Use the MasterMind Goal Setting Plan (see ADVICE section). Start your research, talk to people who can help you and stop stop stop waiting for the 'right time'. Your dreams are worth protecting and only you can manifest them.

"A year from now, you'll wish you started today."

Finding Your Best Time
A lot of dreams require energy and commitment. They're not like cleaning out the garage – you have to have a certain amount of inspiration and mental clarity in order to get going.

To figure out your best time of day, experiment! Try working on your rock anthem first thing in the morning, or straight after you get home from work, or on a Sunday afternoon. What feels easiest and most natural for you?

Once you've found your best time of day, look for ways to fit your dream into it. That might mean getting a bit creative – perhaps swapping childcare with a friend, or negotiating slightly different work hours with your boss.

Getting Supporters to Cheer You On
In your day job, you've got a number of people with an interest in how you're getting on. Your boss, for instance, is definitely going to notice if you don't do any work for days on end. And your colleagues will be there to support you, to offer a sympathetic ear when things go wrong, or to answer questions.

When you're going after your own goals in your own time, it can feel like you're out on your own. Perhaps your partner doesn't really "get" your dream, or maybe your friends would laugh if you told them all about it.

Having support, though, makes a huge difference: it can keep you enthusiastic even when things aren't going well, and it can give you the motivation to carry on.

How about joining a group – in your local area, or online – that's devoted to your dream? Or finding just one person, perhaps a friend, who'll help you stay accountable?

Making the Most of Your Day Job
When your day job gets in the way of your dreams, it's easy to start feeling resentful. But you've made a commitment to your job (whether or not you enjoy it), and it's important to honor that commitment.

Sure, you might have a bit more time for your dreams if you came into work late every day, or pretended to be working while you were really reading about the new guitar you want to buy. But your work will probably suffer, your boss will probably notice, and you'll feel guilty about it.

Even if your day job is far from ideal, there's probably something you can gain from it. Maybe that's a good reference, experience, strong relationships with colleagues or greater self-discipline.

Whatever your dreams are – make time for them, and treat them seriously.