Guest Post: Heather Green

Make Your Dream Career a Reality

If you hate your job, or you think it is just okay, you may want to take the time now to pursue a career you really love. If you think about it, you spend the majority of your day five days a week at work. This is a lot of time to waste on something you are not passionate about. It may take effort, and you may need to make drastic changes in your life to make it happen, but the work will be worth it.

Decide What You Want to Do

Often people go to work every day to a job they hate, but they do not do anything about it, because they have not idea what they want to do. The first job in changing to your dream career is to figure out what it is you want to do. Start by making a list of five things you love to do. These should be things you would do even if you never get got paid to do them. Then from that list find three or four different jobs for each on item on the list that would allow you to spend a great deal of your time doing that thing. Look over the list and decide on two or three that make you the most excited and research what you need to do to pursue that career.

Make a Plan

Once you have a career idea in mind, you will need to research what you need to do in order to pursue that career. You need to find out the education requirements, work requirements, and any other experience or knowledge you need to pursue that job. Break those requirements down into steps and create a plan to reach that dream job. For example if you love to read, and you would love to become a book editor, you will need at least an English degree, possibly a Masters degree in publishing or editing. You will also likely need to work as an intern while you are in school or when you first start working in the industry. You will then work your way up through the ranks from intern to assistant editor to editor.

Put the Plan into Action

Start putting the plan into action right now. Take the first step that will help you reach your goal. If you need to go back to school, the first step would be to fill out an application to apply for school. If you need to take additional training, but you do not need an entire degree, the first step would be to find a seminar or certification course to help you reach your goals. After you have taken the first step it is easier to follow through on the rest of your plan. The only person that is holding you back is you. You can do it!

About the Author:
Heather Green is a freelance writer for several regional magazines in North Carolina as well as a resident blogger for http://onlinenursingdegrees.org. Her writing experience includes fashion, business, health, agriculture and a wide range of other topics.

Special Guest Post From Deborah Bailey

Image by joesflickr via Flickr

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I’ve learned a lot from this wonderful author & professional coach in the last year from how to “Think like an entrepreneur” to just putting aside your fears…Whether it’s a fear of a business failure or, success, Deborah breaks it down for all creatives on how to get over yourself & get on with it!

Enjoy!

How to Move Through Fear

by Deborah A Bailey

The other day I got an email from a gentleman named, Tim. He asked me for
advice about looking for a new job. He was unemployed and money was running
low, but he wanted to make a fresh start.

How much courage does it take to transform your life after it’s come undone?
Having been through this situation myself more than once, I’d say it takes
quite a lot. That’s the difference between those people who survive and
those who thrive. Survival is going from one crisis to the next, always
shocked and a little surprised that you made it. Thriving is a totally
different experience.

When you thrive you are not expecting doom at every turn. Your life isn’t
just an endless journey through anxiety and insecurity. Yes, things do
happen and life is not always a big bowl of cherries. I’m not saying you’ll
never be hurt or disappointed, but I am saying that how you react to those
things will determine your life experience. We can spend a lifetime blaming
this one or that one, being a victim of circumstances and believing that
someone else took our stuff. Lots of people do it everyday. If that appeals
to you, I certainly won’t discourage it. However, if you love your life no
matter what you are thriving. That’s something no one can ever take away
from you.

At the end of Tim’s email, he admitted to being uneasy about the changes he
was about to make. He acknowledged his fears, but then he said he wanted a
better life and was going to take the steps to get it. From the outside his
life may not look very attractive, but with that admission he’s already made
the move from surviving into thriving. I’m excited for him, and I’m looking
forward to hearing about his progress.

1. How about you? Are you ready to make the move? If so, here are some steps
you can take.

2. Get clear of negative people and negative influences. If someone is
always telling you what can’t be done or how awful everything is, you won’t
benefit from being in that energy.

3. Take some quiet time everyday. Whether you call it meditating or being
alone with your thoughts, take time for yourself.

4. Keep learning new things. Once you decide you know it all, you will never
grow beyond that point.

5. Write down your ideas and your goals. There’s something about writing
them down that makes them real.

6. Laugh. Not only is laughing healthy, but it’s much more attractive as
well. Who would you rather be with – someone who laughs or someone who’s
always grumpy?

7. Love yourself, a lot.

8. Embrace life. Don’t wait for some terrible event to occur before you
appreciate what you have.

I’ve been in survival mode and in thriving mode, and I can tell you that
thriving is much better. No, fear doesn’t completely go away, but it stops
being a way of life. We all have the power to go from surviving to thriving,
and in the end it’s up to us to make it happen.

Copyright © 2010 – 2011 Deborah A. Bailey
Excerpted from “Think Like an Entrepreneur: Transforming Your Career and
Taking Charge of Your Life” available on Amazon.com.

How Savvy Women Think “Business”

Image by NoWin via Flickr

I know, it’s Christmas for christsakes & why am I thinking about “business‘ on this special day to celebrate the birth of our lord & savior? Because The Lord knew when he created woman, he created the essence that moves heaven & earth- that’s why! Actually, the turkey is in the oven and the veggies, fixings for savory dressing ,and sweets for the sweetest are making great progress. How’s that for a multi-tasking woman in business for herself? It’s a well known fact that women are savvy creatures. Not only can we can bring home the bacon, fry it up in a pan, we can serve it on a decorative platter as well! AND read a good book all in one setting… Well, we can also embelish upon the truth a bit too, but, that’s what makes us so special! The woman in business for herself becomes an attribute to men owned bussinesses and other women entrepreneurs– doing it for themselves…

As we celebrate the Holidays; Christmas and New Year, let’s also envision the new start to growing, creating, and visualizing our businesses. Women of authenticity read more good stuff clara54 wants you to know about women issues by visiting “authentic woman” @  http://wisewoman2.wordpress.com and spread the word! There’s a savvy business woman in all of us, don’t cha know? Now is the time to create your vision for your business and start the New Year off with a banging profit building enterprise!

Happy Holidays & think “business” in your future!