7 Essential Steps To Your Dream Career - Classy Career Girl

7 Essential Steps To Your Dream Career On May 8th, 2014, I said “adios” to my  stressful and miserable  day job, left for maternity leave and never went back. It was one of the most exciting days of my life. Up until that point, I was stuck in my job. I knew I had so much more to offer. For years I dreamed  of the “one day” when I would know what I wanted to do next and I would stop standing still. Well..that day  finally came. When you are struggling with discouragement and being overworked or bored, I completely understand how far off your dream career can feel. I want you to know that it really isn’t that far away. If I can do it there really is no reason that you can’t do it, too. Thats why I am so excited to give you just the very first steps you need to make your dream career or business a reality. I realized I was in charge of my destiny, just like you! Don’t settle! After I  figured out my ideal career fit and I made it happen, I finally  felt excited to wake up EVERYDAY  and go to work! I am now so proud of myself. I am growing personally and professionally and I am so much calmer.  Not only that, but I am  getting more than paid double  what I used to when I was stuck and I get to spend much more time with my daughter (shes growing up SO fast!). I now get to enjoy my  dream career while traveling regularly, enjoying work-life balance, helping others with my gifts and strengths, having plenty time to maintain my health…and of course having plenty of  quality time with my daughter and husband. This is possible for you, too! Let me show you how to create your dream career and life in the next 90 days. 7 Essential Steps To Your Dream Career 1. BE CLEAR WHAT YOU DESIRE You cannot get what you want if you dont see yourself receiving it. Many women I speak to arent clear about what their  dream  career even is. Even if you dont know exactly what the job title is, there is so much you DO know what you want your life to be like if you had your dream career. Thats what I want you to focus on. This is where you identify your salary, your ideal workday, and where you live while working at your dream job. Its about imagining what your life would be like if you had your career desires met. What are the non-negotiables you want for your career? Another really smart step is to write down who you admire in their careers. Often when we look at what other people have and admire it, it means that we would like the same thing in our lives and careers as well. Instead of being jealous or gossiping about those women, see what it is about them that you want to have as well. So the very first step is really knowing what you want. Dont worry about how you are going to make it happen or what the plan is yet. Just focus on your real career desires. Dont feel bad  desiring a really big salary or worrying  that you cant possibly find a dream job in the city you want. You are in control of finding or creating your dream career. I learned very quickly in my life  that with God all things really are possible. That is actually written on the wall above my daughters bed and was put there before we even knew that she was a possibility in our lives. After having two miscarriages and then a failed IVF attempt. so what does my personal life have to do with launching my dream career? A lot actually. The night I found out my IVF attempt failed,  I watched The Secret and wrote out EXACTLY what I wanted my life to look like in the future. I knew that was my rock bottom and it could only go up from there. I wrote how I wanted to work with my husband and travel the world. I wrote that I wanted twins. I wrote I wanted to quit my job and work on my business full-time. All these things came true (except for the twins but I am very much ok with one for now!!:-) [RELATED: The Complete Guide to Career Change] Up until that point in my life, I was not very clear about what I wanted. I was very vague. That night at 2 am in tears I became totally clear about what my desires were. The result: new opportunities, mentors, and books entered into my life the very next week. Within a week of writing down my desires, I started working with a new coach and join a group of female entrepreneurs in a mastermind group. Within a month I had five new clients and was earning a consistent side income while still working at my day job.  And of courseas most of you know, four months later I found out I was pregnant NATURALLY.  Thanks, God. 2. ESTABLISH A DATE WHEN YOU INTEND TO MAKE YOUR DREAM CAREER HAPPEN. This is the scary part,  but so important. Its no good if you have this amazing dream vision but dont actually work towards a date that you want it to happen by. The reason most people dont actually make a date with themselves is because they are scared to  fail. Who cares!  If you make any forward progress between now and the date you set, that is a SUCCESS!  You are headed in the direction of your dreams! Dates also help you make decisions. If you want to make a certain amount of income by a certain date, you might stay up later to make an important page on your website look great or you might call up that client instead of heading to the pool to relax. These are the tradeoffs that I  have been doing as of late because I have a goal, a timeline, and I am doing my best to make it happen! So if you dont know what your date should be to reach your dream career, try 90 days from now. I love the 90-day plan because it is far enough out to actually make some big things happen but also short enough to not forget what your goal even is! If you want to learn how to create a 90-day dream career action plan, make sure you download my 90 Day Planner. 3. CREATE A PLAN AND BEGIN AT ONCE. So this is where you COMMIT. No more putting off or procrastinating your dreams and goals. Its time to  put a plan of action into place. Its totally fine if it is pretty vague right at the start because you are going to use your intuition and pray (see step 7) for the exact path forward. The important part here is to actually write down some actions you can take right now that will help lead you to your dream career. Some suggestions could be reading a book, starting a blog, going to a networking event, or asking someone already in your dream career for a 15-minute informational interview. Its all about the baby steps and imperfect action! I promise you that it all adds up in the end. If I didnt start my baby steps six years ago, I would never be where I am today. My dream career journey began with a little blog where I was documenting what I was learning as a consultant by day and MBA student by nightand now look where we are today. You will need to use your intuition to determine your path. You cant push this. You also cant work too hard or you will just hit a wall. It needs to come to you like a hunch. You just have to make the commitment and decide that it is going to happen and mentors, courses, and books will be given to you to help lead your way. 4. DETERMINE WHAT YOU ARE GIVING IN EXCHANGE. Giving opens the way for you to receive. This is big. Often we think money is bad or fulfilling our true desires is just us being selfish. Or if we go after our dreams, what will other people think of us! Instead, you need to change your mindset. In my business, I do have financial goals, but it is never about the money. I have actually changed my goals so instead of making a certain amount of money, I want to HELP a certain number of women. That makes me way more motivated than money does. Of course, I need a roof over my head and I want to be able to have a house for my daughter to run around in. But the most important thing in my business is that I am fulfilling my purpose. There are women out there right now (you?) who need what I offer. They are stuck and hate their work, but know there is a bigger purpose for themselves. And that is what I offer in exchange for my dream business and financial goals. What can you give in return? When you are in your dream career, will you be able to tithe more or support your favorite charity? Will you be able to support your family better or bring your parents on a trip of a lifetime? Maybe what you will give in exchange is being 100% present for your children and family instead of being miserable when you come home from work. Maybe in your dream career, you know you can make a big impact and lead the way in a certain industry. Maybe you have a new idea, service, or product that could change lives. One of my goals is to create a foundation and help  women who dont have access to everything that you and I have.  But, I cant do that if I dont stay focused on helping women and completing my purpose. You are NOT being selfish for going after your desires and wanting a better life. If you are stuck it just means something bigger and better is out there for you and its time to find it. 5. WRITE OUT A CLEAR STATEMENT OF WHAT YOU DESIRE. Heres the important part. Write your statement like you have already completed it.  Name the time limit in this statement. It can include a certain job you want, a certain amount of money you desire to make or a certain house or location you live. Even better, add photos to your statements. This is exactly what I was doing when my life transformed the most right  after IVF failed and I committed to a different path.  Every morning and night I reviewed a journal I put together the statements of what I wanted my life to be like along with photos that went along with the statements. My journal read, I am working with my husband in a beautiful coffee shop in France. I am a happy and stress-free mom who loves life and the work I do. I am making $100K per year or better and living in a beautiful 3 bedroom house in downtown San Diego. Over that next year, we hit our income goals, had our miracle daughter, and my husband quit his job to join me in the business. We have worked in coffee shops around the world including Australia and Brazil. Not only that, but I really do feel like I am a happy and stress-free mom (besides a few moments here and there, of course). I truly believe it is because I designed my life and career how I wanted it to look first and I read these statements to myself twice a day. I still do this today! Thats the key we never stop growing right? Last night in my  Love Your Career Formula  program, one of my clients got a job offer that she is so excited about! You would think it would stop there but nope. Instead, she started talking about a new dream she had of becoming a wardrobe designer. Now that she had a full-time job, she could start working on her side hustle! There really is so much out there for you. The sky is the limit ladies! Know that each step of imperfect action you take is bringing you to your end dream career and life goal. The most important thing you can do is to keep taking baby steps and imperfect action and dont stay stuck. 6. READ YOUR WRITTEN STATEMENT TWICE A DAY. I recommend writing your statement on a note card and keeping it near your bed. Reading it over and over will help you remember what your goal is and it will remind you to think of your direction throughout the day. For instance, when you envision yourself already achieving your dream career, you will change what tasks you do during the day. My example: Instead of wasting time watching The Bachelorette this season, I am now reading and journaling  instead. This is because I have been reading my statement every day and I know that wasting two hours of my time with tons of drama and tears every Monday evening is not what someone who has already achieved my goal would be doing.  They would be focusing on personal development, self-care or just having fun with their family instead. This step is really about getting your mind ready. You can only become what you really see yourself becoming. If you cant see it and actually visualize it in your mind, it wont happen. Thats why reading this statement over and over again and affirming that it  WILL  happen is so important! 7. PRAY AND ASK FOR GUIDANCE. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:6 Until now you have asked for nothing in My name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be made full. John 16:24 I dont think it can be any clearer. You have a purpose and calling in this life and it is bigger than you even know. But God knows. Thats why you need to pray. With people it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God. -Mark 10:27 This is where you remember that you cant make your dream career happen  alone.  The times I have tried to push and push and make something work, I fall flat on my face and walls appear. So instead, I have learned to be divinely led and to trust my intuition. The best part is that when I do this, I dont have to work so hard. Things just magically fall into place because they are the right things for me to be doing. Its very similar to our brand and website re-launch we did on June 1, 2015.  My husband and I were discussing how everything for this website re-launch just fell into place. It was like it was divinely inspired and there had to be a bigger purpose going on here because there were really no roadblocks in our way. We planned for a July 15th launch, but were able to do it much faster and launch on June 1st instead. Dont get me wrong, the entire thing was a TON  of work. But, it was fun work and every task I was doing just felt right and easy. It really made me see that this is what I was supposed to be doing with my time and work because things just fell right into place. I know that it wouldnt be so easy if it wasnt my purpose. I also had prayed about it a lot so I knew that God was blessing this next step in my dream career and business. Some prayers that I often say are, God, lead my way. Let me see the plan. God, with you all things are possible and every perfect gift comes from you.  Here is what I desire.  Please show me what to do next. God,  what would you have me do now. What steps are you taking to your dream career? Tell me in the comments below!