Candidate,
We've been talking about finding a job — even a Dream Job.
Remember, our job is where we spend 8+ hours a day. If we can find a Dream Job that challenges us, teaches us great skills, surrounds us with amazing people, pays us what we deserve, and gives us the flexibility we want … THAT gives us a huge amount of freedom in our lives.
Notice this: When we think about our careers, it's so easy to point to the EXTERNAL factors holding us back: Our parents' expectations, our lack of the right credentials, the job market...
But guess what? Most of the time, it's our INTERNAL barriers that actually hold us back. It's us saying, "I don't have enough experience to get that job" … without ever applying for the job!
It's us saying, "I don't even know what my Dream Job is" (sigh, emo look, push bangs out of eyes) … without ever taking the time to learn how to discover what your Dream Job really is.
In fact, if I gave you the perfect job today, and even introduced you to the hiring manager, would you know how to get the job? Would you even apply?
To me, this is actually a GOOD THING.
It means that we can ignore the EXTERNAL and instead take CONTROL of our careers — the place where we spend 8+ hours a day!
In other words, most of the challenges in finding a Dream Job are OURS to master — not the external job market, not our lack of credentials. It's internal, something we can master and control.
And one of the most powerful things I ever learned was turning a weakness into a strength.
For example, if you've ever worried about not knowing what your real Dream Job is, I look at that as a PLUS. Awesome — I get the blue-sky chance to explore a ton of industries and see what I love? Amazing.
Another example: If you've ever worried about being a job hopper, or not having the required 10 years' experience … there are ways to get past both of those. I know because I've done it (beating out Stanford MBA students for an internship).
Today, I want to show you an example of turning weaknesses into strengths from one of my friends, Julie.
A few years ago, she was terrified she'd never find her Dream Job.
She'd made some decisions that made her think of herself as a failure, like quitting law school. But she had high-expectation parents and knew she wanted to do something meaningful...
...she just wasn't sure what.
She took my advice. Just a few months later, she was able to land a 6-figure job with a great company — while still in her mid-20s.
Listen to Julie explain how she stopped worrying about the EXTERNAL and took control of her career to find a Dream Job. Here's the link.
