Many people came to the realization that their profession just wasn't stacking up to the reality of their day job. Cue the post-pandemic "Great Resignation."

While this is an interesting trend, and whether or not you participated or not, I think pausing to reflect on what your actual dreams are is always a positive exercise. From starting a family to getting the corner office, I'm here to say that no dream is too big for you.

The challenge is, visiting them often and figuring out what they need from you in order to materialize them. No matter how far away you feel from your dreams, I can tell you that you are close. Too often, it's easy to neglect our dreams because we don't know how to attain them. So let's take a minute to show up for them so they will show up for us, too.

The term "dream" can be a little fluffy, so let's make it into something more tangible: 

• Working for yourself
• Be debt-free
• Getting married
• Landing the dream job
• Travel the world
• Writing a book
• Get the degree
• Having a baby

1) Visualize it. Can you actually see yourself living out what you have always dreamed of? Where are you? What is around you? Who are you with? This visualization technique is actually valued by executive coaches who encourage their clients to think about their dream jobs. In addition to that, I would add to look around you and see how showing up for what's in front of you today, will benefit you in the long term - even if it may be a stretch for you to see how they connect. 

2) Build Resilience. If we go after our dreams, we will need resilience. If dreams were easy, they would not be dreams but a task on a to-do list. Along the way, you'll face rejection, obstacles, and feel frustrated. You'll definitely get derailed but hold onto what your dream is and what it means to you.  Keep going and stand your ground. 

3) Perfect your long game. Whatever your dream is, it won't happen overnight. If you can, set a future date and break out some digestible milestones to hit along the way. Cultivate the durability that you'll need to hit your goal. Persevere and practice positive self-talk, celebrating wins when you have them to keep yourself motivated. 

Life's too short to not be running like crazy towards your dream. Coming off the pandemic, it can be hard to get energized again. As we come closer to the end of 2021, now's the perfect time to check in: what are your dreams today, and where can they take you tomorrow? 
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I wanted to share a story of a friend of mine who I could tell was really struggling at work. By struggling, I mean she was livid. She had so many ideas, would voice concerns, and was met with silence or told that her ideas were not a priority for the company at that time. 

I'm no career coach, but as a friend I remember us grabbing a drink and talking through everything that was going on, her frustration palpable. I recommended she do the following things - and if you find yourself in a similar situation, I recommend you do the same.: 

1. Document your ideas. What do you wish your company was doing today that it is not? What ideas you have, or strategy components you wish they would listen to? Write it down. This helps get clarity around your personal talk track, and crystalize proof points in your mind so you can rattle them off later.  

2. Sketch out what an ideal job looks like. Take a step back from what you are doing today. What parts of your job do you like? What do you dislike? What would you be SO happy doing all day, every day? Combine this section with your ideas listed prior. 

3. Invest time in building your personal brand. Talk about your ideas! Just because you are working at a company, doesn't mean you have to operate in a silos. Use platforms like personal blogs, or LinkedIn to write articles about your ideas. This will force you to further sharpen your ideas, not to mention market yourself and your expertise to the world as well as give reading material to potential employers that may want to hire you one day. 

4. Have "the talk". Personally, I'm of the belief that you should be straight with your employer, which may be your boss / manager. Talk to them about  your pain points, where you are frustrated or blocked, and share what you want to be doing. More often then not, they may have no idea and be happy for you to pursue your areas of interest or be willing to listen to your ideas. And if they are not, you now have that knowledge - and a fairly clear conscience - as you proceed to step 5. 

5. Make the decision.  You've put it all out there, communicated that you are unhappy and may or may not like the answers that you get. Will more money make you stay? Did you ask for it, or did they offer it? If no, is it time to start looking around at roles at other companies that match your ideal job sketch you drafted in step #2?

As for my friend? She is happily settled in at her new job, now 2 months later from when we first sat down at the bar.  If this story resonates with you, I encourage you to take the above exercise and apply it to yourself. And if you do make the decision to jump, use this interviewing guide to keep your organized.

Life's too short to walk around so frustrated, and there are plenty of opportunities for hardworking people like yourself. Good luck!