Got Potential ? Part 3

 
 
“If you work at what you love you will never work a day in your life.”  Harvey Mackay, Author
 
WOW!  Can you imagine waking up on any given day and saying, “I can’t wait to get to work  today?” 
 
Experts say that about 80% of us are not fulfilled in our careers.  That’s sad and much too high of a statistic for us to stand by and do nothing.  We all should strive to be in the 20% but if you are not, there are steps to take to get you there. 
 
Whether you are a Millennial or a Boomer or somewhere in between, you can live the life you were meant to live.  So let’s continue on this path to identifying a profession tailor made-for growing your potential. 
 
This blog will deal with the importance of a vision and how to write an ideal job description for your new life.  (If you have not completed the exercises in the previous two blogs, please do so before proceeding to this exercise.)
 
The exercises you previously completed will function as a blueprint on how to identify a job that will fit both your natural abilities and your learned skills.  This is a vital step in helping you begin envisioning your ideal job. 
   
Write the vision down – Step 2
 
Without a vision, you relinquish control of your life.  Life’s circumstances will take you where they want you to go, instead of you taking your life where you want it to go. 
 
So what will it be? Do you want to take charge and set a vision around your potential and live a desirous life?  If the answer is “yes” then you have some work to do. 
 
Taking it step by step will allow you to live out your potential easily.  Why wait; now is the day to begin. Just start one step at a time. 
 
Life flies by and before you know it, you will be in a place of resentment because you never started the process.  Procrastination is not your friend!  Kick him out of your head as soon as he appears.
 
Let’s take some more “baby steps” on the road to maximizing your potential:
 
#1 Daydream! About what you think you would love to do for a living.  Do you know someone who is living the life you want?  When you are gathering with friends, who do you stop to socialize with - the accountants, the investment bankers, the writers, the recruiters? 
 
Which careers do you find interesting?  What have you always found fascinating?  It is important to take the time to “daydream” about your perfect job because it will help you make a list of the tasks that you would enjoy performing.
 
#2 What a Great Fit!  As important as it is to identify your ideal job, it is just as important to identify what type of environment will help you thrive.  Begin to think about the culture of the company that best fits your personality. 
 
Is it small, large, formal, informal, corporate, or nonprofit?  Where do you prefer to work? – at home, on-site, in the city, in the suburbs?  What type of people do you want to associate with at work - artistic, analytical, technical, or marketing-oriented? 
 
You don’t want to plant flowers that will wilt in the sun or dry up in the shade.  You want to bloom where you are planted.
 
After you have completed these two exercises you basically have your ideal job description written. 
 
#3 What if?  You may ask, what if I have chosen a career that needs specialized training and I cannot afford it?  Try researching parallel roles that will still utilize your skills and fulfill your desires. 
 
You may be attracted to the medical profession but cannot attend or pay for medical school.  Don’t give up on the dream; identify a job in the field that does not require the educational and financial commitments. 
 
For example, instead of being a doctor perhaps you can become a nurse practitioner, or a medical technician, or work in a hospital in social work or patient care.  If you drill down, you will find a role that will use your natural abilities and skills in a career and environment you desire. 
 
Putting your potential to work for you will require patience, time, and commitment but in the end, it is worth it!  Stay tuned for my next blog, which will be on developing “The Plan”.