Once you have set off down your path, it’s important to note the milestones as we move forward and celebrate the the victories even the small ones. Your journey should be about becoming the best person that you can be. Make yourself proud.

On average most people will suffer through 40+ years of work before they retire. When properly planned in advance, retirement provides the freedom for you to do things like traveling, pursuing hobbies, spending time with family and friends or enjoying those years any way that you see fit. In later articles, I’ll address some great ways to financially plan for retirement. My focus here is to give some pointers on how to make the best of those 40+ years. Our working years span a period of time where our minds are the sharpest and our bodies are in the best shape. It boggles my mind that most people spend their working years doing something day in and day out that they don’t enjoy. At what point did our career dreams from grade 6 get away from us?

Our educational system is not set up to evaluate a young person’s needs and desires then send them out into the world. There should be some real support from guidance counselors and it should be deemed mandatory for each student to sit down and go over their educational plan. In high school, most people do not have their whole lives planned out, but there are certainly some mistakes that can be avoided. Before going onto post secondary education, students should be aware of the job market related to their field of study, what types of jobs are available and where these jobs are located. Getting an education helped some people get into a rewarding career. Sadly, many people with an educational degree don’t have jobs related to their fields. Probably because not enough forethought was given when choosing the career path.

Taking the first decent job that comes along is usually how people end up in the workforce. Everyone has a reason for getting into the workforce without really taking the time to think the choices through. Mostly, it has to do with the bills that start to come in. Bill collectors don’t wait for their money which creates an urgency for you to create income. When I was a young lad, I asked my dad why he chose the career that he had. His reply to me was: “Someone has to do it.” My dad worked as a public servant and he provided very well for his family. To him, providing well for his family meant that he had to sacrifice being happy in his career. It was very disheartening for an impressionable young man to know that his father was working at a job that he did not take satisfaction in doing. Don’t get me wrong, if everyone had their dream job then the world wouldn’t run. Every country runs on the backs of the hard working people that perform the tasks that no one else wants to do. Those people will always be needed and those jobs will always be filled. Obviously want more out of life. Join the rest of us that are chasing our dreams enjoying what life has to offer.

Getting the job or career that you want requires hard work and dedication. Dream jobs are not easy to get, they are the hardest to get, but they are the most rewarding.

Steps to Success

1. Dream big. It’s your life. Make the most of it. Think of where you are and what you have then think of where you want to be. A lot of times it helps to think back to when you were 10 years old and you thought of being an astronaut or firefighter. That’s the kind of dreaming we’re looking for here. No limits. Only you know at what point you will feel successful and you need to set your goals accordingly.

2. Create a plan. How are you going to make step1 happen? Make a rough draft of all the elements that will be required of you to achieve your goal. I say rough draft because as you move through the steps the plan will get more refined. Are you going to need more education? Some funding? A mentor? Take the time to put pen to paper. This important as this is a commitment that you are making to yourself.

3. Do your homework. Doing proper research is the key before getting too far into any project. The more thorough your research, the more you can reduce the chances of making mistakes that could cost you time and money. This stage will be the reality check which will tell you how much of your resources will be involved. This is where you find out how much time and money will be required of you. Once you are confident that you have done sufficient homework and the plan still seems feasible then it’s time to move on to step 4.

4. Put the plan into action. Make small leaps. I say to start out small because most people shy away from their dreams because of the fear of taking a big plunge. Take your time and be as careful as you need to, but do it. The sooner you start the journey, the sooner you will arrive at your destination. Keep your eyes open for opportunities along the way that can benefit you. You will learn along the way and you might find it necessary to modify your plan of action along the way. The only thing standing in the way of your dream is yourself. Do not let yourself get sidetracked and do not let peers with negative attitudes influence you. Surround yourself with positive and supportive people.

Some final thoughts…

Everyday forward no matter what step your are on should include some time allocated to one of these steps. Your journey has not been mapped out yet. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes, but learn from them and do your best to minimize them. Success is a mindset. I feel empowered when I take the time to work on my dreams. You’ll feel the same.

The world needs more success stories like yours.