Do you remember dreaming about the future as a child? Perhaps you wanted to be a doctor, a movie star or a pilot? The possibilities seemed so real and achievable then, yet sometimes, the older we get the less of a reality our dreams become. A commonly held perception by my clients is that they are too old to change careers or too old to start something new. Other objections include fear of failure, worry about employability or a reduction in salary.
So how do you live your dreams without risking it all? Well if you aren’t ready to take a big leap, think about how you incorporate your passion into your current life. A slow transition to a new area can be incredibly rewarding – you can keep your day job, try out a new career, and have fun along the way.
Erin, from Hootchy Kootchy Girls (check out www.nzburlesque.co.nz for upcoming shows) has done exactly that. Erin has a full-time day job, but by night runs a classy burlesque show. Burlesque is a broad term which covers anything from the raunchy dancing style favoured by Dita von Teese to the more conservative, theatrical and slightly comedic style used by the Hootchy Kootchy Girls. It all sounds incredibly glamorous, but Erin was also quick to share the real behind the scenes action of sewing, rehearsing, booking venues and marketing. So why do it?
Erin’s second job as the Hootchy Girls Manager, is a reflection of her performance and people talents, what makes her smile and gives her joy. It has taken perseverance and discipline, but by indentifying what she is good at and developing a clear vision, Erin has created her own opportunity to live her dream “you need to go back to what speaks to –something that makes you smile, and fills you with joy and humour”.
So how can you create your own opportunities to live your dreams?
Find your passion
Think about what you love doing? What draws your attention in magazines? What is it you are doing when time seems to fly?
Create your own opportunities
Erin spotted an opportunity in the New Zealand market several years ago and decided to create a dance troupe to take advantage of this gap. Over time this may transition to a full time role, or it may just continue to add extra variety and fulfilment to her existing career.
How can you do this with your passions?
You could volunteer, take classes, start a club, work part-time, or make friends with people who have similar interests. Think about someone who always wanted to be a make-up artist, but doesn’t want to stop work to complete the training or do it full-time. Could they fulfil this passion by helping out local theatre groups with make-up? Do a part-time course? Writing articles or e-books on make-up for beginners? The opportunities are out there – you just have to take some action to get the ball rolling!
Keep exploring
Sometimes we try something and it doesn’t work, or it turns out we don’t like it as much as we expected! That is actually good news. If you always hold on to a dream but do nothing to test it, it will hold you back from forming new dreams. The more things we try, the more information we have to make great career decisions.
Don’t wait for your lucky break – start creating your own opportunities, give yourself permission to start living your dreams, and see the amazing benefits that result.
For help in finding your passion, go to www.careeranalysts.co.nz or contact Career Analysts for more information on 09 356 9758.