What is a Dream Job?
Separating The Hype From The Happiness
Lots of people casually talk about looking for their dream job, but no one ever defines what a dream job really is.
Too often, people's idea of a dream job is based on a fantasy instead of a realistic look at what they would love to get paid to do all day.
What A Dream Job Is Not
So here is what a dream job is not. Any one of these items means the job you have or are considering taking on is not the one you dream of. Specifically, a dram job is not a job that ...
- pays you big bucks for doing little or no work
- requires no special skills, knowledge or passion
- only makes life a bit more bearable
- takes over your life and leaves you empty
- takes more than it gives
- puts you on an endless cycle of job hopping
- under whelms you
- leaves you wondering what you are supposed to be doing with your life
- makes life seem mundane and ordinary
- depresses your soul and your spirit
- makes you choose between it and the people you love
- justifies itself by giving you a gold watch at retirement
- involves working with people you hate
- makes your community and the world worse
- leads you astray from the joys and passions of life
- negatively impacts your self esteem
- makes you respect yourself less
- erodes your self confidence
- makes you feel small or insignificant
- stresses you out
- feels like it is one size too small
- drives you crazy (but not in a good way)
- you take to please other people
- settle for and try to make the best of
- makes you feel stupid, dumb or just plain ignorant a lot of the time
- makes you work for, around or with people who look down on you
- is killing you
- does not pay you what you are really worth
- makes you behave like you do not care
- squashes your potential
- hides your best qualities and abilities
- makes you go against your principles
- undermines your values and relationships
- lacks challenge and curbs ambition
- turns you into someone you don't like
As you can tell, this is a pretty long list of things that are not part of any dream job --- no matter how well it pays or how hard you worked to get it. And if any of these items apply to the job you currently have -- or dream of having ... Guess what? It isn't a dream job.
As Ms. Nicey would say ... its a whole lot of foolishness ... and maybe it is time to clean house. To do that, start by identifying the type of job you have.
If you get the gist of the list above (flies in the ointment that spoil any job, including your dream job), perhaps you might be interested in ...
What A Dream Job Really Is
So what exactly is a dream job? It is a real job that pays handsomely to do great work .. work you love. You can tell it is a dream job because it is a job that ...
- rewards you well for your special skills, knowledge and passion
- gives more than it takes
- puts you on your desired career path
- makes you feel that you know what you are supposed to be doing with your life
- makes life seem blessed and extraordinary
- inspires your soul and spirit
- makes you feel wonderful
- fulfills you
- pays you well for your time and energy
- brings you closer to the people you love
- justifies itself by making you excited to start the day
- involves working with people you love
- makes your community and the world better
- leads you towards the joys and passions of life
- positively impacts your self esteem
- makes you respect yourself more
- makes you feel great and empowered
- provides you with the benefits and perks that are meaningful to you
- builds your self confidence
- makes you feel generous and significant
- you pleases you deeply
- gives you the feeling everything is right with the world (even if it could use a few changes)
- doesn't let you settle and allows you to make the best of yourself
- makes you feel smart a lot of the time
- brings you to life and keeps you feeling that way
- pays you what you are really worth
- recognizes and develops your potential
- highlights your best qualities and abilities
- upholds your principles and allows you to live them
- supports and strengthens your values and relationships
- challenges you to grow, evolve and succeed
- turns you into who you were meant to be
Okay, so now you have a better idea of what a dream job is and is not. Are you ready to ...
discover what your dream job is?
