When a colleague leaves the company to pursue her dream job, we are often surprised. We think our “lucky” colleague has finally gotten a break and taking the big leap to go after their dreams. We might be surprised that we feel just a bit envious that they are able to take such a big risk. The reality is, the leap has probably been planned for a very long time. Although many a career story has been told about the “big break” or the serendipitous moment, most great careers have been years in the making and are built one small step at a time.
So before you quit your day job, you may want to prepare and practice so that you’ll be ready when the opportunity comes along. Here are some things to try.
Start small. Every day, take one small step in the direction of your dream job. Ask yourself what you could practice to build the necessary skills to land your dream job. It doesn’t have to be anything big or time-consuming, but it has to be consistent.
Build habits. Over time, these small steps build habits. You practice them often and gain experience. You are building the skills you’ll need to do the job well.
Practice in place. You don’t have to leave your job to start preparing for the next one. You can take small steps every day outside your work schedule. Even better, see if you can try out or practice new skills on the job. Does your company have a newsletter that you can contribute to? If not, could you create one? Is there someone at your company whom you respect and who could mentor you? Is your product idea something your current company would be interested in? Some companies, like Google, have “stretch programs” that allow employees to work in an entirely new department for a short time. These are usually retention strategies, but still.
The idea that you have to make a big change in order to pursue your dreams may not always be right. Rather, doing one small thing every day creates a steady habit of practice and allows you to build your skills. (It may even make your job more interesting!) Whether you decide to go for your dream job at your current company or elsewhere, you’ll be better prepared for the next opportunity.
