Work should be a part of life that brings you joy. But all too often, we find ourselves in situations where work is what pays the bills, and we move our true passions to the side. Somehow, someway, circumstances take us to a moment when we realize the job we do every day does not make us feel fulfilled or happy. The good news is it doesn’t have to stay that way. No matter how old you are or what type of work you’re in, it’s never too late to reassess and think about following your dreams.
Where to Start
It might feel overwhelming to decide this is what you want to do. The first thing you need to consider is what you’re passionate about. Try writing down all the things that bring you joy in your life outside of work. If you already know what this is, that’s perfect – just roll with it. But if not, really think about it; this is not a decision that you should, or have to, make immediately. Once you do make it, however, it would be best if your next step was considering how you might be able to make a living while including what you’re passionate about.
Set Some Goals
Up next would be setting some goals. Think about what you need to do to get where you want to be. These goals can be small or big. Maybe you need to look into schools where you can get the degree you need. Or perhaps you need to find out what it would cost to open your own business. Whatever it might be, set short-term goals and long-term goals to help you achieve them. You’ll feel terrific about it when you start to meet those goals.
Put Yourself Out There and Be Willing to Take a Risk
The truth is, none of this is going to work if you aren’t willing to put yourself out there and take a risk. That might not be the easy thing to do, but the rewards tend to be more significant when the risk is slightly higher.
A Local Example
Andrea Cardwell from As Good as It Gets has gone from working a job she did not love to owning her own company where she sells handmade salsa, pickles, chow chow, and pickled beets in 55 stores. She understands the value of believing in yourself and pushing for a life you want. Though this didn’t happen overnight, she is so proud of what she has accomplished. “I have always wanted to own my own business, but I never knew what it would be,” said Andrea. “This business grew organically out of something I already loved to do, cooking. When people buy my products, it makes me feel so good. I am so proud of how far I have come.”
Cardwell put herself out there to make this company work. As Good as It Gets began in 2016 when her garden was overrun with tomatoes and she decided to make salsa. It went over REALLY well. Her coworkers loved it and said, if you sold this, we would buy it. This was an interesting time in Cardwell’s life; she’d been divorced three years, she had started school in 2014 to complete a college degree, and her job was very unfulfilling. She decided she would start looking into what she would need to do to sell her salsa. In February of 2017, she unexpectedly lost her mother. It was hard, and by Mother’s Day of that year, she struggled to deal with it. On that day, she spoke with her aunt, who encouraged her and told her she would always have her back. She cut back her hours at work and started putting 100% into the business. By October 2017, she quit her job, and this became her full-time career.
Today, Cardwell still makes every jar by hand and delivers them herself. She works seven days a week, but she ensures a consistent product and feels proud to put her name on every jar.
If you’re thinking of doing something different with your career, now might be the time to think about it a little more. It’s never too late to follow your dreams, and you are worth the investment in yourself.
