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When you were a child you undoubtedly had no problem envisioning great things for yourself. You were not scared or embarrassed to answer the question: “What do you want to be when you grow up?” Your response was probably a career that requires a great talent, a great skill, or an extensive education. Nonetheless, you had no reason to believe that you could not become a doctor, an actor or an astronaut.

Did you actually enter the profession that you thought you would when you were a child? Did you end up working in a profession that doesn’t truly satisfy your professional passion or your value system? If so, it’s not too late to envision and act upon your dream career. Envisioning your professional future is the first step in achieving those dreams – – and actually becoming what you really want to be!

According to the website WorkFromWithin.com, it is everyone’s personal responsibility to “earnestly check in with yourself and see what it feels like.” In other words, your chosen profession should be based on what your instincts tell you is right.

Don’t Know What You Want to do With Your Life? 

• Evaluate your favorite hobbies.
• Explore your personal values.
• Realize your talents.
• Figure out your optimal working environment.
• Decide what type of people you enjoy working with.
• Figure out what type of mark you want to leave on Earth after you are gone.

Negative Comments? Take them With a Grain of Salt!

It can be difficult to discuss your professional passions and desires with family members and friends because they may respond negatively to your ideas.

When talking about your desired future career, have you received comments such as:

• “Are you crazy? You can’t do that!”
• “You can’t make a living in that career.”
• “How will you support your family?”
• “Nobody respects people in that profession.”

Do these comments sound familiar? Do they make you feel discouraged? Are they causing you to neglect the vision you have for your professional future? As hard as it might be, these comments must be taken with a grain of salt. In other words, you have to realize that your future is for you, and the comments you receive from other people should not crush your professional aspirations.

Happy but Not Satisfied?

You might be in a position where you are happy with your profession but you are not satisfied. Being happy and being satisfied are two separate things. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, happy means: “fortunate or glad.” TheFreeDictionary.com says that satisfied means “content.”

If you are happy with your profession but you are not satisfied, you will ultimately feel unfulfilled and uninspired. Having a vision for your professional future that includes a satisfying job will make you feel as if there is more meaning to your life!

Career Vision Statement

The website QuintCareers.com suggests that creating a Career Vision Statement is important. This type of statement is something that will keep you focused on attaining the profession you envision for yourself in the future.

A Career Vision Statement will help you:

• Stay focused on your professional goals.
• Remind you of where you want to be professionally in the future.
• Keep track of the steps you will need to take in order to move into your desired career path.
• Create a mental image of the direction you want to take with your career.

Take Your Time

Although your life may seem to be whizzing by, you should not rush the development of your career vision statement. You have likely been thinking about and considering your career aspirations for many years. You know what you want for yourself – you just aren’t completely sure how to get there. Take your time and make sure you get it right. But, don’t take too long because before you know it you will be nearing the time in your life when you will want to start thinking about retirement.

Anything is Possible

If you envision your professional future with a career that seems unusual or extraordinary, don’t let anyone try to dissuade you from following your dreams! Be your own advocate! If someone tells you that you cannot pursue the career that you want – prove them wrong! Only you can impact your future. Nobody is going to do it for you. Envision a great future for yourself. Create a Career Vision Statement. Follow your statement. Attain your desired career!

Today’s post is written by M. Fischer for Allstarjobs.com.