The Journey You Want May Not Be The Journey You Are Meant To Take

Landing your dream job is one of the many things we all strive to achieve during our working life.  It is the job we think we want to most above all other jobs. It is the job we expected to bring us the most joy. Unfortunately, this may not always be the case. Also, there is a strong chance it is going to be a hard journey getting there.

The Journey – What We Expect

Once we graduate college (if we go to college), we have the expectation employers will be right there waiting shortly after we are given our diplomas. These generous companies want to pay us a handsome wage to perform the duties WE want to do for them. After all, why wouldn’t they? We went to college for 4-8 years to get this advanced degree the companies and society are telling us we need! It would make perfect sense to hire us to perform these functions.

Some of the more daring of us may even pursue the option of embarking out on our own. We have seen how companies are making money through the normal functions of their companies, and we believe we have the aptitude to do something similar. Thus, we are deemed, entrepreneurs! We are the Lewis and Clark of new business! Our goal is to find and provide a new product or service to the masses at a reasonable price. We will be super successful. 

The Journey – What Typically Happens

Once we have crossed that stage with a diploma in hand and $50,000 of student debt, we are thrown to the wolves. This is not a direct interpretation, but rather metaphorical wolves. Soon the student loan providers will begin requesting payments for the money they provided to you with interest of course. You may be kicked out of the dorms or housing as it was conditional upon you being in school. Lastly, other parent contributions provided while you were in school will likely also stop as you are now graduated.

Although these are not bad degrees, they are simply more niche jobs you would have to find.  Assuming you have a business degree of some kind, you should have a relatively easy time finding a job if you are in a robust market environment. Again, you will be constrained by the demographics you are in. For those who CAN find a job, it will likely NOT be in their direct field of study. It probably will not be something they even want to do. To make matters worse, the new job will not pay you generously. You will start out at entry level work and pay. It will not be glorious, but it WILL be a job to pay the bills.

The Journey – There Is Hope!

The above might sound a bit depressing. However, keep in mind everything you are going to go through is about stepping stones. There is a reason CFO’s and CEO’s are not hired directly out of college. The same can also be said for your dream job. Although it is not likely you will get your dream job right out of college, it is probably for a reason. Again. this can be related to the entrepreneurs out there. Unless you have a strong business plan with other capital, you will probably not be able to gain the backing to get moving with your company. You will have to keep the mindset of Bob Geoff who talks about his current job as being “fundraising” for his real passion. You can think of any job you take while preparing for your own business as “fundraising” as well.

Keep in mind, you will not have to stay at that first job forever. Once you have gained experience, you can always look for a new company to work for to increase your “fundraising” contributions. I would suggest NOT to change jobs more than once every 2-3 years. Otherwise, there will be a pattern on your resume as job hopping. Granted, if your current job is unbearable, you should change if possible. There is no need to work somewhere which is damaging to your health.

The most important aspect of this is the journey. You will not know where it is going to take you. However, it is very important for you to never give up on your dreams. Stay focused on what you want to accomplish with your career or business. If you do not want to listen to me, listen to Journey with the lyrics, “Don’t stop believing, hold on to that feeling.”

You can do this!