“You don’t become what you want; you become what you believe.”
Oprah winfrey
Who isn’t a fan of Oprah and her catchphrase, the aha moment? I have always followed Oprah and remember on one episode the discussion came around to goals and the notion of, “If you dream it, you will become it.” I followed the power of suggestion and, in my job hunt, started to write down what was essential to have in a job. I didn’t define my dream job in terms of 9-5, salary, or any standard terms. Instead, I wrote down my non-negotiables.
My list looked like this:
- A company whose beliefs I can stand behind
- The ability to use my blended background
- A challenge
- Fun included
- Something where I could see results
- Working with a team
- A short commute
- Flexibility
These words sat on a piece of paper for quite some time. I kept in the back of my mind the advice I had heard long ago – you will unconsciously make choices that move you closer to your goals. Occasionally, I would look at that list, scribble in something new or cross some things off. When it came time to change jobs, I referred to the list.
Today, and I am a freelance writer working from home, helping small businesses with their marketing communication. In going back to this list of must-haves from years ago, I realized that what I had written was not only my wish list in a job, it was also a chronicling of some of my values, the things that I hold dear, and prioritize above all else in life. The inventory revealed principles of positivity, balance, community, tenacity, and calculated creativity.
How is that for an aha moment? Check out my new business website with an updated portfolio of my professional work and a bit about how I arrived at this point.
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Image by Free-Photos from Pixabay
