"Bay Area Employment with the Personal Touch"
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"Bay Area Employment with the Personal Touch" |
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Interview with
Carol McClelland
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| Carol McClelland |
How did you get
started in assisting individuals with their dreams?
When I started my business in 1991, everyone I met wanted to know how I left
the corporate world to start my own business. I started a workshop called
Craving a Career Change and then went on to teach a career assessment course
at San Jose State University. The rest, as they say, is history!
What prevents individuals from really pursuing their dreams?
Fear. Fear that they won't discover what their dream is or fear that once
they know what they want they won't be able to find it.
What misperceptions do people have about the career change process?
Some people believe that if they wait long enough their dream career will
find them. Others take an opportunistic approach by latching onto any career
idea that crosses their path. Neither option works because they are too
passive. To find your true dream career, you must be engaged and excited
about something that uses your skills.
What are the first steps career seekers should take?
The key is to discover what your passions and interests are. When you know
what you are drawn to, then you keep following those clues (books, topics,
conversations, volunteer activities, websites) to identify a career that
will truly work for you.
How long does it take you to reach a dream?
That's a tough question because it depends on the individual, their dream,
and how much energy they are putting into following their dream. On a rare
occasion dreams can happen overnight . . . or within a month or so. But for most
people it's a longer journey.
* First, there's the discovery phase of uncovering your passions.
* Then there's the investigation phase of making sure your idea is indeed
a good fit for you.
* And then there's the implementation phase where you are taking actions
to make your dream real.
Each phase is important to the success of the journey. The best part is that
as long as you are taking steps to reach your dream you will feel motivated
and inspired by your future. There's nothing like waking up in the morning,
knowing you are on the right path.
How can you evaluate if your dream is real or not?
I always recommend that people investigate their dream career idea before
they take the leap. You want to verify that you understand what the job
entails, that it fits with who you are, and that it allows you to live the
life you want. You also want to confirm that the work environment will allow
you to be productive and fulfilled. If any of these elements are a mismatch,
it's possible your dream career might become a nightmare. Do the due
diligence up front before you leave your current position. When you know
it's a good fit you'll be able to move forward with confidence.
Resources? Suggestions for facilitating your dream?
Begin by focusing on how you feel when you are excited by an activity or a topic of conversation. Then the next time you feel that feeling, pay attention to what got you excited. Each time you discover something that interests you, you've found another clue to your dream career. If you want help honing this skill, take a look at my HeartMagnet ebook.
If you know what you are interested in but
you are having a hard time figuring out how to make that into a career, you
may be interested in my Purpose Clarity Program, my Career Clarity Program,
or my book, Your Dream Career for Dummies.
All of these resources are available on
www.careerclarityprogram.com
If you are interested in a green career,
take a look at
www.greencareercentral.com, which is a membership site to help you
transform your passion for the environment into a prosperous career.
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