Get out of a rut and follow my dream
Cat asks:
I recently left what I considered to be a very dull staff writing job in journalism to go freelance, and so far have been very successful in terms of the commissions I’ve received through old contacts and word of mouth.
It might seem like a perfect situation, but I left my permanent job to write about things I really wanted to and am now stuck in the freelancers’ trap of accepting every offer that comes my way because it’s good easy money and less frightening than branching out into undiscovered (and potentially unsuccessful) territory.
How can I get out of my rut and pursue my original goal?
Mike Blissett says..
You're right; it does seem like a perfect situation! The secret is to remember that. Take yourself back to how you felt around this time, say midweek, when you were still at the day job. Feel how it used to get you in the pit of your stomach knowing you could be so much more. Sense again the frustration that hung over you like some heavy cloud. Then look around at how much you've changed your World.
There is a great book by John Gray, 'How To Get What You Want, and Want What You Have'. I feel it might be the perfect read for you at the moment.
I feel what you're telling me is that you're half way there with your plan, but have the jitters - is that right? How many hours a day do you freelance? How can you fit that into your chosen work? Believe me, there are always enough hours. So get logical, get inventive, write down your schedule and begin to include some of the chosen 'ideal' stuff right now. Many times we preclude any potential success in our lives by insisting it must either be this way or that, a or b, black or white.
You know different, so begin painting a different picture. One word about failure; embrace it, try to understand it if it comes calling, give it a hug - because it is in these times we learn and move forward the most. All fear of failure does is paralyse us to the spot so we move nowhere.
Remember; there's only one thing more frightening than moving forward, and that's standing still.
How to Get What You Want and Want What You Have
This is a wonderful book to help you move out of your rut and get on with persueing your dreams.
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