Your Dream Job Won’t Feel Any Different

In college, I interned for an awesome advertising studio called Conscious Minds. They create broadcast and digital content for the world’s biggest brands. Nike, Snapchat, Red Bull, Levi’s, you name it. 

My intern duty was to categorize and log about 1,500 different freelancers in their network. For 8 hours a day, I reviewed their portfolios, rated them, and categorized them on a massive spreadsheet. While I learned a lot doing this, it wasn’t always very enthralling work. 

So to give my brain a break, I observed other people in the office.

Enter Travis. 

Travis was the accounts manager. His job was to communicate with clients, deliver work to them, interpret their feedback, and make sure the creators and clients both felt taken care of. And he was so cool. He wore brand new Nikes every day. He had a super chill demeanor. His adorable wife and kids stopped by to give him hugs and kisses. 

Travis never seemed overwhelmed. 

As I continued in my career into social media management, then content producing, I always had this picture of Travis in the back of my mind. One day, I would be like Travis. I would be working with cool brands. I wouldn’t be stressed out. I would be able to afford new Nikes. 

This sounded like my dream job.

Last week I realized something. I have my dream job. I’m working with cool brands. I’m brokering great relationships between creators and clients. I’m wearing cool new Nikes. But guess what? 

I’m still feeling overwhelmed. 

My dream job doesn’t feel any different. Many days, I still feel like the intern who is trying make it. I feel like I’m still in the corner observing, hoping I won’t be found out. 

Travis probably didn’t have it all figured out either. Travis probably wasn’t confident all the time. Travis probably still got stressed. But it didn’t seem like he let that take away his enjoyment of life. His enjoyment of his work. His enjoyment of the moment. 

Your dream job won’t feel any different. You have to make it feel different. Take each day for what it is. Ground yourself in something deeper than your work. Make sure you’re enjoying the moment, appreciating the bad and the good. Your outlook and attitude can change more than experience ever could. 

Good luck out there.

One last thing: a new pair of Nikes can bring a disproportionate amount of confidence. If you have some extra cash, they’re worth the investment.