A Dream Job is Exactly What it is; A Dream

Here is why you need to wake up real quick

So, what is your definition of a dream job?

Whatever it is, it would probably include these three features; A fantastic salary; insane perks, and work that fulfills you.

I often liken a new job to a new marriage. There is the honeymoon phase packed with so much excitement and expectations, the exhilaration of better pay, and the elation of a brand-new start.

It is not difficult to understand why new beginnings are always exciting. It brings with it the hope of something different, better, and bigger.

Sometimes, the “different and better” is a simple fact that we have exited the unemployment market and can now pay our bills. Other times, our new “better” is that we have left a toxic work environment and a difficult boss.

Yet, a few months or years into the job, the enthusiasm begins to taper off. The pay doesn’t seem as fantastic anymore, the work is not as challenging and our once inspiring bosses have become “dull drags”.

The previous excitement we had is replaced by a growing sense of discontent and we begin to justify our desire to move unto the very elusive “next big thing”.

It’s an almost predictable work-life circle of an employee; the new job/honeymoon phase, and the inevitable divorce/resignation phase that happens in the not-so-distant future.

Why is this so? And what can be done about it? Here is what I have learned.

A dream job is only a dream job until you get it.

A few years ago, I decided to transition from my job as a litigation counsel to a transaction associate. I had done civil and criminal litigation and had gradually grown weary of courtroom theatrics, or so I thought.

So, I pivoted, and got a job in a commercial Law-firm in the city I lived in, it was an exciting time, and I couldn’t wait to start.

Few months after starting the new role as a transaction associate in the firm, I began to question my decision and wondered if I had made the right choice. I had missed the courtroom drama, after all, the adrenaline rush of dealing with new clients and taking on different cases every single day.

One minute I was a Petitioner’s counsel in a matrimonial causes matter, the next minute I was representing an accused person in a robbery matter. I thought I had grown tired of it, but now I desired it, being a transaction counsel on the other hand meant that I spent more time reviewing contracts, drafting agreements, and structuring deals.

In the following years after transitioning into a transaction associate, I would further pivot into a job as an in-house solicitor in the financial services sector. The journey has always been the same, starting with an excitement that is often displaced by a craving to do something more, different, newer.

Over the years, I have learned that this seemingly insatiable quest for something “different”, is based on an internal need that cannot be satisfied by external factors. The fact is, a dream that is achieved is no longer a “dream”, perhaps, it’s a clear case of the “thrill” being in the “chase”.

So, here is the not-so-good news, your job isn’t meant to satisfy you. Don’t get me wrong, it is great to do a job that is fulfilling and satisfying, if you find one, by all means, stick to it.

The reality however is that we are more likely to do work that does not satisfy or fulfill us to earn a living. It is a fact of life, it is for this reason that most movies portray workers in the corporate world as dull, stuck-up, and unfulfilled because it mirrors the reality of the world, we live in.

Yet, when I find myself in a job that is not entirely satisfying, I ask myself these questions;

Does it pay the bills, does it give me health Insurance, does my income allow me save and invest, am I learning new skills, am I making new positive connections, how long do I have to do this, what other options do I have, and what can I do outside of work that fulfills me?

The answers to these questions often help provide perspective and clarity, and sometimes the requisite drive to not just deliver on the job, but to also thrive at something one may no longer enjoy doing.

It’s a startling realization but it’s true, your job isn’t meant to fulfill you.

There Are many facets of yourself; Explore the “Itch”

In previous generations, people often focused on doing just one thing. Medical doctors were just medical doctors, lawyers were lawyers, and if you were in finance, well, that was all you did. The reality is that man has multiple talents and different gifts, and often these gifts yearn for some form of expression, our failure to explore our other talents is what results in the emptiness we feel in our day-to-day jobs. I like to refer to these “yearnings” as the “itch”.

The “itch” isn’t necessarily a bad thing, it is nature’s way of reminding us that we were made for more. Rather than recognize this, we unwittingly blame it on the work we do. Regular 9–5 people like me who work in the corporate world often fall prey to this trap.

Today, technology has created platforms where we can explore different parts of who we are, and we should exploit it to the best of our abilities. It is not mutually exclusive to explore our creative juices whilst working in a corporate 9–5 job or any paid job for that matter.

In recent times, what we consider as work is evolving, and will continue to evolve. More and more Millennials and Gen Z are refusing traditional corporate jobs and focusing on pursuing work that fulfills them, whilst learning to commercialize their skills.

What’s more, one must admit that the corporate world is more embracing of employees who choose to pursue passion projects outside their formal work, forward-looking employers encourage this. They recognize that it allows for a more rounded worker, and employees bring their full re-invigorated self to work when they are encouraged to explore their passion projects.

When you get that fantastic job, begin to plan your exit, it isn’t deceitful, it’s called contingency planning

I have often wondered why employees regard planning their exit from an organization as some form of disloyalty to the organization. The best time to start planning your exit is the moment you get a new job when things are rosy, your boss still likes you, and there is no global pandemic.

The fact is that when organizations want to lay off employees, they usually do it dispassionately. No, they aren’t thinking of your mortgage or health insurance, they do not ruminate over how you will pay your rent or grocery bills; They.Just.Do.It.

Employees should learn a thing or two from the corporate world, by preparing for their exit dispassionately too. A very good job can give one a false sense of security, and it is better to be prepared than to be caught unawares.

COVID-19 has taught businesses to build resilience by putting in place efficient business continuity plans and processes. Employees also need to build personal financial resilience by putting in place a solid “PLAN B”. It’s not selfish, it’s called contingency planning.

Finally, while the work we do will continue to be an inextricable part of who we are, it is unrealistic and impracticable to expect every single job we do to fulfill us.

Sometimes, a job is just a means to an end and that’s okay, other times, if we are lucky, it provides us a huge platform to do work that impacts humanity for good. Whatever the case is, we must all proceed on this journey of self-discovery to identify what truly completes us and make that itch stop!

So, I ask again, what is your definition of a dream job?