By Willie Spears, Guest Columnist
I have lived an extraordinary life. Hopefully, I will have many more years to live. In this life, I have had several dream jobs. I want to share with you how I landed these incredible opportunities. As of this writing, I am working in yet another dream job with several streams of income. I am not rich, but I am living my dream because of these five principles:
- Realize you are always interviewing. Every conversation and interaction is an interview.
- Leverage your friendships by sharing your dreams with your friends.
- Outwork everyone in the building.
- Fail more.
- Take more risks.
A few years ago, I realized networking was not the answer to landing the job or opportunity I sought. I did not need to network because I already knew enough people. I believe you already know enough people to land the job you desire. Once you meet the qualifications, it is a matter of using the relationships you have cultivated and borrowing their influence to land your dream job.
I have had several dream jobs: rapper, professional football player, comedian, head high school football coach, Division One football coordinator, school administrator, author, actor, motivational speaker and evangelist. My family and I live in a beautiful home in a dream location one mile from the world’s most beautiful beaches. If you know me, you know this is not me bragging, but revealing the blessing God has allowed me to experience. I want you to have the same experiences. If you know me, you also know I used to live in a single-wide trailer, drive a purple car with no air conditioning, waited tables for years and failed the teacher certification exam 12 times.
You also know my mom committed suicide, my dad had prostate cancer, my daughter has type one diabetes, my son has Chron’s Disease, and no one’s life is as good as Facebook suggests, including mine.
However, I have landed several dream jobs, and I want to share my secret to success with you.
What if we have been given key relationships in our lives specifically placed there to help us in ways we never imagined? What if those people were not just acquaintances, but strategic relationships placed in our lives to help us walk in our purpose and live our dreams? I earned a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree, but they have little to do with my track record of landing jobs.
The discipline of leveraging relationships has helped me realize my dreams repeatedly. I still cannot believe the things I dreamed about have happened. Some of our old strategies for living need to be realigned if we are going to pursue our strategy and goals.
Only a small percentage of people live out their dreams. The ones who don’t could change that by making a small change to see different results. Hidden somewhere between laws and principles are secrets that prove to be life-changing once revealed and practiced. I am a living witness. You already know everyone you need to know. Many of us dreamed of a different life than the one we live now. We are uniquely wired to do great things. The problem is life has gotten in the way of our dreams.
Review the five principles listed and go for it! You got this!
“Now Hiring” is a weekly article written by author and public speaker Willie Spears, a Northwestern alumnus. He has written 13 books and travels around the country, adding value to the lives of others through his books and dynamic presentations. Learn more at www.williespears.com.