Y'know, Reader, we throw around the phrase “dream job” a lot. But after talking to a smart but discouraged young leader this week, I got to thinking: what does a dream job actually mean today?

You might think a dream job has to be a total reinvention—a dramatic leap into a wildly different career.

Like the story I read a few years back about a bank exec who left Wall Street (😈👹👺) to become a goat farmer (😇🌈🌤️).

The simplistic article made the change sound soooo simple: just be bold, add some hay, and you too can be the change you wish to see in the world!

But for most of us, the story’s not so straightforward.

(Honestly, it wasn't for that goat farmer, either, even though the article made it sound easy cheesy (sorry)🧀.)

So if you're currently longing for your dream job, here's what I want you to know:

➡️ You don't have to change everything in your life to change your life at work. ⬅️

You want change? Ask yourself these three questions:

Question 1: What does a dream job really mean to you?

We often fixate on a job title or role. That no longer works.

What we really crave is a dream life during the time we're working.

It's a mistake to spiral figuring out “what job do I want” first. Start instead by asking yourself:

• How do I want to spend my day?
• What do I LOVE doing?
• Who do I want to work with? What are those people like?
• What kinds of problems do I want to solve? What pain do I relieve?

(After all, every job—yes, every job—exists to solve a problem or relieve pain.)

Once you know what lights you up and what drains you, then you can evaluate which roles, paths, or tweaks move you closer to that dream life. ❤️

(If you struggle with answering these questions, my video course Get Career Clear helps you find the answers & more, on your own time and at your own pace. Get started here.)​

Question 2: What are you willing to trade to get what you want?

It's easy to stay stuck in a job that’s “fine” because you assume the tradeoffs are too big to get something better. This sounds like:

• "I'd love to do X, but it doesn't pay anything."
• "I'd be good at Y, but I'd have to start from the bottom."
• "Maybe I could do Z, but I don't have the right education."

Warning! Assumptions kill dreams. ⛈️

Don't assume--discover what the true trade is.

• Are you willing to trade some ego for the chance to learn something new?
• Are you okay feeling like a beginner again—for a while?
• Can you release an old identity, even if it was once successful?
• Do you know your numbers enough to know what money you really need--and what you don't?

Change always has a cost. But stagnation does, too.

So ask yourself: What are you truly willing to trade? Write it down. Make it real. It’s the only way to stop spinning and start choosing.

Question 3: What parts of the dream do you already have?

Now this is where it gets interesting. 🪁

When a client comes to me burned out or craving change, we first look closely at what’s already working.

Often, they’re surprised.

They'd forgotten the good stuff while focusing on the rotten. 👃🏼

Maybe they love their team. Maybe they enjoy the customer interactions. Maybe they have more freedom and power than they realize.

Once we inventory the good, we can look at what you can change about what’s not working. For example:

• Can you ask for something more directly?
• Propose a new project or experiment?
• Have that tough conversation with your leader?

(BTW, my book Red Cape Rescue: Save Your Career Without Leaving Your Job shares 15 practical ways to take back control of your work without starting from scratch. If you're feeling stuck, it's an easy-to-read guide that'll help you move forward, fast.)

✨ Bottom line?

You don’t always need to burn it all down to find your dream job. You just need to ask better questions.

Let’s start there.

So how 'bout you? What are the elements of YOUR dream job? Hit REPLY and let me know. Or if you have questions about the questions here, just ask. I always love hearing from you (and yes, there's a human on the other end of this note.🫀)

Your dreams don't have to be far away--and may even be closer than you think. If you're ready for coaching to help, schedule a consultation here and let's get started. Time to soar!

Always, Darcy

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