How to Make Sure You Don't Turn Your Dream Job into a Nightmare?

Filed in archive opportunities on March 22, 2007

Anti-9-to-5 Guide (a book on fleeing the cubicle for good) author Michelle Goodman has this open thread discussion on her blog about how to survive as a short-timer as requested by one of her readers:

She gave her own tips on how to endure the few more months of your hated job to make sure you are ready to take the most awaited leap to your dream job.

1. Made a chart to denote my financial goal (save up enough money for a down payment on a Seattle-area shack) and checked my progress daily to remind myself why the frack I was commuting two miserable hours a day. This silly little ritual stopped me from quitting no less than eleven dozen times. Eyes on the prize, baby!

2. Cozied up to other non-drones so I had people to commiserate with, but more importantly, so I had down-to-earth "real" folks to share laughs, walks outside, CD recommendations, American Idol critiques, and anything else even remotely life-affirming with. It's the little things in office life that help you hang on...

3. Always had a writing project going on the side (usually an article or essay due for some book, website, or magazine) so I had something to look forward to after work. This also gave me something that fed my soul to work on during the onerous bus ride to work and/or lunchtime. Writing for even 30 minutes before or during the workday (at lunch) meant the difference between a really shitty mood and a really sunny outlook for me, mainly because it meant that I was doing something for moi (and not just for my megacorp employer) during the hours of the day when I was at my freshest and most creative.

Many of us who are still in the dreaming process of our career shifts can benefit well from Michelle's tips. If you'd like to share your own way of making things a bit easier while waiting to make that leap, please feel free to drop a comment or visit Michelle's blog.