You have a dear and precious dream about your work. You imagine a career where you get to make a real difference, are respected and sought after, and allows you to express yourself and do your best work. Maybe you don’t have all the pieces figured out yet, but you have a vision of what could be. You even doubt yourself sometimes. Could you really pull this off? Could this really work out for you? Despite your fears, there’s a little “yes” deep down that keeps urging you forward.
But…
What if no one else believes in your career dream?
That would hurt. That would cut.
And that would be just fine.
Because you know what?
The best career dreams don’t get taken seriously at first.
Why should they? They’re a little out there. They require you to do what you’ve never done before, and become who you’ve never been before. It’s not fair to expect everyone else to see and understand the vision that you have for yourself. And you don’t need them to!
You don’t need everyone to understand what you’re up to. You don’t need everyone to approve, co-sign, and get it.
5 Things to Do When No One Believes in Your Career Dream
1. Nurture Your Ideas
This means being protective of them at first. You don’t have to share your ideas with the world before you’re ready.
2. Share Your Idea with You “Get It” Gang
You cannot do this all on your own. You need emotional support, if nothing else. Find individuals or a group of people who get it and understand what you’re trying to create. Seek their feedback and support. Don’t worry about the people who don’t get it yet. It’s not their job to get it, even if it’s your parents or your partner. Do your thing. Talk to your Get It Gang.
3. Test Your Ideas
It’s hard for others (and you!) to take your ideas seriously if they stay ideas and never become actions. Get to work. Experiment. Get out of your head and into the real world.
4. Prove Your Ideas
This is where the tide starts to turn for those early doubters. Some people need to see evidence before they can believe. You get evidence when you actually do the work. People can see that this is real and your ideas bear fruit.
5. Detach From Your Ideas
Some people are just never going to get it. Get ok with that. They’re not obligated to get it, and you’re not obligated to convert them. You don’t need to be offended or hurt by that. Your ideas aren’t for everyone, and they aren’t as fragile anymore. Criticism can come. It might bother you, but it can’t destroy you. You’re strong, and so are your ideas.
So, those people who doubt you at first? Thank goodness for them. They’re letting you know that you’re onto something, and that the work you’re going to do is not for the ordinary.
What matters most is that you take career dreams seriously. Do you?
Laura Simms is the Founder of Your Career Homecoming and a Certified Equity-Centered Coach (IECC) with 15 years of experience guiding high-achievers through meaningful career transitions. She has helped over 400 professionals choose careers with both meaning and money, and her clients have come and gone from places like Google, OWN, NPR, Fortune 500 companies, the FBI, Broadway, and HarperCollins. As the pioneer of the WHOLE Method—a holistic career change strategy—Laura brings a unique approach that integrates purpose with practicality. Her expertise has been featured in US News & World Report. She holds degrees from Furman University and The University of California, Irvine, and has taught at the graduate and undergraduate levels. Based in Atlanta, Laura enjoys thrifting, interior design, and walks in the woods.
