Work, Work, Work.
I think that sometimes the whole “chasing your dreams” idea can make us a little snobby about good opportunities.
Because really, it’s pretty easy to tell yourself that you’re working hard when you’re sitting around pinning motivating quotes on pinterest that are going to help you work hard once a good opportunity comes along.
It’s easy to wait for your dream to walk past you before you start chasing it.
It’s a lot harder to start chasing it when it’s nowhere in sight and you have no idea if you’re ever even going to catch up to it.
This month, I decided I was going to take every opportunity that came my way (within reason, of course). If applied for a bunch of freelancing that I really didn’t want to do. I worked my butt off for opportunities that paid way less than they should of. I did so much boring writing that I thought my eyeballs just might fall out.
And you know what?
Freelance writing freaking paid a good portion of my rent this month.
No, it wasn’t the type of writing that I love. It wasn’t glamorous. It didn’t come with cups of coffee and creativity and excitement. But I got a paycheck from writing. And that’s pretty cool.
If there’s a step you can take that puts you even a little bit closer to where you want to be, take it. Even if it’s not the most glamorous step. Even if it doesn’t come with confetti and butterflies, like you always thought that following your dreams would look like.
While you’re sitting around waiting for that right step to come along, you could have taken ten of those hard working, not so fun steps. And I think those tend to lead you a heck of a lot closer to where you should be.
Bottom line being that sometimes you just have to roll up your sleeves, throw on some Iggy, and get to work.
Happy Pumpkin Spice Latte Day! What does chasing your dream look like to you?
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I LOVE this! I got an interview request today and wasn't sure if I should take it… Until now. That's one of my favorite quotes, too! Have a great Monday!
I'm with ya on this one. We may have dreams, but we must do something so we can eventually reach those dreams. Freelancing is exactly where I'm at as well. :] // itsCarmen.com ā¼
I needed this motivation this morning. And seriously, I was more excited for Pumpkin Spice Latte Day today than Christmas coming. Yum!
oh i love this whole entire post!!! needed this today, PREACH!
I completely agree. I've done many freelance editing projects lately, and some have made me want to rip my hair out. Thanks for the reminder! š
This is very true and encouraging! "Good things come to those who hustle" is more motivating than "those who wait," isn't it? š
Happy PSL day! And I've been thinking about this a lot lately and I know I need a good kick in the rear to get myself going. Where do you find your freelance writing gigs? Because I never know where or how to look.
This gets me totally fired up. I have HUSTLED too!!! Not with blogging but with LOTS of other things from babysitting from the age of 10 to having my own business. Some fellow acupuncturists would tell me that our city was over saturated with Acupuncturists etc and that it was not a lucrative career any longer. Well, I HUSTLED my hiney off, working for very little for other successful people (to learn the biz) while I built my business, got a rep and then BOOM it took off into a wait list kind of private practice. That was AFTER having a roommate, never eating out and working 12 hour days. I was hungry…literally!! š
SUCH a good post! couldnt agree more!
Great view on things. Too many of us sit around and wait instead of doing! I need to get myself motivated like you.
So great. I need to start the HUSTLE. lol
Thats amazing! Totally agree. Go after what you want always!! xx
http://afterallissaidanddunn.blogspot.com/
this was the perfect thing i needed to read today chica š i am currently looking at ways to bring more of what i love into my career. here's to rolling up the sleeves for some hard work! š xo
cheshirekatblog.com
LOOOVE this. It couldn't have come at a better time. I work from home full time blogging and doing design.. and sometimes there are things I just don't feel like doing, but I have to kick myself a serious kick in the butt and do those things anyways because they PAY THE BILLS. And bills need to be paid. š
I love this! I do quote of the day warm-ups and this would be perfect with my high schoolers!
xo,
Jacqueline
stylininstlouis.com
You're totally right on this! And the main takeaway from this is ACTION. Less talking, more doing. Less pinning more working and hard. Plus all of the extra work at your craft will help you hone your skill and in your case expand your writing abilities beyond the types that you already do.
Key guideline here though is "within reason". After graduating with a Comms, Adv and Marketing degree I took the first grad Marketing job I applied for fearing that I wouldn't get anything else. It was for a tech company so naturally the CEO was very black and white on pretty much anything and would shoot you down pretty quickly. He was also like this for creative ideas and once let us get all the way through to almost executing a campaign (having spent hours on idea gen, concept development and design) then decided he didn't like it. This with a number of things really knocked my confidence and self esteem, it also was the start of anxiety. I guess the point I'm making here is if something isn't making you happy, or is negatively affecting you in some way then it's not right for you and you need to change something/leave.
http://www.notlikethemoviesblog.com
Get it!! I definitely get my motivation when I'm pinning, only to lose the motivation instantaneously after closing the Pinterest app. š
Keep up doing what you love, even if it's not the type of writing you would ultimately want to do. It's still paying rent…and may lead to something you ACTUALLY want to do.
xo Denise
That's a really amazing accomplishment! You go girl. š
Get it! Truth.
Getting paid to write is so important as a writer. It may not be what you want to write but it builds the writing muscles. Congrats.
Just do the damn thing, no matter what it takes. Even small stepping stones are still stepping stones.
That is SO amazing- I cannot imagine being paid to write- that is so wonderful that all your hard work paid off! While it may not be exactly what you love to write about, writing is your passion, and that's amazing that you're paid to use your passion in any capacity!
Get it, girl! Thanks so much for this reminder. You're right- sometimes the roads to our dreams have interesting "detours" and routes… they may not always be what we plan but they sure teach us a lot on the way!
That's awesome! One of my plans for the summer was to start looking for freelance writing work, but my summer was swept away with family and a new job. Have you been looking for freelance work online?
Such a great post and so true! A lot of people think about being productive and achieving their dreams rather than taking action! Love, love this :).
Preach, girl! Good words. I am wondering, though, if you could perhaps write about how to go about freelance writing. I have never done it before, but is definitely something I'm interested in. But I honestly don't know how to go about doing it!
I loved reading this! this is so motivational for me, thanks for sharing!
styleandchocolates.blogspot.com
I've applied for a few free lance writing gigs and I think I apply to the wrong places. A few have panned out, but not many. Great job!!
I needed to see this! Thank you!! I'm not where I want to be, but no one is going to get me where I want to go. Time to start pushing myself harder!
this is a great post, and so true. sometimes you have to do things you dont love in order to get to do what you do. congrats on your paycheck from writing š
This is sooooo TRUE…..I should really jump on those type things….would love to earn a paycheck writing! Even from the boring stuff!
LOVE this. Good for you for taking some opportunities. You never know what they will lead to. Plus, money isn't a bad thing to have š
i LOVE this. seriously. maybe it includes a man asking to speak to you soonest as well.
Love this post!!! could not have picked a better blog to visit this morning
xo Jessica
http://www.NewlyLoved.com
Loving that quote! Great Post š
xoxo,
Chelsea | Chow Down by the Bay
So true! Sometimes you just gotta buckle down and do things you don't like. I also think that working at things that aren't our favorites help us appreciate our dreams more when they come to fruition.
Not sure what I love more, the fact that you did work, the Iggy reference of the PSL shot out…or because your name is Chelsea. No really, I can't decide :))
This is a great post. I need to drag myself out of that blasted comfort zone and get to work.
haha totally agree. i've definitely pinned some of those quotes.. thinking that this is helping my life. but chasing your dreams actually requires a lot of sacrifice and work. when i started my wedding photography business.. everyone kept telling me how fun it must be to do what i love and have a flexible schedule.. and while that was true.. they didn't see that I was working 80 hour weeks to make sure i'm doing what i want. now, i'm trying to figure out what it means to hustle in the blogging world.
Yes and yes and yes! We have all if these glamorous inspirational quotes and pins about work and goals but at the end of the day the road to achieve our goals isn't always paved with glitter and rhinestones!
"If there's a step you can take that puts you even a little bit closer to where you want to be, take it." YES! Chasing your dreams isn't always glamorous! And the harder you work for it, the more it's worth in my opinion!!!
This so true!! Thanks for sharing.
Great post sweetheart!
Keep in touch xx š
Antonella <3
Being paid to write no matter what the writing is, in my opinion, is an accomplishment!
my dreams are huge! i've got big plans. i just need to execute those plans