It starts with an innocent question - Do you chase a dream job or focus on building the life you want? We often equate ambition with success. If you're not pushing yourself to the limits, striving for that corner office or a hefty paycheck, are you even trying? But Gosia poses a challenge to this notion. Ambition is a tool, not the destination.
The Journey Matters
Remember those days when all you wanted was a job, any job, to sustain yourself? Maybe that job required a four-hour commute, maybe it consumed all your waking hours. You were trapped in ambition's allure. But was that life fulfilling? When did the commute, the long hours, start overshadowing the 'dream' part of the 'dream job'?
Ambition vs. Lifestyle Design
Lifestyle design is the art of molding our lives around what truly matters to us, not just career milestones. If all you think about is the job you want, you're looking through a narrow lens. Step back. Ask instead, "What life do I envision?" Maybe it’s one filled with community, family time, or nature walks.
The Changing Parameters of Success
Ambition changes. At 25, success might be the corner office. At 35, it might be a balanced work-family life. At 45, perhaps it’s making a positive impact in your community. These aren't just age benchmarks; they're life's shifting milestones.
The Trap of Waiting
Wait for discomfort, or act at life's big events? Marriage, kids, or a country move – they all reshuffle priorities. Instead of waiting for the world to dictate your path, seize these moments. Reflect. Design. Adapt.
Books, Reflections, and Choices
We stumble upon resources, like "The Good Enough Job" book. It reminds us that the world is full of tools to guide our journey. But always circle back to the pivotal question: "What kind of life do I want?" It's more profound than "What job do I want?"
Testing The Waters
Dreaming is just the first step. Want to live by a lake? Rent a house. See if that's what happiness feels like. Don’t just ask if your dream life is possible. Assume it is.
Believing in Possibilities
Everything is achievable if you look in the right places. Can’t find a job by the lake in your city? Maybe it’s time to start a business there or look internationally. Limitations are often self-imposed.
Seeking Stories, Sharing Growth
What’s your story? Has your ambition been in harmony with your lifestyle needs? Let's learn and grow from each other's experiences.
Questions to ponder:
- Do you see ambition as a positive or negative force in your life?
- Have you ever felt trapped by your own ambition?
- What does "lifestyle design" mean to you?
- How often do you reassess what kind of life you want?
- How has the idea of a “dream job” evolved for you over the years?
- Which has taken priority in your life – your job or your desired lifestyle?
- How willing are you to make significant changes to align your life with your true desires?
- Have you ever tested a life you thought you wanted? What did you learn?
- Do you believe every dream is achievable? Why or why not?
- What limitations, if any, have you imposed on yourself?
- How do you plan to design your life in the next five years?
