If you are reading this, you are most probably interested in changing your career.
This blog is all about succeeding as a new marketer but the 7 tips below are relevant to any one looking to go in a new life direction.
I’ve created this blog for everyone who wants to be location-independent and thinks the marketing field suits their personality and can do well in it.
If you are that person but don’t know where to start, my goal here is to show you how.
Changing your new career is a real challenge.
And doing so while having kids and/or a full-time job may sound close to impossible. I’ve been there, and I know how hard work-life balance can be in the first place, let alone stacking learning and committing to another goal on top of that.
The first step is to get clear on what exactly you want and, most importantly, WHY you want it.
Make sure you define your Why carefully and that it becomes the driving force that motivates you to keep pushing forward.
Then get clear on what direction you want to go to.
Take the Quiz to find out if digital marketing is right for you. If it is, you will learn which of its components is the most suitable one for YOU and your personality.
After all, we should all be after what we love doing best.
Once you find out the best direction for you, write down the answers to the following questions: Why do you want this?
Once you find out the best direction for you, write down the answers to the following questions: Why do you want this?
What will you gain?
What kind of lifestyle are you after?
What will working remotely in digital marketing allows you to do that you can’t currently do?
How will that make you feel?
How will that make your family feel?
Make sure you save your answers somewhere and read them daily.
While reading them, visualize what you and your life will look like when you reach your goals and be consistent in chasing your dream.
Make your Why become the driving force that motivates you to keep pushing forward.
1. Set Your Goals
After clearly describing your Why, setting your goals is the most critical part of your journey to switching your career.
Having clear and written goals will systemize all the work that you have to do. I’m allowing myself five years towards my end goal that is closely connected to my Why.
Then I’ve set up an 18-months goal that’s supporting the bigger 5-year one.
For these 18 months, I’ll be setting up six smaller 3-months goals that will lead me to the 18-months one.
Then I break down the 3-months ones into weekly and daily goals, each supporting the next bigger one.
I have that all written out in a journal, and I also use Trello** boards that I can access on my laptop and on my phone to keep myself organized.
Feel free to use this system.
If not, you can use anything similar that works for your life and situation.
The most important thing is to have your goals set and use them to stay on top of things.
You can include all the other things you have to do during the day and use a calendar form to have your tasks scheduled for specific times of the day.
2. Try Waking Up And Going To Sleep Earlier
Being a parent and having a full-time job often lead to sleep deprivation.
There’s so much that goes on in the life of a parent.
If your kids don’t have a specific bedtime, set it and commit to it.
It can be tricky in the beginning if they aren’t used to it, but when you do it for about 2-4 weeks, that will be the rule, and everyone will be on the same page.
You should also set up a time for when you think it works for you to go to sleep along with your kids.
Think about when you can fit an extra hour or two of learning and work on your goals.
If you work better at night, try to arrange your schedule to have this spare time in peace.
My brain works better in the morning, so I know what time I have to go to bed to get enough sleep and be fresh when I wake up at 5 am.
You can do whatever works for you. Just make sure you intentionally make and schedule this free.
And if there are days it’s not working, don’t give up.
Every day is another chance to go after your dreams.
3. Have morning and night routines
Along with making time to work and educate yourself, I recommend you create morning and night routines.
My morning routine is meditating right after I wake up, some spiritual reading or video, and exercising.
I try to fit all these in the first hour of waking up.
After my first hour each morning, I feel energized and ready to conquer the world.
The best thing is that my boys are still sleeping at that time, and no one interrupts me.
Well, I am in my 7th month of pregnancy while I’m writing this, so I bet you things will look different in two months.
But I prefer to have the mindset that either way, I’ll have to make it work.
Having routines keeps you organized and gives you time to make yourself feel good starting and ending your days.
Other ideas about morning and night routines are:
- journaling, reading
- listening to positive affirmations
- listening to light and relaxing music
- having an energizing drink in the morning and a calming one at night (mint tea yum)
- anything else that you think will set you up for success.
4. Take good care of yourself
All the efforts you make creating time and routines are pretty much a way of taking care of yourself.
But do a little bit extra, especially after achieving a milestone.
I’m not talking about big things, but you can afford a long shower or bath, enjoying a nice bottle of wine with a friend or your partner, going for a nice lunch or walk, or anything that will make you feel better about yourself and relaxed.
When you have big goals ahead of you, it’s imperative to give yourself some time to reflect and think about the big picture.
Don’t push yourself if you know you’re burnt out.
Listen to your mind and body and make them happy.
Marketing, in general, requires a certain level of creativity, and creativity needs a calm and happy mind and body.
5. Get Support
If you are a parent, you most probably are really, really busy.
My husband and I don’t have any family around.
We are the only two people responsible for school drop-offs, pickups, and everything else that goes on in our son’s life.
We are both swamped, goals-driven and we try to support each other as much as possible. Whatever your situation is, think about ways you can get support.
From your partner, family, friends, paid childcare, etc.
Knowing when to ask for help is a very quality to have.
I genuinely hope you have someone to turn to and if not, please believe that better days are coming and never give up.
6. Create A Remote Vision Board
Creating a vision board is one of the best ways to look at your life goals and why’s daily. Visualizing your dreams coming true is a vital part of reaching them.
Create a vision board that you can hang at a place you’ll run into it multiple times a day.
But also make it remote.
Take a picture of it and set it as your wallpaper on your computer, phone, tablet, or FB photo cover (if you feel comfortable with that.)
Set it so you can see it everywhere you turn.
Make sure you include photos, quotes, graphics, and anything else that will help you see your dream in front of you.
Focus on how your vision board makes you feel.
It has to make you filled with happiness and the emotions you would experience in the life of your dreams.
7. Be Consistent. Be Persistent. Never Give Up on Your Dream.
Going after a big dream and achieving your goals is hard.
You have seen the quote, “What would you attempt to do if you knew you could not fail?”
Well, let me tell you that.
You Can Not Fail.
If you really, really want something, go for it. It’s all possible.
It isn’t easy, but it’s way worth it.
All of us have times of doubt and insecurity but embrace those feelings and send them back wherever they came from.
It’s essential to keep pushing yourself, even when you think you’re not going anywhere. Transforming your life is usually a long process, and it won’t happen overnight.
Keep that in mind and prepare yourself for the challenge.
Don’t let giving up be an option at any point in your journey.
Enjoy the process, even when you feel vulnerable, and think about the feeling of accomplishment once you go through the storm.
The best way of changing your career life is by starting with some self-reflection.
Think about what you want out of this new opportunity, whether it be more time for yourself, more flexibility in your schedule or something else entirely.
Once you have that goal firmly set in place and know why this change will benefit YOU, take action with the help of the steps listed above!
Don’t forget to take the quiz to find out what kind of digital marketing job might be the perfect fit for you!
Till next time <3
