It’s crazy the things we believe. And also what we don’t believe.

When we’re young we believe we can be anything – a dancer, a firefighter, even a superhero.

By the time we leave school we start to believe that life is hard, that we need to make the most money we possibly can and that our interests and hobbies aren’t important.

But what if we’re wrong?

As we get older many of us discover that we should believe a whole lot less in the ‘truths’ we’ve learned, and believe a whole lot more in ourselves.

Here are 5 career myths I wish I’d known when I finished school.

1. Money Makes The Difference

Most people look for the easy option when it comes to choosing a career. They think about the skills they already have and find a job that matches those skills as closely as possible.

What they’re really asking themselves is, ‘How can I make the most money possible with my current skills and knowledge?’

The problem is that this doesn’t lead to happiness. What we should be asking ourselves is, ‘what do I dream of doing?’ and ‘what career would make me happy?’

2. Interests and Hobbies Don’t Matter

Once we leave school we often sideline our interests. We might enjoy drawing or singing for example, but we think it’s a hobby. We believe we need a ‘real job’ to sustain us.

The thing is that our interests are a gateway to finding a career that lights us up inside. If you’re interested in singing and dancing you might believe that the only option is to be a struggling artist or – if you’re lucky – a sought after performer.

But that’s not your only choice. There are a whole range of options available, including teaching children to sing, or caring for children while bringing them joy with your voice.

3. Careers Progress Naturally

We often start out with a job, and one role leads to another due to the opportunities that arise. We end up bouncing from one thing to the next, virtually on autopilot.

We settle for good enough when we could have great and it can take decades to realise that careers should be planned.

We need to have goals to strive toward and we need guidance and direction to create a career path. More importantly, we need to have the courage to discover what we want and then go after it.

4. Bad Bosses Are Part Of Life

When we’re young we often put up with difficult situations because we don’t realise we have options.

We put up with poor managers, unhappy work environments and even jobs that just don’t suit us because we think we have to. We believe  everyone has to deal with this stuff, it’s part of life.

But it’s not true. We’re just ignoring the signs that we need a change.

5. Safe And Secure Wins

We often think that doing what we know leads to safety and security. We don’t want to take a risk and try something new.

The problem is that employers can tell that we’re just going through the motions and meeting requirements. They can also tell who’s genuinely engaged and passionate about what they do.

Great organisations take passion and engagement over experience any day because skills and knowledge can be taught. But you can’t teach someone to be enthusiastic about a career that doesn’t light them up.

Believe In Yourself

You don’t have to be like everyone else. You don’t have to settle for making the most money you can in the ‘easiest’ but most soul-sucking way possible.

Instead, you can believe in yourself. You can discover a career that brings satisfaction and fulfilment as well as a reliable income.

Contact us and find out how we can help you change your life, today.