This summer I’ll be celebrating 10 years of working for myself as a freelancer, blogger and now author. It is the career of my dreams and I consider myself lucky pretty much every day.

Since graduating from University, I’ve taken some big leaps of faith throughout my career, so when it comes to finding and working the career of your dreams, I like to think I know a thing or two about how to make it happen.

If you’re struggling to find the best career path right now or wondering how you can make your dream job come true, here are some of my top tips to get you started.

FIGURE OUT WHAT YOU WANT

In many ways this is easier said than done, especially today when we have so many choices open to us, but figuring out what your dream career is or at least looks like, is the absolute key! Everything stems from here.

So get clear. Take some time out from your day. Make a list of pros and cons. Acknowledge your strengths and weaknesses. Take some time to understand what it is you really want to do (and realistically what is possible to you) and then whether you want to be a script writer or are looking for legal jobs, life will become much easier. And that’s a promise.

BE PREPARED TO START SMALL

Success in a career doesn’t happen overnight. You need to be confident in your abilities, hard working and more than anything determined and therefore prepared to start from the very bottom if need be.

After studying for an English degree, I soon discovered to my horror that finding a job as a trainee journalist was pretty much near impossible. I applied for so many jobs I lost track and couldn’t secure one interview. Yes it was disheartening but it also made the fire in my belly stronger!

In the end, like so many other people, I had to start right down at the bottom and work my way up. I eventually managed to secure a low paid job as an administration assistant at a local newspaper and took the job with the view that when a trainee journalist post came available, I may have a chance. The ‘gamble’ paid off. Within a year, a position became available, I was interviewed and got the job.

If you really want to do your dream job, you have to be prepared to do whatever it takes.

TAKE RISKS

I am a bit of rebel at heart and someone for whom taking risks is pretty easy. At school and by my Mum, I was told that this was reckless and would cause me great pain and in some ways they were right, it did! But let me tell you, when it comes to my career, it’s had a remarkable and positive impact.

I’ve taken many risks throughout my career. Leaving my much loved job as a journalist and magazine editor to take on a new marketing role. Leaving that marketing role to go and work for myself as a freelancer with no work lined up. Setting up this blog and dedicating lots of time to it, with no idea if it would lead to anything. And my greatest so far? Writing my debut book.

Working in your dream career, whatever that may be, requires you to be bold and courageous. It’s not always easy to do this, especially when you’re in a well paid job and with a mortgage to pay for. But it’s essential! It never pays to play it safe.

LEARN FROM OTHERS

One of the best ways to create your dream career is to find other people who are already living and working it and learn from them! So go and find them! Then, read their blogs, sign up to their newsletters, follow them on social media and watch and learn.

Make a mental note of what successful people in your chosen field do. Examine how they live. Get to know them if you can and learn, learn, learn.

If you don’t allow jealousy to get the better of you, other people who are already living your dream, really can be the very best motivators. Good luck!