“A well-executed Plan B might lead right back to Plan A. Or it may lead to a Plan C you never imagined.” — Jay Payleitner
So you’ve decided to reach for the stars. That’s fantastic. So…which star is yours? What’s your calling? What’s your dream?
That’s a loaded question because you may be hesitant to say it out loud. Even thinking it seems a bit risky. You might even feel uncomfortable sharing it with a best friend. Giving voice to a dream forces you to make choices. You’re admitting that the current version of you is not-quite-satisfactory and the new version is still in development. Modifications to your life need to be made and that opens the door to all kinds of questions regarding what, how, where, when, why, and which.
And what if that star you’re hankering for is out of reach?
Not to drag you down even further, but that’s actually the most likely current scenario. Your bright star—the one with your name penciled on it—may not be available until you jump through a few preliminary hoops.
For example, finding true friendships requires some vulnerability on your part. Financial security means trimming your expenses to less than your income. Finding freedom from a bad habit may mean being honest with yourself. If your goal is to gain more energy, you may need to eat less and exercise more. That promising new career may require additional experience or education. Uggh. Sounds like work.
While none of that really comes as a surprise, you’re beginning to think you will never reach your dream star. I get it. I’ve been there. I’ve had crummy jobs. I’ve had creditors calling day and night. I pushed away best friends. I listened to naysayers. There are still items on my bucket list I may never cross off.
Here’s a glimmer of hope. At this moment, your particular star may be beyond your grasp. But if you look around, you’ll discover a neighboring star in that same galaxy that’s just a bit closer. That project, position, or activity might not shine as brightly at first, but it parallels your dream and intersects your path. And with your radiance, you can make it sparkle.
It could be as basic as—taking a cut in salary—and pursuing an internship or apprenticeship position at a growing organization. It could be taking small steps to secure financial independence like cutting back on fancy coffees and sneaking fifty bucks a month into some investment account. It could mean joining a gym, calling an old friend, volunteering, seeking out an accountability partner, or dragging out some old gear from your parent’s attic.
When you find that adjacent star—that single step closer to your dream—don’t approach it halfheartedly. Business maxims that lean into this strategy include “Treat every job like a stepping stone to your dream job” and “How you handled your last assignment determines your next assignment.”
If you follow the logic, a practical application of that principle might be, “Dress for the job you want, not the job you have.”
Even if it doesn’t seem like a step forward, grabbing hold of that nearby star will inevitably stir up a little stardust. Lean into the work at hand and watch how the next steps reveal themselves with clarity and purpose, guiding you closer to that bold, ambitious dream. You’re not alone on this path. Peers, mentors, future friends—even potential employers or romantic partners—are paying attention.
All that to say, keep moving. Keep working. Keep zigging, even if everyone else is zagging. If you sense doubters, personal demons, or other dark forces are attempting to grab your ankle, sidestep their scaly grip before they drag you down. Dance, skip, kick, leap.
You might even inadvertently launch yourself into an adjacent galaxy. There you may find the cosmic wormhole that leads to an entirely new shooting star you never saw coming.
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