Not everybody is happy with their jobs. But landing one's dream occupation can be quite simple if people only set their hearts and minds to it.
Tracey Massey, president of Mars Chocolate, North America told The Unicorn in the Room that the only way for people to discover their true passion is to try things out first. Instead of sitting comfortably in one's comfort zone, people should think out of the box and explore different options, Massey said.
"We work with our employees to understand their interests and then very much encourage them to try different things," she said.
Most Mars employees have tried different jobs before settling to their current ones. This keeps things interesting, their skills sharp, and gives employees the opportunity to work in different departments and even countries.
As cliche as this might sound, Massey said it's good to think big. People should focus on how they can grow in the role they're in, and not just settle for the norm.
When Massey first started out at Mars, her boss asked her what her long term goals were.
"I want to have your job," she answered. But her boss surprised her when he replied, "You're thinking too small. I hired you because I want you to be my boss one day."
Massey said people should be open about what they want. If people don't vocalise their idea of a dream job, then other people won't have any idea about it. She said many people fall short of claiming their dream jobs simply because they mistakenly assumed there's no growth in the company they worked in and did not talk about what they truly wanted.
Lastly, Massey said people should not turn down opportunities — whatever these might be — when they come knocking. "Be open to new and different opportunities on your way. You might surprise yourself," she said.
Personally, Massey did not plan every career move she made. But she surprised herself when she decided to try every opportunity that came her way, and she discovered that her "dream job" changed every time she became open to try something new.
