UNITED STATES—How many people do you know who have actual dream jobs? Some of you might even be asking what an actual dream job is. Well, it is a job that you absolutely adore; one that provides glee, happiness and just a pure feeling of accomplishment. You get the opportunity to do something that you love, without it feeling like actual work. There are a lucky few out there that have that option, but there are some people out there who dread going to work day in and day out.

We begrudge the notion of getting out of bed, punching the clock, dealing with lazy or uncaring co-workers or worse the boss from hell that could care less about his or her employees. At the same time, we get up and go to work each and every day giving our absolute all, regardless of the situation. At the same time, I’m certain you’re thinking of ways and options to reach that point of fulfillment, where the job that you dream of is within reach or that you have made it become a reality.

As someone once told me nothing that is that important to you in life happens without you fully fighting for it. Rather that means working menial jobs or placing your dream on the slight backburner as you build up the skill, the technique or save the funding to pursue that dream job without any interruption. Yes, I argue without the interruption because things to happen in life where sacrifices have to be made that you didn’t expect. An unexpected family tragedy transpires; you become ill, an unexpected expense occurs, there are a number of things that can cause hiccups in that path to victory.

I do believe for many Americans the dream job has nothing to do with money, but it doesn’t hurt to get paid well for doing something you absolutely adore doing. I’ll be the first to advocate that as an aspiring filmmaker would make movies for free if it meant I got the opportunity to do what I love. The reality is we live in a world where money matters to have the things you need to survive. So with that being said, I’m okay making money for doing a job I enjoy.

It is important for people to realize that just because you have a dream doesn’t mean you have to share it with the world. Yes, a ton of us would love to do that, but there are people, who could care less about your dream, and the unfortunate side effect there are those individuals who want to kill your dream because they were unable to accomplish theirs. That is the ugly side effect of jealously; we’re all capable of it and some more than others. It drives their behavior, their motivations and their intent in the long run.

This doesn’t mean you have to keep your goals and desires secret, just be aware who you’re sharing that information with in the long run. The positive people, keep those around, the negative people keep them away. When it comes to that dream job having a plan I think matters to some, but I think the passion matters most. If it is indeed something that brings utter joy to your life, so much to the point that words just don’t fit the way you want, you have to be willing to give more than 100 or 200 percent, you need to give 1000 percent.

If that means working 2-3 jobs, sacrificing a social life or shedding tears day in and day out until you make it happen, make it happen. In life we all deserve to be happy, with a New Year upon us, you don’t have to sit and settle for that job that you hate or just brings you such unhappiness that you don’t know how to cope. Find a way to cope and do the things that matter most to you. Sometimes it takes a risk, but if you’re not willing to make the risk, you cannot expect to see the outcome that you planned.