Before I ever went freelance, before I had any kind of plan for working for myself, I knew one thing: I was interested in writing and communication – but I didn’t know what to do with that.
So, I started doing something quite simple. I read the job pages in newspapers. Not because I was ready to apply for anything – I knew I wasn’t. This was just research. I wanted to see what was out there – what roles existed, and what people actually did for a living.
Every now and then, something would catch my eye. When it did, I’d look into it properly – find the full job description, read the person specification, and ask myself: does this feel like something I’d want to do?
After a while, one role kept coming up that felt right: communications manager. So, I kept going. I read more job descriptions. I started to notice the differences between different ‘communications manager’ roles – what some roles included and others didn’t, even though they had the same title. I got a clearer sense of the kind of organisation I wanted to work for, too.
Getting specific
Gradually, the idea became more specific. Less vague. More real.
Eventually, I found a couple of job adverts that felt like a genuine fit for the kind of role I wanted. They still weren’t roles I could apply for – but they were roles I could aim for.
That’s when I changed approach.
Instead of just reading them, I started using them. They became my roadmap.
Making a plan
I took the person specifications for what I now saw as my dream job and I went through them line by line. For each requirement, I asked myself: do I already have this?
If the answer was no, the next question was: could I get it?
Anything I didn’t have, I wrote down. That became my list.
And then, one by one, I worked through it to get those things – so that one day I would be able to apply for my dream job.
Taking action
Some things I learned or improved through evening classes. Some I picked up by putting myself forward for new projects at work. Some came through voluntary work. None of it happened overnight, but it was all deliberate.
I wasn’t just waiting until I felt ‘ready’ – I was actively getting myself ready.
That’s the part people often miss.
It’s easy to look at something you want to do and think, “I’m not qualified for that” or “I don’t have enough experience.” And sometimes that’s true – right now. But that doesn’t mean it stays true.
If you know where you’re trying to get to, you can work backwards from there. Break it down step by step. Look at what’s required, identify the gaps, and take action to start closing them.
It turns something vague and slightly out of reach into something practical.
And you don’t need to have the whole plan mapped out in advance. You just need a direction, and a willingness to do something about it.
If you’re feeling that there might be something more out there for you, this is a good place to start. Look at what already exists. Pay attention to what draws you in. Get specific about what you want. Then ask yourself: what would I need to get there?
You might find it’s more within reach than you think.
And if you’d like some help working that through – getting clear on where you’re aiming and what your next steps could be – you can book a one-to-one coaching session with me. Sometimes a short conversation is all it takes to turn a vague idea into something you can actually act on.