G’Day Sunseeker1,

write online articles mostly about politics but these days more about bettering your life and strategies to heal

Practically, you could start this right now, online stuff like Weebly, Word press, tumblr etc are free and if you want exposure pay a little for the domain name and people can find you on google/ search engines. Then it’s all about content. I would advise tumblr, especially if you want a bit of exposure because you can link and re-post content that others put up. All that’s stopping you in this area is time and structure. Once you have a time (maybe post once a week, one a fortnight) then it’s about content. And if your interested in anything that’s the place to go. I originally made a blog for professional use (mainly to beef the resume up) on language learning (not in use anymore). If you have a linked in professional page then just start linking it with your blog. As long as it’s not going to impede your profession career. If you also want to get into journalism or reporting, this is your start point. I know a few journalist students who blog and write articles online to show that they are actually interested in writing and putting their opinions down in words. You never know, if you get enough ‘traffic’ coming through your website you may be able to put advertisements up and start making some side cash. The main thing is reaching out to other bloggers, forming business relations with them and use each other, write a collaborative piece, argue against someone else’s article (this is a sure way to get traffic!!) If you want to get into presenting, youtube is always a good start. If you show people you have already made a start, gaining viewership, then people will more likely take you more seriously. Nowadays everything is accessible, hence why so many young people are using social media and the internet to pursue their goals.

I just also get shy speaking to strangers but the funny thing is I like talking to large audiences

I have done many speeches at School and University, it’s because you aren’t directing your attention to one individual/ small group of people. There is a wide range of people your speaking ‘at’ and most aren’t really all their attention on you. Plus everyone likes to be listened to! 🙂 When your conversing with smaller groups, it’s more personal and intimate, they may want to give you a question or feedback, so you get worried that you may not have the answer. Introversion is more to do with inner feelings, internal drive and thoughts and you don’t need a lot of external stimulation. So being shy just means your shy, you don’t have to be an extrovert to be able to perform in front of people. I’m pretty sure there is a lot of actors and actresses that are introverts.

I just need to work though as I have not enough savings, and I just don’t know really what exactly I want to do about my dream job

Then treat your job as that, a job where you earn money. If you can find a job that has flexible hours this would be a bonus as it gives you time to setup and move onto actually pursuing your dreams. Especially if it’s related to something you want to do and in another department. BUT, don’t quit your job and say, okay now what? Because you will spend so much money and time doing nothing. And this will crush your soul. Unless you have incredible drive and determination and a plan, you could end up worst off. A lot of people have to do crappy jobs just so they can do what they want to do. I was in hospitality and worked night shifts, the only thing keeping me going through that 2 year period was that at the end i would gain my qualification. After that i began looking for slower, easier work so i could start to put myself through university. I know many people cannot separate their professional and personal lives, one always influences the others. The only advice i can give that’s practical is to stop it! Once you leave the office, once your home, no work. You don’t have to speak about it, don’t bring who you are there, home. It will be hard, but it’s the only way to separate your head space. Your home is your space, even if you have to work later at an office to get work done, rather than bringing it home.

I have had small brushes with success over these years but nothing concrete.

This is good, this is progress. These successes, do you have contact with them? Do these contacts know people who know people? Good business is always inbreed! 😉 Because you are older than most graduates, this is actually a bit of a positive, because your mature and have work experienc and will be taken more seriously. I would be emailing/ calling people in your field/s that you want in on and asking them for advice, NOT “i’m stuck, help me out” more like “I’m currently doing x and trying to figure out y, what is your take?” or “I want to do x, and your story is similar to mine, do you have any advice?”. People want to be engaged and generally want people to hear their opinions and advice, they however don’t want broad questions which, to them, may seem like you haven’t really thought through your next move.

I hope this helped, what do you think? Thoughts? Hopefully i have addressed everything, if you have more questions, just post again.
Sincerely,
Matty 🙂

sunseeker1,

No problem, i’m glad you found it helpful. 🙂 Though i also want to point out:

JUST DO IT!

True, but ‘do it’ your way, the way you’re comfortable with. As you gain more knowledge of your field/ goals then start pouring more energy and time into it. Don’t just jump in, as many motivational speakers would have you believe, especially if your unsure of where to jump in the first place. Because you will be ‘jumping out’ faster because it will all be too much. Make some goals that pertain to your main one/s, maybe this month spend some time reflecting on a plan of action. Next month focus on getting out and about and spaking to a couple of people. Slowly you will build confidence in yourself. Especially if people you meet think favorable of you.

i think because im not good at making friends or networking again

When your networking, don’t think of these people as your friends, they are potential contacts, employers etc. Friendship may develop later on, but your in essence selling yourself, you are in this case a product. Market yourself with the few contacts you know. I don’t know where you live, but consider going to business meet-ups, small business/ startup meetings. Since everyone is trying to network. I know the mentioned going overseas for an industry conference, see if there are any around you first, especially local ones. Everyone is always willing to help another, as long as there is some sort of return or motivation. You just need to market yourself that people would want to mention you to someone that might be in the industry.

AS anita brilliantly put, fear will always exist, it’s how you deal with it which may make you more or less visible in your field.

actually initiate the conversation

introduce yourself, ask the other person what they do, if your unsure what their job entails ask them. By default, all humans love being asked questions about themselves, also by default we forget to ask questions about others. We all want to connect with others. So it’s somewhat of a paradox. I read on a blog that i visit occasional that the ‘conversationalist’ is actually just a good listener who seeks to understand what is being said, not just hear it and react accordingly. We don’t usually hear the ‘undertone’ of what is said. When your networking just come up with a few questions, and use them. Notice how others also network with others, watch them mingle with others. Learn from others, as we all do on tinybuddha 🙂

hope this helps,
sincerely,
Matty