Dreams and fears in career

They say that dreams are just a figment of our imagination, but what if those figments could become a reality? As a sports enthusiast and event specialist, I've always dreamed of working at the biggest sporting events in the world – but how to get there?

In late 2022, I found myself with an abundance of free time and no projects to work on. Besides binge-watching Netflix series, testing my painting skills and who knows what else, I also decided to do something productive and potentially life-changing. So I dreamt big and started applying for job ads at various sporting events in the world.

Flash forward three months later, and there I was, sweating through a job interview at UEFA, one of the most recognisable and valued organisations in the world. Although I felt as meek as a lamb, I channeled my inner Rocky Balboa and went for it. And wouldn't you know it - I got the job! Cue the champagne, confetti, and awkward celebratory squeals. I was officially an Additional Programming Coordinator at UEFA (it still sounds unreal)!

By the end of April, I had packed up my life in Croatia and moved to Switzerland where I will spend the next 15 months of my life. This is a dream come true, and it reminded me that this situation wasn't my first rodeo. Back in 2015, I decided to take a shot in the dark and apply for AIPS programme at the World Men's Handball Championship in Qatar. I figured, why not? And to my surprise, I was selected. It was a great experience, and actually a defining moment of my career.

Reflecting on my life journey, I realized that dreaming big is not just a utility, but a necessity as well. If I hadn't taken that chance and applied for these positions, I would never have had the opportunity to be where I am today. And if I hadn't pursued my professional dreams, I would have never taken that leap of faith and moved to Switzerland.

And science confirms that – the study "The Importance of Specificity and Challenge in Goal Setting" by Locke and Latham (Journal of Applied Psychology, 2002) indicates that setting specific and challenging goals leads to higher performance than setting general goals or having no goal at all.

But dreaming big and setting goals aren't enough. It takes patience and perseverance to make those dreams a reality. There were moments when I doubted myself, when I wondered if I was good enough, if I was in over my head. But I refused to give up. I kept pushing, kept learning, kept improving - PATIENTLY. And eventually, my dreams became my reality.

And still, as I embark on this new chapter of my life, I can't help but feel a bit like a goldfish in a shark tank. I'm about to face some of the biggest challenges of my career, working alongside established professionals who eat Excel spreadsheets for breakfast. And let's not forget the emotional challenges too - being far away from my family and friends is tough, especially since I'm going to miss out on all the latest „ŠČ“ gossip. But, as they say, "life begins at the end of your comfort zone."

There is no cure to that, I simply decided to embrace this adventure and tackle upcoming challenges like a boss, even if it means a few sleepless nights and some serious caffeine consumption. And who knows, maybe I'll even come back with some sweet skiing skills. In the words of the great poet Walt Whitman, "Keep your face always toward the sunshine - and shadows will fall behind you." So, dream big, persevere, and conquer. You never know where your dreams might take you.