"Tienes los sueños que quieres, y luego tienes que hacer otros trabajos hasta que puedas alcanzar ese sueño."

Chasing after your dreams often means taking a winding, indirect path. It’s not always as straightforward as wanting something and then just getting it. Many times, you have to do other things—sometimes things you’re not passionate about—until you can finally achieve what you’ve been dreaming about.

Think about it like this: you’ve always wanted to be a professional musician, but until that big break comes, you might have to work as a barista, or an office assistant, or even a delivery driver. These jobs may not be glamorous, but they help you pay the bills and gain valuable experience. They keep you grounded while you’re aiming high.

Take J.K. Rowling, for instance. Before she became the world-famous author of the Harry Potter series, she faced a lot of hardships. She was a single mother, living on welfare, trying to make ends meet with a variety of odd jobs. But she didn’t let that deter her. She wrote in cafes while her baby slept, using whatever free time she could scrape together. Her dream was to become an author, and she held onto that vision fiercely, even while doing what was necessary to survive day-to-day life. Her story is a great reminder that the road to your dreams can be long and filled with detours, but perseverance can eventually lead you to where you want to be.

So how do you apply this to your own life? Start by identifying what your ultimate goal is. Then, break it down into smaller, manageable steps. Maybe you have to take a job that isn’t your dream gig—think of it as a stepping stone rather than a dead end. Use every opportunity as a learning experience. Develop skills, make connections, and save money, all of which can help you get closer to your dream.

Imagine you’re an aspiring filmmaker. Right now, you’re working in a retail store. It’s not where you want to be, but it pays the rent. Use your free time to work on your craft. Write scripts, film short movies with your friends, enter film festivals. Keep your eye on the prize, even if the path there seems roundabout. Each day in that retail job is a step towards funding your next project or keeping you afloat while you wait for that big break.

One of my friends, let’s call him Alex, had always dreamed of becoming a chef. But right out of culinary school, he couldn’t land a job in a top restaurant. So, he took a position as a line cook in a small, local diner. It wasn’t glamorous, but he poured his heart into every dish, learning invaluable lessons about cooking and running a kitchen. Over time, he made connections, honed his skills, and eventually, he got a job offer from a renowned restaurant. Today, he’s a head chef, living his dream. All those years of working less glamorous jobs paid off.

It’s like building a bridge. Each job, each task, each challenge is a plank that gets you closer to the other side—your dream. Keep building, keep moving forward, and don’t lose sight of where you want to go. Your dream is worth it, even if the journey there takes a few unexpected turns.