As a certified career coach, I have worked with hundreds of clients on identifying and realizing their dream jobs. Throughout this work, I have noticed that one consistent theme separates clients who are successful in their goals, versus those that continuously struggle.

The defining factor is commitment.

I have seen this play out time and time again. A client who comes to career coaching completely confused and miserable in their current job, but makes a commitment to finding their dream career, will succeed.

So, in contemplating your own career change, consider how you can make and keep your commitment to success. Below are 3 great ways to get started:

Time Commitment

How much time are you devoting to finding your ideal career? If you don’t have a set time set aside for it, make that a priority. I suggest committing at least 30 minutes a day to your ideal career search.

Staying Open Commitment

Are you open to new possibilities or do you throw away ideas before they can be fully explored? This is a common problem for career seekers. Make a commitment to be open to new ideas and to fully explore what inspires and excites you.

Taking Risks Commitment

Let’s face it: if you do everything the same way that you’re comfortable with, you’ll stay in the same place. If you want change, you have to be willing to try new things and take risks. Exercising your risk-taking muscle in small ways will help you with the big career change you’re trying to make. Go to a new restaurant, take a new route to work, ride your bike instead of driving somewhere. Taking small risks will give you practice for making larger changes in your life.