We often get involved with a business or industry based on an idealized conception. I had a friend with this experience in college. She started working at the tutoring center on campus because she loved the idea of helping people learn. The students she worked with, however, expected her to fix their mistakes and act as a proofreader. They were not interested in learning anything. Thinking her difficulties were based on the setting, she began tutoring for a specific department on campus, but her experience was the same. After spending two years following a dream that never became reality, she quit tutoring and became a reference librarian. Now, she helps people find information, but she is not expected to give them all the answers.

In order to avoid an experience like hers, ask yourself specific questions during your business discovery process. We have conceptions which go with certain titles, which may actually vary greatly depending on your specific industry. Networking mixers or chamber of commerce functions can provide excellent opportunities to find out more about your target business and determine if it matches your ideas and values. Make sure you are clear on the responsibilities and procedures you will need to perform to achieve success. Being informed will help you separate dreams and preconceptions from reality.