Why You Need to Speak About Your Dreams and Career Goals as a Teacher

When’s the last time you made space for your dreams and career goals as a teacher?  As educators, we’re often so focused on helping others grow that we put our own dreams on the back burner. 

We support our students, advocate for our communities, and manage countless responsibilities, yet when it comes to our deepest desires, we might stay quiet or wait for “someday.”

Here’s the thing: you don’t need to have it all figured out to start going after your dream career. And in fact, you shouldn’t. When it comes to figuring out how to turn your dreams into reality, speaking your dreams out loud could be the most powerful career move you make. 

It’s not just about putting your goals into the universe by speaking them out loud to a friend, family member, or a community. It’s about getting clear, getting visible, and taking aligned action.

Why Talking About Career Goals for Teachers Matters

At Educator Forever, we’ve helped thousands of teachers leave the classroom and find their dream education career. And we’ve seen firsthand the power of speaking your goals out loud. 

So, why is it so critical to share your career goals and aspirations with others around you? Here are a few of our favorite reasons:

1. Speaking About Your Dreams Gives You Clarity

It’s easy to stay stuck in our heads, thinking in circles about what we might want “someday.” But when we say our career dreams out loud, we start to shape them into something real. 

Even if it's imperfect or still evolving, saying it out loud helps clarify what we want and what we don’t.

Maybe you want to move beyond the classroom. Maybe you’re dreaming of launching an education business, writing a book, or making more space for creativity and rest. Whatever it is, start talking about it. Speaking brings focus. And focus creates momentum to take the first step.

When I first said out loud that I wanted to become a curriculum designer, I realized just how much I was craving creativity, flexibility, and doing what I enjoyed most as a teacher (without leaving education altogether).

Try this: Say one of your ‘maybe someday’ ideas out loud. Notice how it feels.

2. Getting Visible Builds Accountability

When you share your dreams, you create natural accountability. Friends, colleagues, or even people you might not yet know might check in and ask how it’s going, offer support, or connect you with resources. 

While that can feel a little scary, it’s also motivating. And it’s one of the best ways to start working toward new career goals for teachers.

By sharing your dream, even if it’s just in a small way, you create connections. You invite others to witness your growth and walk alongside you. And you remind yourself that this matters.

It’s not about having it all figured out. It’s about showing up honestly and letting others see where you’re headed on your journey.

If you’re not sure where to start, who’s one trusted person you could share your goal with this week? Try reaching out to them and starting the conversation.

3. You Can Speak Your Dreams into Existence and Alignment

Speaking your dreams out loud sets something powerful in motion. It’s the beginning of alignment between what you want and what you do.

For many educators, visibility can feel uncomfortable. You might worry about being “too much,” or that it’s not the right time. 

Consider what holds you back from speaking your dreams out loud. Fear of judgment? Imposter syndrome? Past rejection? Know that we all experience these thoughts and feelings. Even the most successful people feel this way at times. The key is not letting those thoughts stop you.

When you share what you care about, you attract opportunities that resonate. You’re showing up for it. You’re signaling to the world (and yourself) that you’re ready to make this real.

You don’t need a detailed plan to speak your dream. And you don’t have to shout your goals from the rooftops or post daily updates. It can start with a single conversation, saying it to yourself in a mirror, or a small update in a supportive community.

4. Speaking Sparks Action and Opens Doors

Once you start speaking your career dreams out loud, things begin to shift – not just inside you, but around you. 

Conversations lead to new connections. People reach out with ideas, encouragement, or resources. Someone introduces you to a friend doing similar work. A door opens that you didn’t even know was there.

Suddenly, a path you hadn’t seen before starts to take shape and your network begins to grow.

This is the magic of being visible. You invite collaboration, support, and momentum. You don’t have to have it all figured out or know the whole plan. By being open and honest about what you want and what your dream education career is, you create space for the right next steps to appear.

Just begin and take the next brave step.

Ready to start speaking your dream – and living it?

Your dreams matter. If you’ve been wondering how to make your dreams a reality or have been waiting for the perfect moment, let this be your sign.

The Beyond the Classroom Starter Kit helps you explore what’s possible for your life beyond the classroom and reach your dreams with instant access to all of the support and guidance you need.

The kit includes:

✨ Our signature Beyond the Classroom Course: Discover your next step with clear, step-by-step guidance.

✨ How to Earn More as a Teacher Course: Learn how to grow your income without leaving education.

✨ 2 months of membership to the Educator Forever Network: Get access to job leads, group coaching, and a supportive community to keep you moving forward.

You’ll benefit from:

✅ Step-by-step guidance as you discover your career possibilities, gain clarity, and learn exactly how to find and land flexible jobs in education

✅ Empowering live group calls (every week!) for career guidance and job search support

✅ Exclusive access to ongoing wellness, creativity, skill growth, and co-working sessions, along with special career-related workshops designed for transitioning teachers

✅ Instant access to exciting, flexible job leads on our private jobs board, along with expert support at your fingertips

✅ An incredible, supportive community of like-minded educators cheering you on as you expand your impact and income in education

Your next chapter is calling. Let’s turn your “someday” into today, with the clarity and support to build the future you’ve been dreaming of. Sign up now!