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I’ve talked to people of all age groups about their career paths. As you can imagine, these conversations fall into a broad range of categories – they come in as many shapes and sizes as there are job descriptions. The one thing that has remained constant has to do with dream jobs.

Usually, when I ask people what their dream job is, the only people who can answer definitively are under the age of nine. Of course, this makes sense since kids don’t have to worry about things like paying bills, or paying for their own child’s education. So, they’re free to give answers like “professional friend maker” if they want.

Really, though, if you think about it, we can learn a lot from children about getting a handle on our careers. What are kids doing that we don’t?

Play make-believe! If you’re waiting for inspiration to strike, you’re going to be waiting a long time. Don’t limit yourself! Stretch your imagination out and pretend that you’re working in your dream job. What does it look like? Try to look at it from as many angles as possible and then boil it down to key attributes.

Find a super hero. Children all have people they look up to, whether their hero’s are real or fictional, they all embody certain characteristics that they want to emulate. Who’s your professional hero? Find someone who actually has your dream job. Ask them how they got there and find out more about the job responsibilities.

Believe in your own ability. Remember when you actually believed adults when they told you that you can become anything you want to be? Guess what?! That’s still true. As adults, we tend to put all sorts of limitations on ourselves. We start to think that we aren’t capable of achieving certain goals and we get used to settling for less. Believing that you can land your dream job is more than half the battle.

Take tests. Children have to take tests and quizzes in school. They’re constantly being challenged to increase their competency levels and to demonstrate what they’ve learned. You can take some really helpful career assessment tests that can help you learn about jobs that suit your strengths, interests and personality. They can help you narrow down your dream job.

Choose your favorite subject! Whether it’s Art, English or Math, kids always have a favorite subject to study. What’s your’s? People who get to use their natural talents at work are usually more likely to love their jobs. Think about what you love to learn and then hit the books! Going back to school can sometimes put you on the fast track to your dream job.