It can take long hours of deliberation and difficult rounds of confronting yourself about why you want something and what it's good for. Being honest with yourself is critical.

Then, you have to believe that your dream will come true. This strong belief will become apparent to others in the way you speak — for instance, as you explain why that plum assignment abroad was made for you.

Staenberg, who began his career at Microsoft but wanted to move into venture capital, used this technique himself. During his seven years at Microsoft, he was planting the seeds needed to make the transition he envisioned.

Communicate effectively

Of course, it’s not enough to visualise your goals, said Christiane Barho, a coach, communication trainer and workshop facilitator near Frankfurt. "Often, people have a cinema of the mind playing in an eternal loop," Barho said. They are unable to put their plan into action because they face real or perceived external blockers or obstacles.

You can break yourself out of this loop in a really simple way: talk openly, clearly, and effectively about what it is you want with those people who can help you.

"When you know what your motive is and you know the interest of your counterparts, then you can translate what you want into the terms of the [other person],” Barho said.

It’s easier to get what you want if both parties are convinced you want the same thing, be it an actual outcome, like the chance to lead a new project, or a shared vision. “It's called establishing the common goal frame."

Adapt your asking

For many people, just getting to the point of asking for what they want can be difficult. Cultural norms and even specific settings can impact how the conversation goes, said Moritz Ostwald, an executive coach based in Frankfurt.

In Germany, for instance, people may dance around sensitive matters out of politeness and are reluctant to do anything that could be perceived as self-promotion. This is, of course, in contrast to the reputation Germans have for being direct. But, when it comes to selling themselves, Germans can be shy about asking, Ostwald said.

"People are afraid to plain out ask for what they want because they have fear of being rejected. In the US, you ask for what you want again and again until you get what you want. Here, it's almost like an offence. If someone says 'no' to my ideas, wishes or hopes that can have devastating consequences,” he said. “The value of being in harmony, of all supporting each other, of wanting to be a good citizen, is very common here."

Meanwhile, in many Asian cultures, it’s uncommon to ask for something unless you're very sure you'll get it. "Because people don't want to lose face, they are more careful in building a case and having compelling reasons to ask for something specific," Ostwald said.