Contemplating a Career Shift

There are many reasons why you may have spent an entire career in a job or career that you liked, but didn’t necessarily love. Perhaps you felt pressure from the expectations of others, needed a steady income, or were too unsure of yourself to follow your dreams. Or, maybe your values and interests simply changed along the way and you no longer feel fulfilled by what you were doing doing.

The important thing to know is that this is completely normal. Many people don’t realize their true passions until later on in life. So, if you’re contemplating leaving the steady job you’ve had for the last 20 years to try something new like become a teacher, run a non-profit, or become a travel expert, you’re in good company.

To get started making a complete career change, you first have to figure out what you’d rather be doing. Think about your values and how you’d like to spend your day. Close your eyes and envision yourself in your new career. What are you doing? Where is your office? How do you feel? You may find that a few different career paths interest you. In this case, experiment a bit. Spend some time thinking about the different options in front of you, and carefully choose the one that feels right.

Once you know what you want to do next, start looking for ways to make the change. Consider taking on a project that’s related to your dream or trying out a side job to get a better sense of the possibilities that are available. For example, if you want to be a chef, consider helping out at a catering company on the weekends, preparing meals for community events, or enrolling in a class.

Then, make a business plan for exactly how you’re going to make this career change. Will you quit your job and focus on your new career full-time? Will you try to do both jobs until your new venture is profitable? Or, will you save until you have enough money to comfortably quit your job without worrying about the loss of income?

I also recommend talking to people who have gone before you and made a major career change later in life. Hearing their stories will give you inspiration, because you’ll see that it really is possible to make this major change. Countless other people have done it before you – and there’s no reason why you can’t have success in your new venture as well.