Reinventing Your Career
(1 votes, average: 5 out of 5)August 13, 2009 by Erin Casey
The cover story in the USA Today that landed outside my hotel room a couple weeks ago featured a man who’d worked in the automobile industry since his teens. Facing yet another layoff, the 35-year-old made the decision to shift gears, go back to school and pursue a career in the health industry. That type of story is becoming increasingly common in this topsy-turvy economy. But, for women, the trend has been on the rise for quite some time.
As the editor of SUCCESS for Women, I receive e-mails on a daily basis from women who have started their own businesses or made 180-degree shifts in their careers. Many have done so because their jobs simply evaporated. Others who haven’t been laid off (yet) are taking a proactive approach to discovering where they want to fit into this ever-evolving marketplace by polishing their skills or acquiring new ones.
While dramatic career changes are frequently born out of necessity, almost as often, they’re the results of the realization that life is too short to sweat and slave for something that’s not central to our core being. Like Rachel Thebault explains in The Sweet Life, these new pursuits often require as much or more time than former careers. The difference, though, is that these women are living with purpose and passion and are working on their own schedule.
For this next series of blogs, I’m interviewing women who have chosen to change course and have created a career—a life—they love. Maybe you can relate. If so, send me a note and share your story. Or, maybe you’re the person who desperately wants to make a change but doesn’t know where to begin. Send me your questions, and I’ll ask those I’m interviewing to address them. I look forward to hearing from you!
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Two years ago I was working for a local Goodwill Easter Seals in my community. After two previous years of being successful in reaching my Performance Measures required by Department of Labor, I asked the National Director (Easter Seals) of the grant I was working for if she could use my talents and experience. At that time she felt the only way this could happen was if I moved from my area and go to Chicago where the National office is. A year later the director visited me in my home state and told me that if I could work out of my home would I be willing to work for the national office. I took the job and being a remote employee was simple enough, with the support they gave me. One year later I changed to another National Program and I continue to travel and train in different parts of the country PLUS work out of my home as a remote employee. Goodwill, where I work for now, has several remote employees and it is a success for them and me!
Great site…keep up the good work.
I love stories about how people have made big life transitions! I kissed off corporate America in 2003 and have never looked back.
The turning point for me happened while attending a sales conference in Las Vegas (I sold software in the Silicon Valley and had a $4 million quota). I had just taken a client to dinner (an executive from a large dot com) and he wanted to play blackjack so we headed into the casino. I got my cards, took a sip from my cocktail and then poof! I FAINTED ON THE FLOOR OF A CASINO!
I hadn’t felt well in months and was actually carrying a bottle of Maalox in my briefcase (crazy, I know!). After the Vegas incident, i learned I had an ulcer. It was just before my 30th birthday and needless to say, it was a big eye opener.
I spent a year planning my exit and kissed off corporate America in 2003. Today I am living my dreams. I’ve since written four business and marketing books, I own a successful publishing and marketing business, and most importantly, I get to steer my own ship. Life is good.
In case anyone reading this is wondering: I am proof that there can be life after corporate America! You CAN do it too!
Best wishes to all…
I have just left corporate America and the banking industry after years of sketchy dealings and corporate rubbish ,I can say I don’t miss a day . I have self enrolled in Medical field and to my surprise my focus as a 30 something is very good compared to lack of focus in my traditional college years .If you are thinking of leave the corporate life just do it . Theres no time like the present .