So, You Want to Change Your Career?
By: Gen LaGreca

It is never too late to change your life for the better. In fact, I would argue that the longer you wait, the more urgency you should feel. It may be hard to take a step away from the industry you have invested so much in, but if this is the path that leads you to a more fulfilling career, it is definitely worth it. Another five, ten, or twenty years are going to pass you by whether you make the change or not. Right now, you are taking steps towards who you will be when that time comes, and you just need to choose what direction you are going. As I always say, today is the youngest day of your life.

As we mature, we learn more about ourselves and are exposed to more of the world than we knew when we were 18. It makes sense that after spending a few decades in a career, we might have realized that it’s not quite right for us. Or maybe you have spent years at a job you enjoy but are ready to pursue something for which you have more passion.

As steep as the challenge may seem, changing your career can add some pizzazz to your life. My 70-year old neighbor ran for city council and beat a 12-year incumbent for his first public office. Now that he’s in a position to shape the future of our growing city, he’s happier than ever. Another acquaintance in his sixties left his career in healthcare to start a winery in California. The winery is thriving and award-winning, and when his Merlot was chosen for a major gathering of heads of state, he quipped, “I guess the president of France will now get to taste a good red wine.”

For me, I was working in the hospitality industry as a consultant and would produce staff training videos which increasingly included plot lines and told stories. One day my client told me, “Gen, I can’t have romance in a training program about restaurant sanitation.” I had a clear passion for writing stories but didn’t realize it. When I told my friend about the incident, she encouraged me to try writing fiction. That turning point put me on a new path, and four novels later, I’ll never look back.

While it is completely possible to change your career, it will come with obstacles. With my first manuscript, I couldn’t land an agent or a major publishing house. Rather than give up, I looked for alternatives and self-published. That novel won five literary awards, received testimonials from a Nobel laureate and a formal presidential candidate, and became an Amazon best seller.

If you’re seriously considering making the change, I say go for it and am happy to share a few pieces of advice from my own experience.

1. Consider your upfront costs

One of the biggest risks of changing your career at any age is financial. Later in life, most of us are more financially stable which can be an advantage. But nearing retirement, a large upfront cost may be a gamble on retirement.

When I changed my career, my expenses were very low. I only needed to type out my draft with the computer I already had. My friend with the winery, on the other hand, had to invest a lot up front before he could ever see his vision through.

Before leaping to your next career, make sure you understand the upfront costs and are sure you can make it to the next step. If you can’t right now, take a step back and figure out how you can lower those upfront costs or raise the money to get there.

2. Look for innovations in the industry

Ebooks were relatively new when I self-published my first book. When the Kindle was released, my sales skyrocketed and it has paid off better than if I had gone through a traditional publisher.

Treat your new career the same way you would if you were starting in your early twenties, not as if it’s still the year it was when you were 20! Look for where the industry you want to enter is going and find your niche there.

3. Listen to people you trust, carefully

Announce your career change only after you have completed your plan. The more concrete your ideas are, the better reaction and input you will get. I experience this personally with each novel. I don’t send out incomplete novels because I don’t want comments about where the story should go, I want comments on how effectively I’m telling it.

Feedback is critical, but the wrong kind of feedback can derail your motivation. Make sure that you filter out people who don’t have your best interests at heart and focus on feedback from people whose opinions you respect.

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Genevieve (Gen) LaGreca writes novels with innovative plots, strong romance, and themes that glorify individual freedom and independence. She has written novels of different genres including historical, mystery, and science fiction, as well as short stories. She is one of the successful new indie authors whose novels have topped the charts in the popular ebook format. Her latest book is called, Just the Truth. Learn more at: https://wingedvictorypress.com.




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