Tag Archive for: Career Change

Why It’s Never Too Late to Embark on a Career Change

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why-its-never-too-late-to-embark-on-a-career-change-alexandra-humbel-origetAlexandra Humbel

Aging, a topic often shrouded in taboo, gives rise to intriguing misconceptions. This becomes particularly relevant when you find yourself officially part of the “senior” or “older” workforce, where retirement seems to be the only visible perspective for your future. But what if retirement isn’t what you desire? What if you’re considering a career change instead? You may be asking yourself, “How old is too old to succeed in a new job?” The truth is, the same age as if you were to remain in the status quo. Aging is an inevitable part of life. However, you have choices, and starting a new career that brings you daily joy is absolutely within your reach.

Embracing a career change that sets your heart ablaze each morning may come with a different lifestyle—a life where you can find a harmonious balance between work and leisure. According to the latest Aegon research on retirement, older professionals no longer seek the traditional “cliff edge” retirement. Instead, they yearn for a smoother transition toward a work-life balance that caters to their evolving needs.

Here are a few essential truths to dispel the misconceptions surrounding age and career change:

Age is Not a Barrier to Success

Success knows no age limit. Whether you’re in your 40s, 50s, 60s, or beyond, pursuing a new career path is entirely feasible. Your experience, wisdom, and unique perspective can be invaluable assets that set you apart from your younger counterparts. Embrace the belief that your skills and talents are timeless and that the right opportunity will welcome you with open arms.

Choices and Possibilities Abound

You have the power to create your narrative. Career transitions offer a chance for reinvention and the pursuit of passion. Embrace the freedom to explore new industries, acquire new skills, and tap into hidden talents. Consider seeking guidance from career coaches, mentors, or support groups to help navigate your journey. Embrace the opportunities that arise and trust in your ability to adapt and thrive.

Work-Life Balance Takes Center Stage

The desire for a fulfilling work-life balance transcends age. As an experienced professional, you may be seeking a career that aligns more harmoniously with your priorities. You have the autonomy to craft a life where work and leisure coexist in a way that nourishes your overall well-being. Embrace the notion that age is not a limitation but a catalyst for embracing a fulfilling life on your terms.

Redefining Retirement

Retirement is no longer limited to a binary concept of working or not working. It has evolved into a flexible and personalized concept tailored to individual needs. Many older professionals are embracing “phased retirement” or “encore careers” that allow them to gradually transition into new roles or pursue entrepreneurial ventures. The key is to envision retirement as a period of continued growth and exploration rather than a sudden endpoint.

 

Age should never be an obstacle when considering a career transition. It is one of the most common misconceptions about career transitions, as you can read here. Embrace the truth that age brings wisdom, resilience, and a wealth of experience that can enhance your journey. Break free from the misconceptions surrounding age and embrace the choices and possibilities that lie ahead. Let go of societal expectations and redefine retirement on your terms. Remember, it’s never too late to embark on a new adventure and create a career that brings you joy, purpose, and a fulfilling work-life balance.

So, dare to step into the realm of career transitions and prove that age is but a number on the path to success and personal fulfillment. The road ahead is yours to explore, regardless of the years that have passed. Embrace the opportunities and embrace the beauty of reinvention.

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7 Tell-Tale Signs You Need a Career Transition

7 Tell-Tale Signs You Need a Career Transition - By Alexandra HumbelAlexandra Humbel Coaching

You may be surprised to hear that most of my clients do not feel an urge to change careers because they hate what they are doing. Like them, you may feel it deep down, even though things are going smoothly. Work is good, pay is good, and the position is generally satisfying. Everyone else thinks you are in an enviable place and have no reason to change the status quo.

Here are some signals that should get you curious:

1. When asked about who you are and what you do, you deliver a conversational version of your CV, which starts to sound like a well-rehearsed loop. You actively mask your boredom behind a cheering tone, but something is just … off.

2. You avidly read articles and stories about people succeeding in another area, living a different life, or both. Your rational self tells you it is too late anyway and that this would require a massive set of skills you don’t have. But you persist in documenting the topic. Avidly.

3. You go through the moves at work because you have mastered what you do. But you are not completely at it. You are on auto-pilot more than you want to admit.

4. You wonder, so often this thought has become a part of the furniture in your mental space, whether you will do the same thing until retirement. The question remains open and makes you slightly anxious.

5. You are getting intrigued when you hear people talking passionately about the job you are doing right now. You used to be that passionate person. In the past.

6. You are experiencing more and more internal conversations starting with “What if… I was doing this different thing, living this different life, woke up every morning with this different agenda”. These internal conversations both scare you and make you feel incredibly alive.

7. You focus on small increments in your life, your health, your home, and your work. Without a sense of purpose, your energy focuses on fixing stuff while avoiding the fundamental question:

Why are you doing what you are doing?

If you experience some of these feelings, it may be time to ask yourself this question. There is no wrong answer. Money, status, convenience, and safety are valuable reasons to continue doing what you do. What else needs to be heard? Who is the person you would like to be? How far are you from becoming this person? Where would you be in a year if everything went as you wished? What are you ready to say “yes” to and say “no” to? How would it feel to remain in the same place for one year? Five years?

Every life-changing decision starts by being the best listener of your true feelings. Accepting the confusion and antagonist demands that will inevitably come out. It requires some guts to question the status quo of your life and work. If you do, you may be in transition already.

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Is it Too Late For a Career Change? 10 Essential Questions to Ask Yourself First

When it's too late for a career change - Alexandra HumbelAlexandra Humbel

When one of my beloved clients shared this graph with me, I had to laugh. Then I kept thinking about it. Is there an age limit for changing careers? According to the standard, this limit is around the corner. From the moment any high performing professional subtly slips, without knowing it, from high potential to senior, options are shrinking at a dizzying pace.

You can’t do anything about the corporate culture. But you are in the driver’s seat to challenge the limits you impose on yourself.

For instance, here are some of the most common and fearsome beliefs:

  • Is it worth it?
  • How much effort does it take to start a new professional adventure, when everything pushes you to hold on to your position, in the hope that you won’t be pushed out prematurely?
  • If you start a new career now, how long will you be active?
  • If it doesn’t work out, will you regret your decision?
  • What will your entourage think?
  • Are you a fool to even consider it?
  • What does it mean financially?

All these questions are valid. All of them need to be explored with courage and integrity.

I will add another set of questions:

1. What are you craving? What makes you tick?
2. What life do you want?
3. Are you prepared to say “no” to some benefits, so you can say “yes” to new stuff?
4. What is the best-case scenario?
5. Who will you be, if everything unfolds beautifully?
6. What will your everyday life look like?
7. How will you feel?
8. On the contrary, what is the worst-case scenario?
9. What are the consequences?
10. And eventually, what is the price of letting life decide for you by default?

Have you been thinking about changing careers?

I would love to have a chat to see if we are a good fit.

Click here to book a call with me at a time that suits you: https://alexandrahumbel.com/discovery/

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Self-Confidence Is Overrated: What Truly Drives Bold Career Move

The Self-Confidence Paradox - Alexandra HumbelAlexandra Humbel Coaching

In the space of personal growth — especially when it relates to women — the expression self-confidence is omnipresent. Or rather, the lack of it. The need for more of it. The pursuit of it.

The Self-Confidence Paradox

And yet, many of the women I work with are high achievers. Brilliant. Respected. Proven. They lead teams, close complex deals, run companies, manage demanding environments — and still, they confess quietly: “I wish I were more self-confident.”

One of them, whom I’ll call Katie, once told me: “I am good at what I do. I kick ass. So why do I struggle? Why don’t I take credit, once and for all, for my achievements?”

Redefining What Self-Confidence Really Means

Instead of trying to “build” her confidence, we slowed down and became curious about what self-confidence actually meant to her. How did she recognize it in her body? What did it allow her to do? How did it influence her decisions? What expanded when she felt it? We also explored what was happening when she didn’t feel confident. What was the fear underneath? What felt at risk? What would become possible if confidence were no longer an issue?

The Shift: From Emotion to Clarity

Something shifted. Self-confidence stopped being a magical emotional state she had to reach before acting. It lost its power as a prerequisite. What emerged instead was deeper and more stable: a stronger connection to her values, her ambition, and the impact she genuinely wanted to create. From there, confidence was no longer something to chase — it became a by-product.

On that foundation, she was able to build clear strategies and access her inner resources intentionally. She stopped waiting to feel confident before making decisions. She acted from clarity rather than from emotional certainty. In the end, self-confidence became almost irrelevant — a middleman she no longer needed.

She chose the faster route.

And you? Are you craving more self-confidence? Or are you ready to explore what truly sits beneath it?

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The Quiet Crisis of Successful Professionals—and the Opportunity Inside It

Why you should spend more time thinking about career transitioning - Alexandra HumbelAlexandra Humbel Coaching

“In the first half of life, ambitious strivers embrace a simple formula for success in work and life: focus single-mindedly, work tirelessly, sacrifice personally, and climb the ladder relentlessly. It works. Until it doesn’t.”
— Arthur C. Brooks, bestselling author and columnist behind The Atlantic’s “How to Build a Life”

The momentum that drives you through the first part of adult life fuels your motivation to gain expertise, power, financial security, mastery, leadership, learning, excitement, and social recognition. Hard work pays off. Challenge makes you grow. Experience sharpens your skills to excellence. Your peers respect you. You belong to a league of successful professionals.

And then something shifts.

It may start quietly: a subtle loss of interest in work you’ve pursued with drive and perseverance for decades. A vague craving for something else. Before you know it, you, a corporate leader, a respected expert, or a successful entrepreneur—admired, even envied— are now questioning the meaning of the story you’ve been telling about yourself.

What changes, exactly? And is decline inevitable?

In Breaking the Age Code, Dr. Becca Levy challenges deeply rooted age stereotypes. She shows that several forms of cognition actually improve later in life, including metacognition (thinking about thinking), the ability to integrate multiple perspectives, skill in resolving interpersonal and intergroup conflicts, and semantic memory.

Arthur C. Brooks builds on this idea by describing what he calls crystallized intelligence: a form of wisdom made of accumulated knowledge and lived experience. This intelligence excels at teaching, mentoring, connecting people, and creating value through the cross-fertilization of ideas. It favors meaning over momentum, contribution over competition.

Which raises an important question:

Do you even realize how good you are at managing transitions?

If you did, you would feel less fear. Think of how many transitions you’ve already navigated. From student to professional. From role to role. From corporate to entrepreneurial paths. From independence to partnership, to parenthood, to caring for ageing parents. Some transitions were deliberate; others simply happened. Either way, your transition muscle is well-trained.

What makes this one different is its insidious nature. It comes from within, carrying a message you may not yet understand—and may not want to hear.

Change, however, is inevitable. If you ignore what your inner signals are trying to tell you, change will still unfold, often in ways you wouldn’t choose. Some people double down, pushing harder to stay in the game at all costs. Others experience a slow erosion of motivation—or both. Sometimes the wake-up call arrives sideways: a job loss, a dip in performance, or concern voiced by those close to you.

So what now?

This is the moment for a profound and authentic reset. Not necessarily a dramatic upheaval, but an honest reassessment. Question your current situation, your beliefs, your identity, and what you think defines you. Explore what still makes you feel alive, what you want more of, and what no longer serves you. This step can feel destabilizing—but it is also deeply rewarding. It shapes the contours of your future self.

From there, resonant choices become possible. Choices grounded in connection to your values, your heart, your inner wisdom. They often require saying NO to habits and beliefs that once supported you but now hold you back. And they invite you to say YES to what truly matters: relationships, meaningful work, self-care, and new avenues of personal and professional growth.

Action follows naturally. And this kind of action feels different—lighter, clearer, more energizing—because it comes from alignment. Fueled by renewed purpose, you’re ready to surprise yourself and others.

Don’t wait for the unwanted wake-up call.
Take the lead.

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Women Reinventing Careers: A Bold Move From Luxury to Legacy Work

Valery Guyot-Sionnest who embraced a bold change of career to become a Funeral PlannerValery Guyot-Sionnest

Valery Guyot-Sionnest had a successful and envied career in the world of luxury, from cosmetics to fashion to hospitality, as a Communications Director for leading groups such as Estée Lauder and Barrière. Today, she reinvents an industry that is as muted as it is essential, the last farewell to loved ones. She is the author of the acclaimed “Ultimes Cortèges“. Through her book, with great respect and humility, she uses her experience of more than ten years as a funeral planner to testify to how the final goodbye can be a true hymn to life and a remedy for sadness. Meet a remarkable person who embraced a bold change of career and made it her mission to be a precious ally to families when they need it most.

Why such a bold change of career?

I was born an organizer, this is what I do. I’ve taken care of all of life’s events, now I’m taking care of the last one. The decision was both linear and mission-driven. I have been a Communications Director most of my adult life. It’s a job that already existed. As a Funeral Planner, I am breaking new ground. I feel like a warrior and a missionary. This profession is known in the USA and in the Northern Europe countries, whereas it is quite new in France.

What motivated you?

First, I believe that a 50+ years old Director of Communication is irrelevant. Secondly, the human factor has guided me all my life. The last tribute to a person is fundamental. It is a one-time event. There is no possible rehearsal.

I embraced this new change of career with a sense of mission combined with business ambition. I had this idea for a long time. What makes one farewell ceremony different from another? People. Every human being is unique. Every last tribute has to be unique as well.

Most of us are afraid of death. In the Western world, when we lose someone, it is a disaster. I am aware that I am touching on a real taboo. During the pandemic, families could not attend funerals. I, therefore, organized video recordings of funeral ceremonies. It is a very delicate work, which requires two professional cameramen for a high-quality rendering. We have to respond to all situations and sometimes to very specific requests.

Faced with an inanimate being, empathy comes first, a deep concern for the person. It’s also a race against time. My job is to think quickly and take flawless action on very short notice. A wedding planner has six months to prepare. I have three days.
I take care of families of various faiths, sometimes multi-religions. I quickly understand the situation. I work without a safety net. At my age, it suits me well!

How did your change of career go?

I took 240 hours of training on topics including legal, religion, civil ceremonies, police, and cemetery regulations.

While I was taking the course, I kept running my communication agency. There were intense moments. One day I was in charge of a Muslim funeral. The same evening, I was organizing a lingerie catwalk show. It was challenging. In the funeral business, you have to be very flexible. I went looking for the right energy.

My goal was to be acknowledged by the profession. I started by setting up a company with partners, but it did not work, so I had to change the structure of my business. Today, I am backed by Funecap, the 2nd largest funeral group in France. I will continue to develop my partnership with the group, and expand my reach in Europe.

I have an exciting project, to develop a Funeral Planner module within the training academy, to share the concepts and the best practices with a new generation.

I am making a film about the construction of a chapel ordered by a family, in tribute to a loved one. Eighty professionals, representing seven different trades are at work. Again, the human factor is at the heart of this project and I am very proud to contribute.

I also work on more accessible concepts. Many people ask me for a “simple” ceremony. But this notion means something different for everyone. All lives are unique and deserve to be celebrated.

What did you learn about yourself?

I continue to learn from each family. These encounters give me 250% more life energy.

It’s a wonder. Living in service to others gives me a purpose. Should I have done it before? I don’t think so.

I’m not interested in retirement. My partner and I have raised eight children (four each). My professional life is humanly rich, infinite, and magnificent, even though the emotional load is sometimes heavy.

This career change did not change me. It improved me. I experienced my mother’s death with serenity and peace of mind. I am closer to my truth.

In my work, I am very attentive to the well-being of families. I am particularly attuned to children. I find solutions that are both creative and technical. I care for them. This goes through simple things: Did you sleep? Did you eat? I try to restore a daily routine for people who feel lost.

Your advice to those who want to embrace a second act?

When you get close to retirement age, you realize that you still have a lot to do. You have to go for it, and at the same time, adopt the strategy of taking small steps. During a change of career, you need perspective, empathy, and a business mind. In the beginning, I launched myself into a partnership which proved to be a bad experience. It didn’t stop me. I moved on quickly. I have a great energy that pushes me forward.

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The Mental Trap That Keeps You in a Job You’ve Outgrown

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Are you unhappy at work? Be aware of the Sunk Cost FallacyAlexandra Humbel Coaching

If you are unhappy at work, you may be considering a major decision — changing jobs, moving into a new industry, or even reinventing your career altogether.

Yet this possibility often comes with fear and hesitation.

You may catch yourself thinking: What if I regret it?
At least I know what I have.
I may not like it, but it’s familiar.

So what stands in the way of making a clear, informed choice?
And how can you begin to recognize — and challenge — your own internal biases?

The invisible force behind your hesitation

Award-winning journalist David McRaney describes the Sunk Cost Fallacy with striking simplicity:

Misconception: You make rational decisions based on the future value of objects, investments, and experiences.

Truth: Your decisions are shaped by emotional investments — and the more you have invested, the harder it becomes to walk away.

Psychologists Daniel Kahneman and Amos Tversky offered a perspective based on biology and evolution: Organisms that prioritized avoiding threats over maximizing opportunities were more likely to survive and pass on their genes. Over time, this instinct became deeply wired in us.

As a result, the fear of loss often outweighs the promise of gain — even when the gain could lead to a better life.

Behavioral economist Dan Ariely adds another layer with what he calls the “pain of paying”: the discomfort we experience whenever we must give up something we already own.

How the Sunk Cost Fallacy shapes your career choices

You — and possibly your parents — invested in your education so you could start a career in a field of your choosing.

Since then, you have progressed through roles with increasing responsibility, recognition, and financial reward. Or perhaps you created your own business — maybe more than one — and navigated growth, setbacks, risks, and achievements.

All the time, energy, and emotion you have poured into your career have shaped the professional you are today.

So even if your work no longer brings satisfaction, the idea of walking away from what you have built year after year can feel unbearable.

And yet — why are you staying?

Are you honoring your past investments, or remaining loyal to the effort it took to arrive at a place that no longer fulfills you?

Becoming aware of how your decision process

Awareness often starts with small things.

Every day, you make countless micro-decisions — what to eat for dinner, how to react in a meeting, whether to speak up or stay silent. Begin observing how you make those choices.

David McRaney offers a telling example:

“Have you ever gone to see a movie only to realize within fifteen minutes that it’s one of the worst films ever made — but you sat through it anyway? You didn’t want to waste the money, so you stayed and suffered.”

Your career is not a movie. And your investment is worth far more than a ticket.

Holding on to the status quo simply because you have already paid the price will not move you toward what could be.

What is — versus what could be

Questions around career change can quickly become obsessive. There is much at stake, and the desire to make the “right” decision can feel overwhelming.

At this point, I invite you to step back from the career question itself. This may sound counterintuitive, but stay with me.

Your real agenda is not your job.
It is the life you want to live.

A life that includes your health.
The time you want for your family.
Your personal well-being.
The level of income you need to sustain it.

Only from this wider perspective can clarity emerge — about what needs to remain, and what is ready to change.

There is no loss — only transformation

You may believe that all your value is written on your CV.
It isn’t. What appears there is only the visible part of who you are.

At this stage of life, you deserve more than repeating what you already know how to do. You deserve to focus on what you truly excel at — the activities that feel natural, energizing, and meaningful.

Wherever you go, everything you have learned goes with you.

Your experience travels.
Your insight deepens.
Your value does not disappear — it transforms.

And sometimes, what feels like loss is simply the doorway to something more aligned waiting to open.

 

 

 

 

 

Sources
Mc Raney, D. “You Are Not So Smart”
Kahneman, D. “Thinking, Fast And Slow
Ariely, D. “Predictably Irrational”

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A Second Act at Sea: How One Executive Chose Purpose Over Security After 50

Benoit Runel Success Story - Alexandra Humbel CoachingAlexandra Humbel

When I talked to Benoit, I was counting on a video conference to make our conversation more lively. Given the limited reception, I had to content myself with a phone call. But this is a call I will never forget. Thinking about it, I can still hear the see’s chop and feel the Mediterranean breeze on my cheeks.

Benoit has been sailing the Mediterranean for 3 months. His trimaran Bravo Romeo (named after his initials) is at anchor, safely nestled in a bay of a small island of the Peloponnese. Which island? He is not sure. He knows he is safe here, alone on his boat, waiting for a weather window to open, so that he can sail about 48 hours the Ionian sea to Athens. From there, Benoit will pursue his route West across the Mediterranean into colder waters of the Atlantic, then up North to his destination Lorient, France. There, he will have some work done on the boat to be ready for the upcoming season.

Since we can’t see each other, I ask Benoit to describe the scene. He is sitting on his deck, facing a beautiful wild cliff. The water is crystal clear. The sunset is ridiculously gorgeous. Earlier today, he fiddled on the boat, read a book, chatted with his family over the phone, checked the weather report, and went for a long swim with his top-of-the-art diving fins. He is trim, tanned, he feels fantastic. He will have crisp fresh fish for dinner. What else? Benoit is not on vacation. He is working actually, or rather, enjoying fully the “why” of an all-but-obvious change of career. Ready to dive in with me?

What did you do before?

I was a leader in the media industry, with an entrepreneur mindset. I was an Executive Director in TV and production groups. I launched more than 12 TV channels. I created 3 companies that I sold. Lately, I was hired by a big media group with a mission to build teams, create content and make units profitable. Then, when I delivered that, new acquisitions happened, again and again. Every time, all the work had to be done again from scratch. In 8 years, I had 5 successive email addresses, without technically changing jobs. I am OK with hard work, I was always fully engaged, and I truly loved being part of these professional adventures. At some point though, it became clear that I was dedicating my life to creating value for shareholders, but I was not actually building anything for myself. When I reached 50 years old, I realized could not do this any longer, even for hefty salaries. I was also aware that, in my age group, it would be difficult to find a new job if I had to. It was brutal, but a salutary wake-up call. I decided to take my destiny in hands.

What triggered the change?

I have been sailing all my life, as a hobby, becoming an instructor at the age of 17, and performing in many competitions. As an amateur skipper, I took family and friends to Corsica, Greece, and other destinations. I thought: “the clock is ticking. Today I can do it, physically and mentally. Make my hobby my work. Earn my autonomy through a job I am passionate about”. I took a year to test the waters, study the market, assess the demand. And to answer questions: Is this what I want to do? Do I enjoy it?

How did it go?

I decided to go full speed and invest.
I got some serious training. I Joined the Royal Yachting Association training at Blue Sailing graduated as a professional skipper.
I bought a boat. I have become a mechanic for maintenance and small repairs. I learn something new every day.
I pay for my professional insurance. I am a company owner in many ways.
Now I feel “in the jaw of launch”. There is no way back.

What did you learn about yourself?

This new adventure put me in a state of fierce challenge, as when I was 30.
At this age, I had a well-paid executive job in the N°1 French media group. The CEO came to my office and asked: Do you want to launch a new TV channel? I said yes, without experience, and before I knew it, I was in charge. At the time I had this fearless confidence, which may have been somewhat carelessness too. Usually, after 50 years old, you are more prudent. You become risk-averse. Instead of that, I am buying a boat. Bam. Now I am experiencing this rage to win again, and it feels good.

What were the hurdles?

I wish I had got more expert advice when I bought my boat. I did not anticipate some problems that I had to fix afterward. If I meet someone in a similar situation, I will offer my competence to help her make educated decisions.
I also find it hard to be away from my family for long periods of time. We communicate a lot, but still, it may be the most difficult aspect of my new life.
And I am uncertain: Will my business be successful in the long term?

Who are you now?

When I sail, my decision takes its full meaning. The wind, the sea spay, setting sail, I knew all of this. But knowing that I am sailing my own boat, which is also my business, I shout for joy, I sing out loud. The reward is proportionate to the effort. I don’t have any regret. I love the adventure. Even though I wish I had done some things differently, like buying my boat, I don’t look back. I adjust my business plan, and I am getting ready during the winter for the beginning of the season in March 2022. I have found again this mindset, which is 100 times better than feeling obsolete and vulnerable in the corporate environment.

Your advice to people who want to change careers?

After a lifetime of challenges, when your career has to shift, you have lost your ability to fight, when you need it most. Nobody is prepared. You must be ready to fail. My choice is to take this risk.
If I fail, it will not harm me.
Because I am grateful for having tried. When I turn 70, I will not say “I could have done it, but I did not”. I am 200% aligned with myself.

 

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If You’re Considering a Career Change, Read This First

If you’re standing at the edge of a career change, you’re likely feeling a mix of excitement and quiet fear. Something in you knows it’s time — and yet everything familiar is pulling you back.

Career transitions rarely fail because of a lack of talent or courage. They stall because of invisible beliefs, inherited rules, and well-intentioned voices that make change feel irresponsible, unrealistic, or selfish.

Before you take your next step, pause to see more clearly. These reflections are the things I wish more people knew before embarking on a new professional chapter. They won’t tell you what to do, but they may help you trust why you’re doing it.

1. The only approval you need is yours

Beautifully expressed by Amanda Gorman, the need for approval is one of the most common hurdles that may stop you in your momentum. The minute you share bold, ambitious dreams for yourself, you will see a number of red flags raised around you. Well-intentioned, loving people in your life will instantly reject the idea that you may get lost in ambitious and risky projects. They want you safe, and the status quo is largely safer than… anything else. Red flags will come from all directions. Colleagues or friends may sense an unavowable pang of jealousy at your renewed aliveness. Don’t take it personally, it’s about them, not you. 

2. Big dreams don’t make you a dreamer

The biggest red flag, though, is in yourself. It is cultural. People with dreams are dreamers. Dreamers are no achievers. This idea was drilled in your subconscious at an early stage, and you will find it on your way to a new career. Don’t buy the simplification. Rather, engage in honest exploration: What is really important to you? What does your future, the one you crave, look like, taste like? What is your own definition of success, from now on? Does it encompass every aspect of your life? Does it bring value to you and the people around you? What would be the markers of your future success? The more aware you are of what you really want and why, the more enticing your vision is, the better. As the genius dream architect Walt Disney said, “If you can dream it, you can do it”.

3. Luck is when preparation meets opportunity

How many times lately have you heard yourself say something like, “She was lucky to get this job”? By default, we tend to attribute positive, unexpected events to luck — whatever that word really means. Yet abundant scientific literature suggests that “lucky” people have their own way of attracting luck. They do so in two essential ways: they put as many chances as possible on their side, and they keep their senses wide open to allow meaningful coincidences to occur.

If you want to share a strong business idea with a highly sought-after person, for instance, you may want to make sure your idea truly brings value to them. You refine it, rehearse your pitch until it becomes clear and compelling, gather as much insight as possible about where and how this person might be accessible — and then you let go. Because if your idea is genuinely good, it will find its way into the world. With or without that person.

4. It is so cool to go back to school

A current cause of stress for career transitioners is the necessity to get extra training. Will you be able to learn as fast as you used to? Is your brain capable of memorizing new knowledge? How awkward will it feel to sit on a school bench at your age? What will your ex-colleagues think? How will you cope with homework, supervision, and exams?  Most likely, all of these fears will materialize. Yes, you will feel intellectually rusted. Yes, you will have to deploy your best efforts to catch up. Yes, it will feel awkward sometimes. Yes, some well-intentioned peer will ask what the hell do you expect, getting back to school at your age. And yes, homework sucks. But the reward is invaluable. Your decision to be a student again is a gift you offer to yourself and an investment in your future. The process is fun too. Learning has its own way to pump up your spirit and upgrade your self-image. 

5. You will never look back

Maybe the most important thing I have learned is that there is no way back. More accurately, there is no desire to go back to square one. You are a creature of movement, like all living creatures in this world. The journey towards a fulfilling second act of life is both bumpy and interesting. We talked about the inner reward of learning, and learning comes in many different ways. Questioning the status quo makes you more alive. Taking bold moves towards work and life that you love triggers renewed energy. And keep in mind that you might well become a source of inspiration for other people’s own journey into their own second act.

 

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Career Transition After 40: 5 Things I Wish I Had Known Earlier

Career Transitioning - Things I wish I'd known earlier - by Alexandra HumbelAlexandra Humbel

My mentor suggested that I write a post about the things I wish I had known earlier about career transition. I liked the idea and, based on my personal journey as well as my experience as a coach, I started with five essential points aimed at helping professionals get on the fast lane. 

1. You are not alone

Studies show that an increasing number of experienced professionals are undertaking a career change, and even more are considering it. Three-fifths of UK workers (60%) intend to make changes to their careers as a result of the Covid outbreak, an increase of seven percentage points since July 2020 (53%).*

So why does it feel weird and lonely? It is because nothing prepared you to handle one or several career changes in your life. Society tends to assign you a role, tied to a life cycle: In your junior years, you prove your competence. As you are getting experienced, you excel in your field. And then, what? You retire. While there is nothing wrong with linear career paths, it does not work for everyone. Probably not for you, if you are reading these lines. 

2. Your skills are transferable – All of them

My clients who crave a new career are taken aback by the thought that their expertise might be lost when they change jobs. It is natural to take pride in those skills you have mastered over time. The good news is, you take everything with you on the journey.  Those skills will manifest in creative ways, coming in handy to serve your goals while you are expanding in your new project. Interestingly, ancient or dormant skills will show up and prove valuable to handle new situations. Your brain creates new circuits while tapping into resources you did not remember you had. And this is particularly refreshing. 

 

3. It is OK to be lost in transition

Describing career transitions as uncomfortable is an understatement. More accurately: Everything which made you feel grounded in social status is gone. Welcome to unchartered territories, where nobody is waiting for you with your name on a sign. No driver, no limousine. It requires courage to leave the familiar in order to become a new version of yourself. Uncomfortable, scared, and excited all together, highs and lows are in order. But, as Maya Angelou said: “We delight in the beauty of the butterfly but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.” The butterfly is you.

4. Money and time are no excuses

“I will do a job I really love when I have enough time, or money” (or both). 

Does that sound familiar? Of course, these two factors are critical components of a decision, and critical metrics to monitor all along the way. Controlling your time and financial resources through a career transition will be essential to succeed. Be aware that the conservative, risk-averse part of you will always show up with these massive excuses that are the lack of (or the fear of lack of) time and or money. Or both. It is your call to let these fears be the master of you.

5. Nature is in constant change and so are you

“Nothing is absolute, everything changes, everything moves, everything evolves, everything flies and goes away”.

These lines written by the fascinating artist Frida Kahlo can be interpreted as words of regret and melancholy. Or, from another perspective, as the constant evolution of all things that allow rebirth, re-invention, possibilities, relief, reboot, rejuvenation, and creation. When looking back at your career, you may take pride in what you have achieved, and, simultaneously, realize that this pattern is no longer fulfilling you. You can cherish your past achievements and look forward to what you are going to do next. This is not a lack of consistency in your choices. It is about the inherent nature of all of us, to thrive in movement or shrink in stagnation.

 

 

 

*Aviva “How do we live” Report, 2021

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