Career Shift at Age 40 - steps to success

If you are forty-plus and want to change careers, you're probably shaking in your boots. Children. Homes. Bills. All of these things cause you to pause when you think about leaving your job. Yet, you're miserable. You want a change.

Well, don't ignore your feelings. Understand that switching careers doing the middle years of your life is not a recipe for disaster. As a matter of fact, it can be a start to a great 'new' beginning in which you gain the type of success you've always dreamed of.

Here are a few steps to get you started. They've worked for people in the past and so they can also work for you. Do them one second, minute, month and year at a time until you reach your ultimate goal.

Step 1. Re-name yourself. Even before you write your resignation letter, start speaking out loud your new title. If you've been working as a waitress all of your life, but want to be a writer, say it. Get your mind acquainted with the idea that you can do more than serve plates to hungry customers. It'll be a mental preparation that will help you on the road ahead.

Step 2. Research your path. Check out the best way to get into your new profession and what it really entails. Do you need to take night classes? Are jobs for that type of career available in your area? Can you do it alone or do you need a partner? How long will it take for you to transition into your new job? These questions are ones you need to ask yourself before you make any changes. Once you gather this information together, you'll be better equipped to move forward and also know if it's a risk you truly want to take.

Step 3. Reel in a friend. Don't think that you have to be a lone ranger through your process of change. Get a friend who's on your side and supports your dream to assist you. This assistance can range from help with getting into a new position to a pep talk when you're feeling discouraged about your new path. Either way, the support of a friend will help you move forward in your journey.

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