{"id":18361,"date":"2023-10-21T21:15:45","date_gmt":"2023-10-21T21:15:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mysourcefunding.com\/leadership\/how-to-make-a-successful-career-change-at-40\/"},"modified":"2023-10-21T21:15:46","modified_gmt":"2023-10-21T21:15:46","slug":"how-to-make-a-successful-career-change-at-40","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mysourcefunding.com\/?p=18361","title":{"rendered":"How To Make A Successful Career Change At 40"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Part of Kathy Caprino\u2019s series \u201cCreating Your Own Career Breakthrough\u201d<\/em><\/h2>\n

As a career and leadership coach for the past 16 years and working with thousands of midlife professionals around the world\u2014and through my own career change twenty years ago\u2014I\u2019ve witnessed virtually everything you can imagine regarding the do\u2019s and don\u2019ts of career pivot and change after 40. My specific career change journey started at age 41, from unhappy and chronically ill corporate VP, to marriage and family therapist, then launching my firm as a career coach, writer, executive trainer and podcaster. Through that process of change and supporting others, I\u2019ve observed successful pathways that allow professionals to pivot and build a new career in midlife in the most effective way, and also some important things to avoid.<\/p>\n

Why do people want to start a new career at or after 40?<\/h2>\n

Below are several key reasons for people\u2019s deep desire to make a career change as they hit age 40 and beyond.<\/p>\n

The current sacrifice feels to great<\/h3>\n

The work, outcomes and benefits of their current career no longer outweigh what they have to sacrifice and compromise on, in order to engage in this work.<\/p>\n

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Mistreatment or not being valued<\/h3>\n

The way in which they are being treated by their employers or workplaces makes them feel that it is no longer sustainable or acceptable to stay in this industry or field.<\/p>\n

The need for more control<\/h3>\n

Having more control and self-authority over their professional lives and time has become paramount, especially in the face of international health and other crises that have led millions of people to think differently about their lives, goals and futures (and their mortality).<\/p>\n

Entering a new psychosocial developmental stage<\/h3>\n

At or around age 40, we typically enter a different developmental stage than that of our younger years.<\/p>\n

We begin to examine more critically the way we\u2019re working, and for what reasons, outcomes and purposes. For many people hitting age 40, they recognize they may have fewer years ahead than behind them, and that gives rise to a different mindset (and urgency) about what is truly important for them, and what they wish to create that has lasting significance. And for many who have had children or are caring for elders and other loved ones, their priorities begin to shift as well.<\/p>\n

The field itself has changed<\/h3>\n

As we\u2019re seeing with the emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) and new tools like ChatGPT, industries, jobs and the future professional landscape are dramatically shifting. According to one report from Goldman Sachs, AI could potentially replace the equivalent of 300 million jobs.<\/p>\n

Longing for greater purpose<\/h3>\n

Finally, as people hit 40, many feel an emergent need for more meaning and purpose in what they\u2019re doing, versus what they focused on in their 20\u2019s and 30\u2019s – often trying to get ahead, earn more money, settle down, buy a home, and start a family. Many professionals begin to want their lives to matter in a different way, or they wish to make a bigger, more positive or lasting impact in the world. These new drives and desires lead them to recognize that their current field or role may not generate the reward and fulfillment they now want.<\/p>\n

So, what is the best way to change careers at 40?<\/h2>\n

I\u2019ve observed that there are productive and effective ways to make this change. There are also costly missteps that are much more likely to lead to failed attempts, wasted time and loss of money.<\/p>\n

The best way to engage in a career change involves 5 critical steps:<\/p>\n

1. Step Back for an empowered perspective of who you are, your talents and abilities and what you have to offer<\/h3>\n

First, it\u2019s important to understand yourself and your talents and abilities more deeply than you do now. Think about what you\u2019ll give up everything for, what you value, your priorities, standards of integrity, non-negotiables and your style, preferences, and ideals. Many professionals don\u2019t have a real understanding or self-awareness about these important aspects of their professional and personal lives. Often, they spend years trying to figure out what direction to take, and remain in the \u201cswirl\u201d of confusion, without understanding themselves or what they really want. If you don\u2019t know yourself intimately, it becomes very difficult to build a successful and rewarding career over the long arch of your life.<\/p>\n

Secondly, it\u2019s important to examine your life and career with a different lens than you\u2019re used to. To connect the dots and make use of everything you are and have learned in your prior years working, and to leverage that successfully, it\u2019s important to view your life from a higher, more enlightened perspective. Many people need outside support to help with this as it\u2019s difficult to do this on your own. As Einstein said,<\/p>\n

\u201cYou cannot solve a problem on the level of consciousness that created it.\u201d <\/em><\/p>\n

Each one of us is like a thumbprint – totally unique and different from all others, with a special amalgam of talents, gifts, capabilities and experiences that can be utilized in service of others and the world. But if you doubt it, or aren\u2019t aware of those talents and can\u2019t speak about them, it will be difficult to shift to a new, successful direction.<\/p>\n

2. Let Go \u2013 of the thinking, patterns and behaviors that keep you stuck<\/h3>\n

Often, there\u2019s something blocking professionals from more success and reward in their professional lives right now. My research has revealed that a staggering 98% of professional women and 90% of men are facing 7 damaging power and confidence gaps that keep them from reaching their highest and happiest potential in their work. If we don\u2019t address these debilitating power and confidence gaps, our efforts to shift to a new and more satisfying career will be difficult if not impossible, because our chronic challenges will often simply re-emerge in the new career.<\/p>\n

The best way to address these gaps is to identify where there are repeating negative patterns in your life \u2013 terrible bosses, toxic environments, being passed over continually, back-stabbing colleagues, draining responsibilities, etc. Look at the patterns that continue to reappear, attempt to identify how you are participating in sustaining these patterns<\/em>, and do something concrete to shift that dynamic. Be accountable and take action to generate change.<\/p>\n

You may also have limiting beliefs and mindsets (which often emerge from our childhood and families of origin) about money, success, power, your worth and value, etc., or you may take repeated actions that hold you back or sabotage you from reaching the next level of success. For many people, it\u2019s a problem with their boundaries \u2013 an inability to advocate for and honor their priorities. For others, their communication style hurts them, and pushes away any kind of positive support or help. For others still, it\u2019s a lack of confidence or a belief that they\u2019re \u201cless than\u201d and not worthy of advancing or experiencing great joy and satisfaction in their work. Until you let go of what you\u2019re doing and thinking that keeps you from experiencing more success and reward, it will be difficult to build a happier and more successful career.<\/p>\n

3. Say \u201cYes\u201d to your most compelling visions for the future<\/h3>\n

Thirdly, you need a vision for the next chapter, but not just any vision or fantasy \u2013 you need a \u201cjust right vision.\u201d So often, we dream large about where we think we\u2019d love to be, but the vision is so far away from where we are today, that we sabotage any efforts to get there (because we don\u2019t really think it\u2019s possible.) As Sir Winston Churchill said, \u201cIt is a mistake to look too far ahead. The chain of destiny can only be handled one link at a time.\u201d<\/p>\n

Others are afraid to think big, so they keep themselves stuck in unacceptable situations. It\u2019s critical to identify concretely what success and reward looks like for you specifically, but then break that down into a vision\u2014and series of goals\u2014that fit well with what you believe is attainable.<\/p>\n

4. Explore it and try it on<\/h3>\n

Perhaps the most important step in this 5-step sequence is exploring the top three directions you\u2019re most excited about, and trying them on and vetting them as thoroughly as you can before you leap or pivot. For example, if you\u2019re in real estate but think you want to start your own business in another field, try it on in every way.<\/p>\n

For example:<\/p>\n