I guess the truth is, career changes don't happen in one big leap, at least not for most of us. A recent article on Careershifters advocates staged career shifts, e.g. going part time in your current job, while gaining relevant experience in your chosen new field in your time off - less scary, less risky. It wasn't the right choice for me but I can see the sense in it for others. So I may seek casual work in my old profession, and will choose to see it as a means to an end, if it pays for my voluntary work then that justifies it, and if I don't see it as a step back, then it doesn't matter if others think of it that way.
I also remembered the other day, reading a tip several years ago - while still barely dipping a metaphorical toe in the career change pool - that changing career would involve you having to do things you didn't think you could do, and so to start practicing in little ways. It makes sense if, like me, you stay too long in a job because you think: well, I know I can make a success of this, whereas if I try to do something else I might fail, so I won't try. An example for me right now is: fundraising, me? I can't ask people for money. I'm not wired up like that. This career change guru (if I find your name, I will give you credit, I promise!) said, start with one thing you don't think you can do, and then - simply - do it. Her example was exercise - like me, she hated it, and unlike me, got up every day and went running and made it part of her life; and started to think of herself differently. I experienced that this week, as I finally got to a yoga class; I thought I would hate it, feared I'd be the only one unable to do the stretches, and secretly hoped I'd love it. I liked it. I want to go back. I'm thinking of myself differently. And it makes me wonder what else I can do.
So, tell me: what is your 'thing you think you cannot do', and are you going to try it? If you do, let me know how it goes!
