One of the biggest obstacles that keep people from moving to a new career is a high-paying job. In my midlife career change advice, this issue is often raised by aspiring career changers in the middle and top management positions.
If you have been “successful” in your high-paying career it is not easy to just leave the occupation and switch to a new one. Here are the reasons why the inertia is so high:
1. You have built up years of expertise through training, education and hard work.
2. From time to time, your expertise get recognitions and your improved performance is rewarded.
3. Socially, you have colleagues and communities that respect your experience.
Basically, you have been “programmed” to live in that employment and social system for very long time. You already have a particular lifestyle and even specific habits that hold you and your job together like glue. That is what so-called a rewarding career that ironically you hate, or you no longer like.
With all those settings, do you think it will be easy for you to reprogram your life and career for a midlife career change?
The answer is obviously no.
So what do you have to do to get the new career that you really want? Read on to get my midlife career change advice…
My Midlife Career Change Advice
Employment system is actually designed like a TRAP. Once you enter the system you have to follow it and not for long you’ll get addicted to it. Finally, you can’t leave it because if you switch your job and move to another company you are actually entering another trap.
For example, if you are promoted to an executive position you have to drive a specific brand and model of car that is in alignment with your company image. Okay, you’ll get a raise in salary, benefits and other company’s perks. But this is usually followed by the rising of lifestyle as you think that a “higher status” requires a higher status symbol.
This is the ultimate reason why you stay with the company. You are tied with the company because all of the facilities, loans and other systems make it almost impossible for you to leave them.
Now your choice is whether to keep your current job and stay miserable or find a new career and get job satisfaction.
I DID choose the second option many years ago and never look back since then. It was not an easy decision and required a lot of preparation from my side but it was worth the while.
If you agree with me and want to follow your life’s mission and passion I would suggest you make the same decision. Take your first step by visiting a career counselor or following my midlife career change ideas or the mini course of midlife career change advice.
I wanted to build a more meaningful second half of my life because I probably wouldn’t get a second chance. What about you?
