Saturday Morning, my head's still spinning and I'm not sure why I decided to ask this question to strangers but...

Say you have a career but wake up one day and go 'fuk I need a change'. Would you go for something that's totally unrelated to your job and dive in?

I know an engineer who became a baker
I know an IT guys who opened his own cafe

They both seem to be happy but I wonder how much planning/courage it took for them to leave their comfortable jobs and do what they like.

The lazy way to greet all of you - HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!

Heh, don't worry. I think there's no good reason for 90% of the threads here (That includes my own).

I've done this a few times but with good reason. It does take the courage to reinvent yourself and to face the unknown. But I truly believe most people can learn mostly anything.

So long as there is good reason to do so (mid-life crisis, wake-up call, or just more money) it can be done.

I think people should have as many varied experiences as possible. I still feel like I'm on this journey to finally circle back to the thing I really was passionate about at one time.

cool

I have friends who studied in one field and got their jobs in that field and that's it, till they die they will be accountants, lawyers etc and I think it's not a bad thing to become a specialist in one domain.
Then I see the monotony of it .. I mean day in day out same sh*t...
I guess I'm not made for that. I got almost a decade of IT experience and just last year my 'brave' attempt to steer away from IT was getting involved in ERP as a trainer/consultant but it's still in IT (perhaps a bit more business oriented)

So yeah I'm thinking of switching careers (as a matter of fact the ball's in motion... )
and want to know if others have done so.

The lazy way to greet all of you - HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!

I say go for it. My situation was/is a bit different, but I'll share my story and why it was the best thing I ever did.


I started off working in entertainment (Nashville) and loved it. But after awhile a job opportunity back in my hometown of DC working on Capitol Hill came up, and I took it. I thought it was time for me to join the "real" world, do what the rest of my family does (mainly work for the government) and go home.

WRONG!

I was miserable.

So I left and tried to get back into what I was doing. Once you leave and go back it can be really hard, and I struggled for three years. Many times I wished I had never left the Hill, even though I had been miserable, because things were so hard. But nothing was falling into place. But I had this thought in my head to move to San Francisco, so basically on a whim I upped and moved 3k miles with no job, to try something new since DC wasn't right and going back to Nashville again hadn't worked out either. After all insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different outcome.

Best decision ever.

I found a job fairly quickly, a perfect job at that. I love the culture, my coworkers, I am at home here in the city and am incredibly happy. It was the best thing I've ever done and makes the past three years worth it AND I certainly no longer regret leaving a job I hated because it was "easier" than taking a risk.

Everyone is different, and I had no ties, so I could take the plunge, but I certainly advocate it. I guess I figured worst case I do go back to the Hill, but at least I knew I tried.

So I say if you really feel you need a change, try it. Worst case? It doesn't work out and you go back into your old field. But sometimes life's best gifts come from taking chances.

What if Prince Charming had never shown up? Would Snow White have slept in that glass coffin forever? Or would she have eventually woken up, spit out the apple, gotten a job, a health-care package and a baby from her local neighborhood sperm bank?

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haha yeah... can totally relate. i have an IT background degree-wise but i haven't used it in the corporate OR military world. i'm in healthcare now... go figure lol. though i really haven't considered that as my first choice back in the day when i was applying for jobs, it really seems it's a good choice in a solid industry.

I worked in high tech, R&D, tanning salon......
changes don't require courage but less fear. US eco is not getting worse. It is really good time for small business....... just do somehting you like. Someone opens a restaurant and doing physics research at same time. I don't think there is limit.

if you don't have a family and kids, what's the point of a career?

frame your life around your passions and the things you love...it might require leaving your comfort zone but at least you'll be working towards something that matters to you

um.... maybe to establish a foundation and to see what industry(ies) you're interested in?

My fellow Americans, I have not been entirely truthful with you. I did gi-googidy that girl. I geschmoegedied her geflaivedy with my googus. And I am sorry.