
Do you agree that your career choices will have an impact on the trajectory of your life?
This is especially so if you’re moving from a corporate career to entrepreneurship. The interesting thing is that switching careers can happen at any time, with the average age a whopping 39 years old.
How do you know it’s time to change your career:
Have you ever woken up in the middle of the night, listless and unable to go back to sleep?
You stare at your ceiling, wondering if this is all there is to life. As you struggle to go back to sleep, thoughts fill your mind, thoughts that there’s something missing. That there’s something more and you need to figure out what it is.
This was my experience years ago.
At the time, I was a full-time lawyer in what I thought was a high-flying finance job. I had great colleagues, and it was generally a cool place to work, yet I knew deep down that I wasn’t where I was supposed to be. It took me a couple of months of deep introspection and unrest before I finally left.
People switch jobs for various reasons. It could be for the:
- Higher salary
- Flexibility
- Work-life balance
- Industry, and even
- Role

Studies also show that career changers experience an improved sense of wellbeing. However, this is more likely to occur where they are deliberate in their choices and choose well.
When I think of someone who chose an uncommon career path despite the odds, Florence Nightingale usually comes to mind. Yes, that Florence Nightingale.
I first read her story in this book. I learned that Florence Nightingale was born into an affluent British family in the 19th century, which meant that she never had to work.
All that was required was for her to play host and have children. Yet, she believed she was called to nursing and chose that path in midst of opposition from others.
Her work in nursing revolutionised patient care particularly around hygiene and sanitation. Today, we remember her as a courageous woman who worked hard to save many lives.
While we may not have a calling like hers, I believe there is so much we can offer this world.
For you, this may be the push you need to finally decide on what you want to do with your life, and actually follow through.
Whatever the case may be, keep reading for more.
Five things to know before your career transition.
Reflecting on my experience and those of other people who changed their careers later in life, here are five things that keep coming up.
- YOUR RESTLESSNESS MEANS SOMETHING.
Pay attention to that sense of unease.
Perhaps you have been feeling unsettled, an insistence to move, to act. At first, it is subtle, just a little twinge here and there, easily ignored.
In fact, you may believe it is your mind playing tricks on you. This is certainly the case when you’re in an enviable position. For me, I had a great role, I was the youngest in that role, there was a lot to be grateful for, but I knew deep down that I just couldn’t continue.
For Ms. Nightingale, she already lived a life of comfort and all that was required of her was to marry well, there was no need to work, but she chose to go against the grain and today she is remembered for her courage and the innovations she made to modern medicine.
Something had to give.
Looking back, I realise that the restlessness is often a necessary precursor to the much-needed changes that must follow.
For you, perhaps that restlessness is the trigger to awaken long forgotten dreams and plans you had ignored in a bid to do something:
- Responsible
- Accepted
- Financially secure
Many times, when we want to make a difference or create a solution to a problem, we are more aware of the potential issues and not as much the upsides. This is one of the fears that keeps us in that place of comfort.
In essence, don’t ignore that feeling of restlessness, there may be more to it.
Here are some ways to know if you should pay attention to the feeling of restlessness when:
- It’s insistent.
- What you’re doing is cool but not fulfilling and does not give you that deep sense of joy and satisfaction.
- You’re scared to consider what these feelings may mean. This is a good reason to probe further
What the feeling of restlessness will not mean
Unhappiness – There is the idea that we should leave a job simply because we are unhappy. However, our happiness or unhappiness is merely a symptom of something deeper, and many times leaving is not the answer.
I know this because early in my career, I almost left a job because I was unhappy. After a conversation with a spiritual mentor, I realised that the real issue was with my perspective, the job may not have been my dream job but my tendency to court a victim-mentality was the real issue.
2. GET CLARITY – ON YOUR BELIEFS AND YOUR WHY.
You may be wondering, ‘what do I do after I consider making a career change?
Being aware of your feelings of restlessness is only the beginning. Now, you need to get clarity of what your decision will entail.
This will mean asking yourself – “What’s next?”
Myth debunked!
We need to debunk the myth that you must wait until you are certain of what you want to do before you leave your job. It sounds like good advice to wait, but when you read stories of some pioneers and world-renowned entrepreneurs and changemakers, you learn that many of them had to learn along the way.
Analysis paralysis can also set in when we are expecting to have it all figured out before we step out.
They basically got clarity as they pursued the niggling feeling or opportunity that would not let them be.
However, there two thing you should have:
- A belief system.
Faith is one of the most underrated qualities of entrepreneurs. You need the passion to pursue and the perseverance to stay the course (especially during the initial challenges of doing something different).
- Know your why.
Figure out why making the career transition matters. Your why will set the tone for soo much. In one of my favourite books, Start with Why, Simon Sinek says, “People don’t buy what you do; they buy why you do it. And what you do simply proves what you believe.”
Your belief system ties in very closely with your why and you will keep coming back to these two things. These two things are the biggest indicators of how far you go and how long you hold on.
3. EQUIP YOURSELF FOR YOUR NEW PATH
“The purpose of learning is growth…”
Mortimer Adler
Preparation is key when you’re considering a career change. But here’s the thing – preparation goes beyond learning about the new work or business you want to undertake.
Preparation is all encompassing.
It is about equipping ourselves:
- Mentally:
Keeping the right perspective about the new project matters. Carol Dweck in her amazing book, Mindset: The New Psychology of Success, advocates that having a growth mindset “…allows people to thrive during some of the most challenging times in their lives.”
- Physically:
Exercise and movement are key to building up your strength and clearing your mind. We discuss more in this post about personal growth habits.
- Emotionally:
Emotional intelligence is an important skill to develop and nurture in today’s world. It can help you navigate personal and business interactions with wisdom and empathy.
- Spiritually
Joe Wilner at Psych Central says, “spiritual growth enhances our ability to deal with life’s ups and downs and bounce back from those difficult experiences.”
Your spiritual development is key to helping you stay consistent and attuned to the process.
- Intellectually:
This is often the first and only area of preparation we undertake. However, the other areas will affect our ability to take on the business or role and execute successfully. Nonetheless, you need to become a student of research. Learn as much as you can about your topic or interest area and continue to make room to update your knowledge.
During my transitionary period, I tended to focus more on the spiritual and intellectual side of things, I soon realised that I had some mental barriers I also had to address.
Equipping yourself appropriately is a crucial step in your career transition and advancement. The great thing is that equipping yourself is not a one-off activity but a lifelong journey.
Become a life-long learner in these five areas and you will see your life develop in unprecedented ways.

4. JOIN A COMMUNITY.
Transitioning into a new career can be a lonely road, but it doesn’t have to be. When I left my job, I felt alone, and I even questioned my decision – this was mainly because those around me could not understand.
I knew they loved me and meant well but I also knew they couldn’t understand why I would leave the known for the unknown.
However, over the last few years, I have been privileged to connect and interact with people at the early stages of a career or business change. It is always such a joy to witness the look of relief on their faces knowing there is someone who understands their journey and is in their corner.
You may find such groups on social media platforms like LinkedIn and Facebook, or even offline in your church or other association. You can also join our email list here where we share support and resources.
If you need something more structured, then you can check out our coaching service where we provide the support and encouragement on your career transition and entrepreneurship journey.
5. DOCUMENT YOUR JOURNEY.
One human reality is that we are quick to forget.
We are quick to forget what we’ve been through. More so, we tend to forget the upsides and successes much faster than the downsides and issues.
For me, journaling has been an essential daily practice. In the last 5 years, my journaling habit has provided a framework to process my thoughts and write about my experiences in real time.
You may choose to journal, create audios or videos of your journey, start a blog, write a book or whatever channel that works best. The important thing is to note it down and be consistent.
There are a few reasons to document your journey:
- It acts as a source of record:
As I mentioned earlier, our memory cannot always be trusted. Having a clear record of your journey provides an objective and more accurate lens of what you’ve been through.
- Helps you process and properly situate your experience.
Our life experiences are both unique and common. They are unique in the way we process the set of facts, but common in that there are others who have been through similar experiences.
- Provides encouragement for the journey ahead.
Entrepreneurship is a long game, and one that requires faith and resilience. Documenting your journey shows your progress and how you’ve surmounted various obstacles. It reminds you of your why and the need to keep going.
- It’s a means to check your progress and to see how far you’ve come:
Documenting your journey breeds room for gratitude. It helps you realize that if though it may not always look like it, there has been progress.
I remember when we had our first client, when I look back (even in the slow months), I could see growth and progress.
It can become a blueprint for those who come after you. The fact that you’re reading this post is testament to this.
ENTREPRENEURSHIP AS A FORM OF IMPACT
For as long as I can remember, I have always wanted to help other people, to find ways to make a difference in their lives. Looking back on my career transition and my experience (or adventure) these past few years, I can’t help but marvel at how my life has come full circle.
Today, I get to do what I love; what I know I have been called to do and I also get paid for it. That is an incredible privilege and I hope my story, and these lessons (+ our blog resources) inspire you to start or continue your impact journey.
Do you need some coaching support, or would you like to join our email community?
You can reach out to us here or join our email list here.
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