Is it time to step onto a new career path?

IF you are like most people, your work life will not follow a straight line. The average person changes careers five to seven times during their working life.

- JUDITH HUMPHREY

I pivoted four times in my career.

I went from musician to academic, then to speechwriter and ultimately to entrepreneur. Each of these major shifts led me to a better place and resulted in a dynamic career I couldn't possibly have envisioned or planned.

Switching up your career can revitalise it with renewed focus. Here are some practical steps to take on the path to a new career:

Research

The starting point of any career pivot is research. If you feel you'd like to move in a different direction, explore everything about that new area - the industry it represents, the companies that are successful in that field and the individuals who are major players.

This research should reveal what it takes to succeed in this field, the skills you would need and the culture that defines it. This knowledge will help you decide whether pivoting to this new area is right for you.

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