Archive for June, 2008
Sunday, June 15th, 2008
Given that this blog is about midlife career change, I decided to share a bit on midlife and skip the career change angle for a moment. These blogs and websites are some that I regularly read (or friends and family read) on the topic of midlife. A few of the blogs are simply interesting personal journals about a midlifer’s own journeys and others have advice and guidance for those in midlife.
Midlife Gals - By their own description, this blog contains the “Daily irreverent observations by two twisted middle-aged sisters in Texas. ” Put your own midlife miseries on the shelf for an hour and read the humorous, insightful and often quirky adventures of Lizbet and Mayrie. Recommended Reading: Please Hold…For the Next Available Representative.
Midlife and Treachery - This longtime blog covers a variety of topics ranging from Medicaid to Monty Python. Viewing life as a midlifer with a disability is often not all that different from many of our own experiences. And when it is different, you can expect to find an interesting post about it at Midlife and Treachery. Recommended Reading: At Home in Summer.
Midlife Mysteries - When I first started blogging last November, this was the first midlifer blog that I read. Actually, it was one of the blogs that sparked my own interest in blogging. Cathy’s blog is not just an interesting read, but it is also one of the best designed blogs I know…love that header! Recommended Reading: My Double Life.
LifeTwo - LifeTwo is a magazine style website for those of us just getting our second wind in life. Just read the tabs at the top of the page to get an idea of the variety of topics covered at this site. Since I’ve been getting into listening to podcasts, I have really enjoyed the podcasts at LifeTwo. Recommended Reading: What’s Your Calling?
Mid-Life Rider - Maybe it’s a midlife crisis, and maybe not. But regardless of what it is, Kevin’s motivation to create a blog about midlife and motorcycling is a success. I read the blog just to feed my own desire to get away sometimes. I love the photos and the journal entries describing Kevin’s biking journeys. Recommended Reading: The Long Road Home.
Confessions of a Mid-life Trucker’s Wife - This is a new blog that is popular with my wife. She describes the stories and images as heartwarming. I’ve even been know to read a post or two from the rambling trucker’s wife. Recommended Reading: Supper Table Discussions.
The Boomer Chronicles - If midlife blogs have one thing in common, it’s probably that they cover nearly every topic imaginable. The Boomer Chronicles is another great blog that is as likely to have you laughing as grabbing a pen to jot down some great information you can use later. Recommended Reading: Another Bigfoot Sighting that Blew Me Away.
TeeBeeDee - TeeBeeDee, as in To Be Determined, is a growing community of midlifers and beyond who share in discussions on popular topics like politics, careers and family. I try to drop in at least once a week to read a few discussions and post in the UTurnAhead career change group. Membership is free. Recommended Reading: Dysfunctional Bosses.
[PhotoCredit:Matalyn]
Posted in Coryan Recommends, Midlife | 6 Comments »
Tuesday, June 10th, 2008
Let’s be honest, there is no such thing as a stress-free career change. But we can minimize what stress there is. Making a midlife career change means stepping out of your comfort zone and charting a new path. Excitement may be the emotion you experienced most when planning the change, but this is quickly replaced by anxiety, or even fear, as you let go of the handrail and reach for opportunity. So what practical steps can you take to prepare for the change, minimize your risks and reduce your stress?
Eliminate Your Personal Debt
Probably the biggest fear when making a career change is the threat to your financial stability. Leaving a steady job, often one that pays well, to start a new career can put real stress on your finances. Paying off your debt will put you in a much stronger financial position for making a job change. It may mean postponing your move for a year or two, but it greatly improve your success by eliminating the pressure of credit payments while starting a new career.
Build Up Your Saving Account
Another important step to being financially secure during the change is to have a reliable savings to carry you, if necessary. Most career changes will involve a period of transition, possibly leaving you without a source of income. If this is the case, you want to have money set aside to pay bills and expenses. How much should you have? It really depends on how long you expect to be without or at a reduced income.
Here’s my formula for establishing your saving account. First, calculate your monthly living expenses. Now estimate how long you may be without a job or working for less than what you need to cover your expenses. Now multiply the your monthly living expenses by the number of months you expect to need and add two months (for emergencies and a safety cushion). Finally, add any career change expenses you will need to pay, such as training or travel.
Gain the Support of Your Spouse
Unless you are single, you have to remember that this is a partnership and you need your partners support. Any career change will be easier and more successful when your spouse is with you all the way. Start talking early, when you first feel the need to make the change. Explain how you feel and why you are considering a change. Ask how they feel about what you have shared.
Talking about your desire for a career change may create stress for your partner. Assure your husband or wife that you are not going to quit today and leave the family in financial ruin. Of course, if you are paying off the debt and adding to your savings, it will make all of this much easier.
Do Thorough Research on Your Career Options
You greatly improve the odds for success by making an educated, thoughtful career choice. This means you’ve considered careers that make the most of your current skills and interests. You’ve identified what makes you passionate, what careers excite you. And, of course, you’ve examined the challenges and pitfalls of each career choice.
Is All This Necessary?
Well, no. I know or have read about individuals that have found new careers in midlife without any of these preparations. But the fact is that while many, if not most, of us will consider making a midlife career change, only a few will ever take that step. If something is holding you back from making the change, maybe one of these steps will put your mind at ease. You don’t have to dive into the deep end of the pool to get to the bottom. Some of us need to take it a bit slower.
What are your suggestions for getting ready for a midlife career change?
[PhotoCredit:mode]
Posted in Career Planning, Midlife | 2 Comments »
Saturday, June 7th, 2008
I’ve been away for a while because of some increased demands at my day job. I’ve missed the blogging and my online friends, but the break was actually a positive experience for me. I found some excitement at work and was able to refocus my thoughts about my Internet media projects. So, I hope you don’t mind if I share a bit about where I’m headed in my own career journey.
As any of my regular readers already know, I started kicking around the idea of a career change last year after some personal changes in my life. I started blogging about my journey as a way of gathering my thoughts and exploring possibilities. I quickly decided to take the safe route and use jobrepreneuing as my means of exploring a change in careers. For the uninitiated, jobrepreneuing is my word for exploring being an entrepreneur while keeping your day job. I wasn’t ready to take the full plunge and leave my regular employment, but I wanted to start doing something different…something that could lead to a new career.
In November I decided on a plan to focus my energies on Internet media. I was a frequent user of the Internet and loved the open ended possibilities. I have also been interested in design and technology for most of my life, so the fit just seemed right. This blog was the very first step into my new Internet media career.
The ideas came quickly, and I envisioned all sorts of ways to make money online. And, of course, I was reading blogs and websites that told me how easy it was to make thousands a month with just a few niche websites. But being a realist, I knew it would not be that easy…and it hasn’t been.
I now have four established blogs and am developing three non-blog websites. I recently completed a course at the local community college on Dreamweaver web design. I also invested in a one-year subscription at Lynda.com where I learn even more about web design and programming.
I not yet moved into the money making aspect of my new side career. Revenue is small from the few blogs that I have. I now view my blogging, not as a money making venture, but as a tool for learning and an outlet for creativity. The blogging has also been a venue for planning as I continue to work out my personal career change.
Finally, I must share that my day job experience has changed during the past several months. There is a renewed motivation and, dare I say, excitement at work resulting from a clearer mission for our organization. It was this new energy (and several major work projects) that kept me away from UTurn during the past month. The work has become valuable again.
So, I am continuing my path of jobprepreneuing and growing my Internet enterprises. I have no plans for leaving my current employment, nor do I want to drop my moonlighting work. Both career paths are exciting to me now. When the two conflict, I will put the day job at the top of the list. I owe that to my employer. But the Internet media work will dominate my evenings and weekends.
Be sure to drop in regularly as I will be adding posts much more frequently.
Posted in Coryan Updates, Jobreprenuer, Midlife, U-Turn Ahead News | 2 Comments »
