Personal Plans: Bring on the Career Change

You're 45, you're driving hard - and you're heading for a cliff. Really. I picked up these two observations watching people I know:

1. at 45-50 years of age, regardless of position or financial success, the majority of executives start feeling the need for a change - either a break or a whole new direction that is different from what they've been pouring their heart and soul into for the past 25 years
2. a suprising number of executives lose their jobs before figuring and executing their new direction.

Both observations on executive career change seem instructive. It seems likely that the two are interlinked - as the individual ages, hardens and becomes less engaged with the demands of the organization, the organization demands someone younger, less hardened individuals who are more in tune with its demands.

Here are some thoughts and additional observations on executive aging and career change:

• every executive should count on a mid-career disruption and career change - almost without a doubt you will start to yearn for it - and even if you're not ready, the changes of it happening seem pretty solid

• age sneaks up on you - young doesn't last as long as most executves think - take a look around your organization - when will the majority of the organization be younger than you are?

• start preparing for mid-career change early
  • financially - save some of those hard-earned dollars - whether you put yourself on the street or someone else does, you'll appreciate not having to worry about feeding your family while sorting out what to do next

   

  • learn some new skills, particularly -
    • something about being an entrepreneur - everyone I can think of, regardless of  corporate background, starts thinking they would rather do their own thing
    • technology skills - they'll come in really handy when you start thinking about making your next million on e-Bay - as in - you'll know better!
• when the big day comes - and you or somebody else puts you out there - ENJOY IT - relish the opportunity to step off the treadmill and start doing something for yourself and your family other than bringing home the bacon - DON'T PANIC - if you've done some prep work and probably even if you haven't - YOU'LL BE FINE.

Mid-life career change seems practically inevitable. My advice is plan for it and take advantage of it so that when it happens you will be ready...AND HAPPY.

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