It is not uncommon for people to change careers, especially if they are frustrated with their current job situation, feel unfulfilled or have no opportunities for advancement. Whether you just graduated from college or have been in the workforce for 30 years, it's possible to find your passion, reinvent yourself and succeed in a new field. There are many benefits to reinventing yourself, and the process is not as hard as you might think. Find out how these five individuals reinvented themselves and landed their dream jobs.
1. Kay Roseland
In 2008, Kay Roseland, a merchandise analyst, found herself unemployed due to the recession. At 64, Roseland decided it was time to reinvent herself and begin a new chapter in her career, as reported by Fast Company. With zero knowledge of social media, Roseland sought out the skills she needed to succeed. While earning two certifications in social media, she launched a blog called "Shareology." Creating this blog amped up her career skills and opportunities. She was eventually approached by Infor, one of the world's largest startups, to blog and mentor the vice president of product management.
2. Richard Fahey
In 2009, Richard Fahey decided to end his 40-year career as a lawyer for environmental and energy law agencies. He wanted to give back to a community that inspired him during his college years as a Peace Corps volunteer. Fahey told The Huffington Post he was bewildered that parts of Liberia did not have access to electricity. He made it his mission to help Liberian residents and ultimately founded Liberian Energy Network. The organization installs solar lighting systems in hospitals, office buildings and homes. At the age of 69, Fahey continues to serve the people of Liberia thanks to the courage he had to reinvent himself and create his dream job.
3. Jo Farkas
After spending most of her career as a clinical psychologist, Farkas, who was in her mid-60s, decided it was time to reinvent herself and follow her passion for the arts. She soon found herself in San Francisco auditioning for a lead role in "Kudzu" by playwright Jane Chambers. Farkas won the part and spent the next 20 years appearing in films such as "My Best Friend's Wedding" and "Meatballs 4." She also appeared on television shows such as "Weeds" and "Ellen." Now, at 87, Farkas advocates for reinventing yourself to find a career that allows you to be true to yourself.
4. Jody Martinez
After years of working stressful office positions she described as "un-fun," Jody Martinez decided to pursue her dream of becoming a stewardess at the age of 56. Her 50th birthday marked a turning point when she vowed not to celebrate the birthday in her current job. Martinez spent a few years working odd jobs until she applied for a stewardess job at Southwest Airlines. She now describes her current career as "better than okay," reports The Huffington Post.
5. Donna McDonald
It took a personal tragedy for Donna McDonald to turn her career around. After she lost her daughter to cancer, McDonald found herself out of a job, and she was inspired to take a chance on a new career. McDonald decided to follow her dreams and launched a career as an author of romantic comedies. At 51, she was told by countless agents that writing about heroines in their 40s and 50s was not appealing, but McDonald forged on. She began to self-publish her books and ended up writing 27 books in five years, reports Huffington Post. Some of her books include "Dating a Cougar," "Dating a Saint" and "Covered in Paint."
It might seem scary to take a risk when you desperately want to change your career, but these five people prove it's not impossible to land or create your dream job. The process of reinventing yourself might come with its share of challenges, but pressing on could make you happier and ultimately improve your overall quality of life.
Photo Courtesy of Darrah.Perryman at Flickr.com
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