Five People Who Reinvented Themselves and Landed Their Dream Jobs

Reinventing myself! That sounds so palitable & so fitting now...

Although my career transformation wasn't as extreme as some, I did leave a dissatisfying career as a restaurant manager to move into consulting. Part of my career reinvention stemmed from problems that I saw in the restaurant industry and my own personal problem solving bent. I realized I had a knack for uncovering the whys that caused business problems. Once business owners and managers know the whys it is easier to find solutions. I would recommend that others who are dissatisfied at work look towards the parts of their jobs that they do like to find the keys to new career paths.

Does anyone have any tips about where to find courses to help me improve my skill set? I don't mid attending in person, but I'd prefer to find learning opportunities I can pursue from home because of my remote location. Is there a way I can tell which courses are legitimate?

I think it's wonderful when people have the courage to be their true, authentic selves. That's something millennials are fond of saying, but I think it rings true for everyone, regardless of age. Especially for those of us of a certain generation who were prompted to get a job, even if we didn't like it, there are many who did so not really knowing where they fit in to the job market. Inertia is hard to overcome, however. I applaud all those individuals who finally figure out what they really want to pursue and then go do it and succeed. They bring hope to others who may be worried they are stuck where they are.

These are indeed inspiring stories. I hear a lot about the frustrations of looking for work in an employer's job market. But these stories show that sometimes reinventing yourself can propel you in something new and exciting at any age. If you feel like you're banging against locked doors, maybe picking up some new skills that add on to what you're already good at can help to get you into the building.

So inspiring- but the main takeaway for me is- why wait?! This is definitely inspiring me to take a long, hard look at my career now. I do think these stories may be outliers in terms of how much luck is involved- but starting the groundwork now will make landing a dream job all the more likely!

@Shannon if you are thinking about a career change, do it gradually while still keeping your permanent position. You know it's possible that the position that you desire is one that is open in your company. Never forget to look there. If you can, try to find someone who is in your dream job, and see if you can shadow him for a few days. Yes it would mean taking some vacation days but it's worth it just to find out if the new career is really going to be a good fit. Just some suggestions. Anyone going through this right now who can offer advice?

These are really inspiring stories and provide hope for so many anxious about changing careers or reinventing themselves professionally. How would you recommend someone approach a career change or reinvention when finances are a concern? It's not very realistic for people living paycheck to paycheck to just drop everything and dive into a new venture.

I have come to understand that it is very healthy for you to re-invent yourself and take a path that you are better suited for. Doing something that doesn't excite your enthusiasm day after day will only wear you out without adding any value to your professional or personal development. It will make you resentful about your job and cause your productivity to take a nose dive.

@Shaday thanks for your comment. I think that most of have gone down the same path - not really sure what we wanted to do. I know I have. But sometimes we have to go down the path to find out. Try something out and see if it's a good fit. I hope you can find a way to use some of your 3d modeling and animation in future jobs - especially as a writer. So yes you can reinvent yourself - even at the same company. And @Abbey so very true that failure is just a step away from success. Thanks for the reminder.

It's great to see that the career changers here are mature workers who were able to find new passions in a society where ageism is common. It definitely seems like taking a chance on being an entrepreneur is an important part of starting over.

@Duncan, I took a leap and became a freelancer straight out of college, but years later, found myself going through a stale period. I decided I needed a change and moved several states away to go to school for 3d modeling and animation. While I loved learning the new skills, I ultimately did not continue down this path and realized that writing is still my passion. I was just getting burned out by focusing on projects and clients that weren't the right fit. So, I definitely think you can also reinvent yourself within the same industry, but sometimes you need a change of environment or work to help your prioritize what matters to you. Does anyone have for suggestions for evaluating a career change when you really don't know what you want to do instead?

Above all else, don't forget that failure is just a step along the pathway to success. These people mentioned, and many more, suffer failures along the way, but they don't let that stop them. Be prepared for a bumpy ride, but if you really have the desire to reinvent yourself and start on a new path, just keep plugging away and use your failures as learning moments.

Thanks for the comments. Totally agree @Leigh and @Mike. @Duncan it is true that you could just jump from the frying pan into the fire and that the next job could be even worse. But then maybe the second job turns out to be that dream job in disguise. @Mike is right - if it's not, then why not try a third job in something different. And @Leigh so very true that maybe you shouldn't give up your day job. Learning new skills, however, is never a waste. You will always find ways of incorporating it. Learning on your own while still keeping your job is the best way to go.

Great point, Mike. I don't think there's anything wrong with exploring something new. With all of the technology available today, you can even split the difference by staying at your current job and using your free time to try your hand at a new skill. I think the key is to do the best job you can at work and then spend the rest of your time doing things you are passionate about.

While that's a decent point, Duncan, there's not a whole lot out there that's worse than being stuck in a job that you hate. Even if the second career doesn't pan out as well as you would have liked, you can simply opt for a third option! This is a time of great technological advancement, and the options are out there if you want to learn something new in a field that you've always been passionate about. Just because something might not work out doesn't mean it's a good idea to never try. Eventually you'll find that job that you love going to in the morning.

I beg to politely disagree with this whole concept of personal reinvention because the above people achieved good results in their reinvented forms just my mere fate. For me, instead of one striving to excel elsewhere, it could save a lot of emotional muscle to perfect the current field and realize amazing success. What makes you think that the new line of life you are taking won't frustrate you like the first one?

What about Anne Beiler, the founder of Auntie Anne's pretzels? She bounced back from tragedy in 1975 to turn her love of baking into a bread-based powerhouse 15 years later. In the late 1980s, she began making hand-rolled pretzels, but she had to tweak the recipe several times before she got it right. Beiler remains active in her favorite causes to this day, even though it could have turned out much different when her young daughter died in a farming accident in 1975.