Pivoting Safety: Leaving the Restaurant Industry Behind (Part 4 of 10)
Week 4: Starting Over at 45 Isn't Easy
If you'd asked me 10 years ago where I'd be today, I dont think "studying for the LSAT and preparing for law school at 45"; would have been on my list.
Yet here I am.
Working full-time.
Finishing my masters degree.
Studying for the LSAT.
Exploring a transition into a full-time safety career.
And planning for law school in the near future.
To be honest, starting over at 45 isn't easy.
There's something humbling about sitting across from hiring managers and trying to explain why decades of leadership experience should matter in a role that may look completely different from what you've done before.
It's challenging to compete with candidates who may have more direct industry experience, even when you've spent years leading teams, managing risk, investigating incidents, coaching employees, navigating compliance issues, and solving problems that don't fit neatly into a job description.
The exciting version of a career pivot is what people usually talk about. The reality is a little different.
It's late nights studying after work.
It's questioning yourself after another rejection.
It's rewriting your resume for the hundredth time.
It's wondering if you're making the right choice......and then deciding to keep going anyway.
I've learned that growth often requires being willing to become a beginner again, regardless of age, title, or experience.
Do I have moments where I wonder if this is all worth it? Absolutely.
But I'd rather take the risk of pursuing something bigger than spend the next 20 years asking myself, "What if"
So for anyone considering a major career change, going back to school, or chasing a goal that feels a little unrealistic, dont let your age become the reason you stop.
The timeline may look different than you expected, but that does not mean the journey isn't worth taking.
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