I know what you're thinking! It feels like a leap into the void and there's the doubt: will I make it or will I crash? You've spent more than half your life in your comfort zone, doing something you already know, something you studied or prepared for, or something in which you already have a lot of experience and perhaps many achievements and successes. But you have a dream, a passion, something that keeps you up at night and that you want to try. You always dreamed of being… (insert here that job, company, or career that you always liked), but you couldn't because… (again, there are many reasons, you got married, had children, started working very young, studied what your parents imposed on you, etc.).
But now, after reflecting on your life at 40, you feel that you do want to pursue that passion, and it's not crazy, if you do things right. Because, besides, you're not alone. In Europe, 12% of university students are over 25 years old and in the United States, this segment of "mature" students increased by 41% from 2000 to 2011, and they represent one in four students. People no longer see age as a limit to education, progress and changing professional direction, if necessary.
Recognize the root cause of excuses: “I’m too old for this,” “I’m going to be criticized,” “better the devil you know than the devil you don’t,” are all thoughts that can invade you when you’re considering a career change at this age. Basically, they are excuses that mask the fear of change and failure. Accept and assume that your new goal will not be easy, that you will have to work hard to achieve it, but you will do it with enthusiasm and motivation and that will increase your chances of success.
Take advantage of the experience you already have: You probably chose a career in your late teens, without really knowing yourself yet. You may or may not have made the right choice. You may not know much about the new field you want to pursue, but what you have already learned in your previous positions about yourself and about human, work or social relationships, you will surely be able to apply to your new initiative. You are entering this new stage, no longer as an inexperienced young girl, but as a mature woman who knows what she has to do.
It doesn't have to be a radical change: If you have a lot of family responsibilities, it can be difficult to leave a job that, although it doesn't motivate or excite you, helps you pay the bills. You don't have to leave it right away; you can start taking steps in parallel to start this new professional path. You can take online courses, go back to university on the night shift, create your own company and develop your business plan, build a network of contacts, look for all the tools you need and when you have them, take the final step with a more solid base.