Starting Over Mid-Career
Starting over mid-career can feel terrifying.
After spending 10, 15, maybe even 20 years building expertise, climbing ladders, and shaping an identity around your work, it’s no small thing to imagine pivoting. I recently read a Forbes article that captured this so well. And, they get into Career Construction Theory, something I wasn't familiar with!
“The theory suggests that people create meaning by weaving their work into a life story. Over time, careers become more than jobs—they become narratives of who we are. To start over mid-career is not only to risk income or stability, but to rewrite that story. It is no wonder the prospect feels like erasing a chapter rather than turning a page.” That resonates deeply with me. Because I’ve rewritten my own story a few times:
International affairs → consulting
Consulting → tech
Tech → solopreneurship
Each shift was scary in its own way. At mid-career, the stakes felt higher. Walking away from a stable role didn’t just mean a new job. It meant questioning my professional identity, my credibility, and even my sense of security after years of investment.
But here’s what I’ve come to see, and what I now help my clients work through:
You don’t erase your story, you expand it.
You’re not starting from scratch, you’re starting with hard-earned wisdom (those skils and experiences are almost always transferrable).
Change isn’t a step back, it’s a step toward alignment.
Mid-career transitions are hard because you’ve worked so hard to get here. And yet, they can also be the most meaningful because you’re clearer than ever about what you want your next chapter to be and say. If you’re standing at that crossroads: you’re not alone. And your story is still very much yours to write.
