Change is daunting at any age. But especially as we grow older, our risk taking abilities decline. We become more comfortable and less prone to accepting change in our lives. A career change after 40 is often the last thing on our minds. Our childhood dreams end up remaining just that; dreams. However, the world is full of success stories showing us that its never too late. Plenty of people go through a midlife career shift and emerge on the other side successful.
It is never too late to rediscover lost passions and reinvent yourself. Remember that the timelines imposed by the world are arbitrary and should not decide the way you chose to live your life. You might be surprised to read about these famous people that did not start in the field you’d imagine!
Here are 5 inspiring people that show us that taking a risk with your career can lead to many fruitful things and a more fulfilling life:
Julia Child
Who would have imagined that beloved TV personality, chef and cookbook author used to be a secret service agent?
Julia Child is a very inspiring personality. She was one of the first women to host her own cooking show on television and is widely known for making French cuisine accessible to Americans. But before she was America’s favourite cook, she had a very different sort of life.
Coming from a traditional family and following a conventional path, Child graduated from Smith College in 1934. For a while she worked in New York in Advertising. But with the onset of the Second World War, she became more politically inclined and started volunteering with Pasadena chapter of the American Red Cross to help get the country ready for war. She joined the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), which was basically the forerunner of the CIA, in 1942. There, she served as a research assistant and later as a top-secret document handler.
It was only in 1948 that Julia Child started taking cooking seriously and enrolled in a culinary school. At the age of 36, she discovered her true calling, while staying in Paris due to her husband’s job. Along with Simone Beck and Louisette Bertholle, she published Mastering the Art of French Cooking in 1961 which kickstarted her cooking career. After coming back to the U.S, she started her show ‘The French Chef‘ which brought her a lot of fame. Her career shift exemplifies that passions might change and that one must be courageous enough to follow one’s heart. Often, a small challenging risk one day can lead to a successful career change.
Colonel Sanders
Colonel Sanders today is the most widely known face around the world for his fast food chain KFC. However, he was not always this famous in the food industry. His is a classic example of a late-life success and a rags to riches story.
Born in 1890, Sanders held a variety of jobs throughout his life, including farmhand, streetcar conductor, insurance salesman, and gas station operator. It wasn’t until his 40s that he began cooking for travellers at his service station in Corbin, Kentucky, where he eventually opened a small restaurant. He was rejected at least a 1000 times before he even started KFC.
However, his life took a turn when his restaurant had to be closed down due to construction of interstate highways. But even at the age of 62, Sanders did not give up and embarked on a new journey to franchise his fried chicken recipe. In 1952, his perseverance paid off and the first Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) franchise opened in Salt Lake City, Utah. By his 70s he had become the face of a worldwide chain.
Colonel Sanders is the embodies the word ‘perseverance’. He hasn’t just had a career change after 40 but has been changing careers his whole life till he found something he really liked.
Terry Crews
You might recognise Terry Crews from the famous sitcom Brooklyn 99. He plays the character of Captain Terrence “Terry” Vincent Jeffords. But did you know that before his TV career took off, he played in the National Football League (NFL) for many years?
Crews began his football career at the age of 23 and played for many NFL Teams such as the Los Angeles Rams, San Diego Chargers, and Washington Redskins. After retiring from the NFL in 1997, Terry moved to Los Angeles to pursue a full-time acting career. His breakout role came in 2002 with the comedy film “Friday After Next,” and he gained further recognition for his role in “White Chicks” (2004). Soon after that he gained popularity through other roles in famous television series ‘Everybody Hates Chris‘ and ‘Brooklyn 99‘.
Beyond his acting, he is also now a TV show host and an advocate for social causes. Terry Crews’ career change is a story of versatility. After spending all his life, from high school to university, dedicated to football; he had the resolve to pursue something else. His adaptability shows that reinventing yourself is possible at any stage in life.
Giorgio Armani
Armani is one of the world’s most well-known luxury brands but it’s creator Giorgio Armani didn’t always have his roots in the fashion industry. Armani’s late-life career change is a fascinating story of hard work and reinvention.
Born in 1934 in Piacenza, Italy, Armani initially pursued a career in medicine, enrolling at the University of Milan to study medicine. However, he realized that the medical field was not his true calling and left after three years to fulfill his military service.
Upon completing his military service, he took upon the role of a window dresser at a department store in Milan. From thereon it was a tough journey till he established his own fashion label at the age of 41. He had to learn a lot very fast about fabric quality, production processes and market trends. It was not an easy process. He worked various roles in stores, as a buyer, at other brand labels and under the tutelage of many people. Armani’s journey shows us the importance of being open to learning new things.
Armani didn’t just reinvent himself from a military doctor to a fashion designer but the launch of his label in 1975 also led to a reinvention of men’s fashion around the world. Armani’s innovative approach to men’s suits, which focused on comfort and elegance, quickly gained traction. The name Armani became synonymous with sophistication, luxury and the future.
Maya Angelou
Maya Angelou is a famous American poet, writer and civil rights activist. She has published seven autobiographies, several books of essays and poetry and has received many prizes and honorary degrees.
But before all this, she has lived a difficult life and held various jobs such as that of a fry cook, streetcar conducter, waitress, sex worker, and editor. It wasn’t until the age of 41 that she published her first autobiography ‘I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings’ which led to her literary fame. In this autobiography she details her struggles as a woman of colour in America and the racism and misogyny she faced and how she started writing.
Angelou always had the courage to pursue her dreams of writing. Even when life dealt her a bad hand. She never gave up on her dream. Her journey is a reminder that your childhood dreams aren’t impossible or unachievable. Angelou started from nowhere and went on the revolutionise the world of literature. Thus, it is never too late to pursue a career change. No matter your age and background.
Is a Midlife Career Change for you?
A career change after 40 is not for the weak of heart, but it can be incredibly rewarding. If you feel stuck or unfulfilled in life, then it might be a sign that you need to introspect. Reflect on all crucial aspects of your life.
We often take upon certain jobs due to pressure from society and out of monetary needs. But working a soulless job for a while can be tiring. If you’re considering a career change after 40, it is important to evaluate your financial situation too.
There are many risks to a career change after 40 and it is important to consider them. At 40, you might have other responsibilities, mortgages and children that are dependent on you. Health is also often a limitation that needs to be considered at 40. Therefore, it is often a big step and the transition can be hard. But age should never be a factor holding you back. You can successfully reinvent yourself at any age.
The Benefits of a Career Change after 40
There are numerous rewards that can come out of your midlife career change. You can feel more fulfilled in your professional and personal life. Reconnecting with a long-lost passion can also make one feel existentially fulfilled.
Making a transition at 40 also comes with other benefits such as being able to leverage years of experience in other fields. You can often bring a unique and fresh perspective to your passion which you probably would not be able to at 20.
It can enhance your personal growth, resilience and adaptability. These skills transfer into other areas of your life; making you a better partner or parent. It can also teach you how to enjoy your own life and also be mindful. Something people often miss out on in the hustle-bustle of their twenties. Thus, it is important to remember that it is indeed never too late to start thinking about your life.
