I just got an inquiry from a journalist looking for the following:
"Women who have made a successful career change "without a net" (meaning no huge financial savings or rich partner in the wings). The women need to be over 40 now (and either over 40 or near that when they made their career change). While it’s not essential I would love to include one woman who is single, if possible, since career change without a partner raises many different issues. I’d also like to find someone who used a severance package to fund a career change. And it would be great to find someone who left one career for an actual "job" rather than an entrepreneurial venture.
Most important is to find a person with a great story to tell who is good at finding the tips and insights that will help others learn from her experience."
Does this sound like you or someone you know? If so, shoot me an email outlining a few basic bullets:
- Name of person
- Age
- A couple of sentences about the nature of the change, ie "professor to investment banker" or "administrative assistant to doctor"
- Contact info (email, phone)
Send your messages to me at pcs (at) ganas (dot) com with the following subject heading: No safety net.
I want to emphasize that the journalist is NOT looking for someone who made the change from corporate to entrepreneur. That base is covered.
I’ll collect the emails and send them on. It could be a great opportunity to share a good story.
Thanks and have a great weekend!
I believe I have the story that you might be looking for. I am 50 and single. I am in the middle of huge life changes, not only without a partner, but without any support from family. This isn’t the first time I’ve changed careers, but hopefully it will be the last. This time I am returning to grad school to pursue an MFA degree in Creative Writing. After my real estate career tanked due to the economy, and other factors, I decided it was time to pursue my passion. So in the midst of a bankruptcy, no savings, no job, losing not only my own home, but several investment properties, and getting banished from my family (another story), I set off across the country in an old RV, towing my car, looking for a new home and the perfect school. I finally found it and moved to New Orleans from California. I have a great group of friends and am paying my tuition through a Graduate Assistantship.
If you want to know more or have any questions feel free to contact me.
Hi Pamela:
I just wanted to thank you for helping this journalist collect this information! My sis and I (both cubicle escapee wanna-bes) were just talking about how there are very few examples of entrepreneurs from the non-corporate segment of the population – like us. Unfortunately, as of yet, neither of us has a story to share – yet. I hope you can share some of what you learn? I would personally LOVE to know….I am working on my own story right now and need to hear others!
I love your column! As a fellow Phoenician, I especially appreciate that a “neighbor” has managed to make her own escape. That makes it seem more realistic.
Thanks Again!