Would You Rather Be a Baseball Team COO Than a Telecomm COO?

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbour. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” – Mark Twain

Although the thought of transitioning into an entirely new career in mid-life may seem foolish, many people feel compelled to move toward working their passion.

Somewhere along the way, progressing up in their careers, they lost their way. They’re not being true to themselves. Their work may satisfy financial needs, but doesn’t fulfill otherwise. They’re feeling a certain emptiness.

A friend told me the other day that her husband was thinking of a drastic career change away from the printing industry. This was what he’d always done, and felt it was his career path, but it just wasn’t working anymore.

His passion – making beer. He’d always wanted to be a brew master and was ready to give it a go, but was having a hard time getting a foot in the door.

I recommended these two terrific resources to help him explore, dream and discover:

1.  Vocation Vacations

Brian Kurth (@BrianKurth on Twitter) created an innovative program that connects career transitioners with mentors working in the exact job they want, so they can test drive the job of their dreams.

He has over 300 experts on board, representing over 125 careers, with whom you can partner and receive 2 days of shoulder-to-shoulder mentoring.

Some of the dream job vacations offered include:

Alpaca Rancher
Antiques Dealer
Archaeologist
Baseball Announcer
Boat Captain
Brew Master
Chocolatier
Comedian
Fishing Guide
Flight Instructor
Landscape Architect
Pit Crew Member
Shoe Designer
TV Producer
Vineyard Owner
Voice-over Artist

2.  My Lifestyle Career

Nancy Collamer’s (@NancyCollamer on Twitter) blogsite is loaded with advice and resources for people who want to make a change but haven’t reconnected with their passion and what they really want to do next.

In a recent “Career Reinvention Tip of the Week”, Nancy wrote the post, “Feeling Stuck? 6 Ways to Ignite Those “Aha!” Moments”, in which she suggested ways to break through clogged brain connections, gain perspective, and find moments of revelation:

1. Quiet yourself – Scientific studies confirm that people who consistently practice mind-quieting strategies, enjoy increased self-awareness and creative thinking.

2. Activate all five senses – Engage your whole body to help out your head. Your endorphins will flow and act like roto-rooter for your brain.

3. Rewire your brain – Fire up your brain by shaking up your “normal” — take a different route to work, try out a new place for lunch, go to a lecture on a topic you know nothing about.

4. Engage your intuition – Tap into the power of images and music to stir your soul. The visual and auditory stimuli can help open up your mind to new patterns and possibilities.

5. Reconnect with your inner child – If you want to recapture the “can-do” spirit of your youth, recreate your childhood by engaging in some of your favorite childhood activities.

6. Take a trip – Even if you can’t go on a full-blown vacation, just a day away from your normal environment can help you gain much needed perspective.

Related posts:

Boomer Career Trends: The Graying of America’s Work Force

Considering an Executive Career Reinvention?

FREE eBook Thriving On Less By Leo Babauta