Am I Too Old to Reinvent Myself?

Q: Let’s be realistic. Can those of us “baby boomers” really expect at our age to transition to a new career, follow our dreams and reinvent ourselves? Can a lawyer become a dog trainer or a nurse a winemaker? —Pete, Seattle

Absolutely! Over night or within a couple of weeks? Absolutely not!

Career transition is a journey. “Transit” is the key word in transition. It is a step-by-step process (see my Eight Steps to a Successful Career Transition≤http://www.briankurth.com/Career_Change_in_8_Steps.html). I have worked with countless baby boomers who have either made a “180 degree career change” or are in the process of doing so: financial-sector couple turned vineyard owners; Motorola plant assemblyperson turned dog daycare owner; nurse turned horse breeder . . . and the list goes on and on. You CAN do it: One step at a time.

Brian Kurth is founder and president of Brian Kurth & Co., a career coaching firm, and also of VocationVacations, a firm that arranges a few “vacation” days on the job—on your dream job, that is—in a real company or organization, so you can get a firsthand feel for a profession that you’ve been considering. He also is the author of “Test-Drive Your Dream Job: A Step-by-Step Guide to Finding and Creating the Work You Love.”