Have you ever taken a major life or career leap of faith?

Question

I changed careers later in life. I wanted to go into an entirely different field. The labor department statistics said that only 1 in 10 people who try to change careers in their 40s actually are successful. Not only did I became unemployed while I go a MS degree but I spent most of our saving s on tuition with no guarantee that I could pass all the courses and actually find a job afterwards.

I had to have a leap of faith.

He is one of those who knows that life is just a leap of faith,

Spread your arms and hold your breath and always trust your cape."

Lliam · Accepted Answer

I met my future wife in 1994 when I was 40. She was 37. We dated for a year before I decided that she was the one. I had girlfriends since I was 16 but hadn't married because I hadn't been ready to settle down. I also thought marriage was for life. It was a once in a lifetime decision and I wanted to be absolutely sure before I made that commitment.
When I proposed in 1995, I was scared to death.
We got married in 1996.

We wanted to buy a house with an acre of so of land so that we could have some fruit trees, vegetable gardens, and maybe some chickens. But we lived in southern California where even small 1950s era houses on postage stamp lots were too expensive.
We took a two week vacation and drove all around central and northern California. We saw lots and lots of nice communities, open land, and more affordable homes.
So, in 2000, I applied for a transfer to northern California and my company honored my request. They even paid our moving expenses and set me up with a home office.

We lived in an apartment for a year and spent all our spare time looking for a permanent residence.
We eventually happened upon 30 gorgeous acres of untouched oak grassland on a west facing slope with an amazing view for $80k.
Before buying, I researched the viability of building a driveway half way up the hill, a house pad, well, water storage tank, septic system and house. I wasn't even sure if it was feasible. But, as it turned out, it was not only feasible but financially possible.

We decided to go for it.
We moved into our new home in 2002.
I was a motor vehicle damage field adjuster/appraiser, which required me to go out on assignments every day to homes, auto body shops and wrecking yards.
I had the most northern territory in the company. They created it just for me.

Even though we didn't quite realize it at the time, we are in an ideal location. And we love the setting or our home.
We have made improvements ever since with ornamental trees, bushes and flowers around the house, a small orchard of 18 various fruit trees, vegetable gardens and herbs.

So one of my leaps of faith was marrying my wife. We have been happily married now for almost exactly 30 years, had LOTS of fun, and built a wonderful life together.

My career leap of faith was transferring. to northern California, which enabled us to buy our home..

OlderAndWiser · Accepted Answer

I enrolled in law school at age 28. First day of class, I had no idea what I was doing there. By the end of the week, I loved it. Next month, I've been practicing law for 40 years.

Advisor Smith · Accepted Answer

Yes. In my late 20s I walked away from a stable corporate role to pursue my MBA, with no sponsorship, during a recession. I emptied savings, moved cities, and watched peers climb ladders while I sat in classrooms wondering if I’d miscalculated.

What carried me:

- A clear “why” written down and revisited weekly
- A brutally honest financial plan with worst‑case scenarios
- Constant networking while studying, not after

Looking back 20+ years, the risk felt huge, but the regret of *not* trying would have been bigger. Your “cape” is prepared courage, not blind hope.

midnightmoon05 · Answer

Yes, I went from my golden bowl teaching job to commercial real estate. because someone recruited me to help a real estate mogul... I said why not, I was getting bored teaching. So i left the DOE completly. Other teachers called me crazy for giving up my pensions and all...

I am a risk taker according to others who I have shared my career path. Or they just called me crazy.

I worked all kinds of jobs since 11-12 years. old. Babysitting, cashier at a supermarket, clerk at a law firm, and in the SS administration office, all before 18 years. old.

Language instructor to investment bankers during college. then was recruited into the Dept. of ed at age 20... some said I got the golden bowl. I was clueless... Life was good I guess... I was very successful and commercial RE in NYC is big money. Then I got pregnant and stayed home for 5 years. My broker wanted me to continue working for him. But it didn't make sense for me to make lots of money to hire someone else to care for my kids when my background is in education.

So I went back to teaching as off the street hiring procedure. There was a hiring freeze then... since I have multiple license... I was rehired quickly and reconnected to all my pensions and benefits, etc. I continue to work on my personal RE business on the side along side my siblings.

I will soon retire from my teaching career, I will continue to work on my RE with hubby and our other investments.

Looking back, I sometimes think, life in someways is "set" but sometimes, I think, our decisions take us to different paths in life.

I have made good decisions. :)

TrueConfection · Answer

You’re one of a kind X7! Determined, willing, selfless, ambitious, and smart.

My life changing leap of faith was getting married. Does that count? I said I wouldn’t and then I met a guy I couldn’t live without. I gave up my career, my hobbies, and moved away from friends and family. We started our own family and in spite of all the ups and downs, I would do it again.

Account · Answer

Yes. Every time I did that it worked in my favor though. One of the few strengths I have is that I can be adaptable and I am capable of learning fast.
I don't take risks incredibly often, I have to be very fed up to do that, but when I do, it somehow kind of works in my favor, or I simply make it work in my favor.

AviatorTom · Answer

Several years ago, I was laid off from my long-time job due to downsizing. I had a wife and young family to feed, and the only job I could find was in a city 300 miles away. I took it, and commuted back and forth each week. It turned out to be good. My former company actually asked me to return after a few years, which I did. The extra experience working for a different company became very useful in my career.

rgb008 · Answer

Many times. I went to school for a degree I didn’t use. Went back to school. And now I want to change again.

BCRanger10 · Answer

Yes. About 10 years ago, I returned to my old job, which I never should have left in the first place. I went back even though I had an opportunity to make more money at a similar job.

WhitneySnow · Answer

I haven’t, but I’m glad it worked out for you

NathanDavis · Answer

quite college half-way... and started a business

Iron_Man · Answer

I’ve worked all kinds of different career fields

queenofcardio · Answer

No, I'm still on the same career path

Stone_30 · Answer

Not really, might need to

DishLady · Answer

Yeah, almost daily.

Have you ever taken a major life or career leap of faith?

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