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."

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.

OlderAndWiser · 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.

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.

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

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

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