By: PrimeCB

A few weeks ago, we talked to some experienced workers and asked them about mid-career transitions – from one job to another, or one career to another.

Here are some of their comments:

Sue Chehrenegar: I used to pursue a career in biomedical research. In March of 2003, I retired early.

My first day at home, I sat at my computer and looked for ways to display my writing skills. I had done a good deal of writing while in graduate school. I had also edited a newsletter for three different organizations, and I had conducted public relations outreach work for a faith group in my own town.

After more than a year of writing things “for free,” I got a job writing for my local newspaper. I also managed to get some ghostwriting jobs, positions that had me writing web content. In addition, I took a course on writing for children. I had two articles accepted by Boys Quest Magazine. I also had a short story that I wrote accepted for inclusion in an anthology.

Linda Tancs: After 22 years in the legal field in a career that ran the gamut from paralegal to partner, I made a radical career shift to brand strategist and coach.

On the branding side, I am leveraging several years’ experience in the field of trademark law to help business owners identify, manage and promote their brand identity. On the coaching side, I am using my own personal experiences to support others in career transition and entrepreneurship. I also have a specialty coaching practice devoted to legal professionals.

Tom Ingrassia: In 2001, I chucked a successful, 25-year career in higher education administration (I was assistant dean at a university business school at the time) to pursue my lifelong dream of working in the entertainment industry. The world-wide chaos following the terrorist attacks should have dashed my dreams to dust. But I persevered, seizing opportunities and making them my own.

Today, I run a successful artist management agency, Ingrassia Artist Management, representing an international roster of 15 eclectic performers, ranging from classical and jazz artists, to an actor, a children’s edu-tainment act, and a writer.

Along the way, I have had the opportunity to work for and with some of the legendary performers from the 1960s–including Mary Wilson of The Supremes (who gave me my start in the business, and for whom I worked for 4 years); Arlene Smith of The Chantels; Barbara Alston of The Crystals (whose autobiography I ghost wrote); June Monteiro of The Toys; Carl Gardner of The Coasters (whose autobiography I edited)–the very people I grew up listening to and idolizing. I am living, breathing proof that dreams DO come true. And I have never looked back!