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Change your career path it’s never too late to try something new

Guest post by: Roy Derrick

Article Overview: Have wanted to change your career path but been too afraid to take the plunge? Then when you finally did, struggled to find the right opportunity? This is an account of someone who took those steps and hopes to help others to get it right !

Change your career path it’s never too late to try something new

Middle age does strange things to a man. It finally makes a person evaluate the priorities in life. This was certainly the case for me.

For many years I had been what could have been considered as a "busy fool". I had always worked incredibly hard, often working many long hours to provide both for my family and for the families of my employees.

I began my working life as a gas engineer working lots of overtime and ensuring a secure income for my family. I then threw caution to the wind and decided to venture into the unknown territory of retail.

I began by opening a convenience store which involved working very long hours for little income at the beginning. It also sadly meant spending large periods of time away from my family particularly my young children. However by sheer hard work and dedication I began to succeed and eventually expanded to open two further stores and a manufacturing company.

As the business expanded so did the workforce. This resulted in more pressure to succeed not only to provide for my own family but for the families of all my employees. Competition from other retail outlets further increased the pressure on me and I continued to work harder and longer hours in order to succeed.

After twelve years I decided to make a career change. I sold my businesses and ventured this time into another relatively unknown domain- I became a property developer. I had a little experience in this field as I had built my own home and began buying various parcels of land to sell. I also built more houses which I sold and I project managed house builds for various clients. This proved a welcome change and a great challenge but after seven years I was becoming submerged in mountains of paperwork and I was again beginning to spend less time with my family. It was time for a change. This time I was determined to make the right change - a change for the better.

I am now successfully running a businessworking from home and have stopped being what I regarded as a "busy fool". I have now struck the right balance between work and family life. I have succeeded in creating good quality time with my family and am now finally beginning to really enjoy life to the full. Making changes in your life especially when you reach the insecure middle aged phase of your life can be daunting and hold much insecurity. However by finally taking the plunge and venturing into the unknown many wonderful opportunities can be created which will go on to create gains both financially and socially.

By my very nature I will always need a certain amount of challenge and set goals in my life but at least now I am productively busy and am actually reaping the rewards for myself. I believe that I am now fulfilled in my life. It is never too late to make alterations in our lives provided we take the time to ensure that we make the right changes to better our lives.

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Article Tags: business, career change, change your career path, goals, working from home



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Need Advice for online Business. - Hey, I am a fresher in online Business. I haven’t any experience in this field before. I want to build my career in this business. Can anyone suggest me the right path to get into this business? If you people have some experience and ideas, do share with me. Your help will be highly appreciated. Thanks in advance!
Re: Dropped Out Of School To Startup! - First of all, you have great courage to assume this path in your young career. It's bold, it's tactful, it's passionate, and it's all about entrepreneurism. Good job! Keep it up and keep us abreast of your successes! I had a colleague drop out of college, and start a security firm. He hired directly from the Police Foundations program and built a company from the ground up. He now has over 50 employees and has a Hummer. I think he's doing successful!
Re: Steve Jobs Speech - Last week, I actually gave a part of this speech to my grade 7/8 class and asked them to write a 1.5-2 page essay on their ideal career path. Moreover, I told my students that it would be the most important essay they'd ever write. Teens need to begin planning their high school courses around the field they want to specialize in university/college or risk losing valuable time/money later.
Re: How important is your name? - Hi GT I agree with you each child has their own unique personality and desires and I don't think that parents have the right to choose what path a child should follow. I believe that all we can do is teach them good values educate to the best of their abilities and then it is up to them to decide their own path. MichelleJ
Re: Balance - Make time for things you love - About making time for things you love i would like to tell you something nice. Last night i got home quite late, at 11 pm. Near the building i live, is a small park and a football field. When i got out from the car i heard laughs and when i looked on the field there was a man playing with his son. And they were laughing and running and was so nice and sad also. I thought that this man most probably was working very late in the afternoon but he still dedicate time (even if it's very late) for his son. I just felt strange.


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