Sometimes I laugh at the idea that in many cultures around the world, we expect teenagers who are fresh out of school to choose a career. Not a starter job, mind you, but a career they expect to remain in for the next 40 years.
Doesn’t that seem…well, positively ridiculous?
Can these young adults possibly know enough about themselves to make such an important decision?
Sure, some people know from a young age what they want to do, and end up enjoying their profession until retirement.
But for most people, a desire for change will come sooner rather than later.
Change Is Normal
Maybe you’ve been slogging away in the gym for years, only to discover a passion for ballroom dancing that keeps you fit without even trying.
Maybe after fifteen or twenty idyllic summer vacations, it dawns on you that you’d rather trade your big house in the suburbs for a shoebox-sized apartment by the sea.
Or maybe only after taking over the family business and doing your best to make your family proud while continuing their legacy, you finally realize you must quit to become the artist you were born to be.
Guess what? All of this is normal. It’s called life.
These types of things happen every day to people everywhere. They realize they must make a change in their life.
Maybe you are realizing the same thing. After years or even decades of stifling your true self, you’re realizing it’s time to take the plunge. It’s time to do what you’ve been telling yourself to do for a long time.
How Old Is Too Old?
But wait a minute (you think to yourself), you can’t change your career now. You’re too old. You’ve been doing whatever you’re doing for too long to change. How could you still be successful if you made a change at this point in your life?
Well it’s a good thing Alan Rickman didn’t think like that.
The late actor, known for decades of brilliant stage and screen acting (Die Hard, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, Harry Potter) didn’t get his big break into show business until he was nearly 40 years old.
I’m pretty sure movie agents and producers would say 40 is much too old to begin a career in the business. But that goes to show there are always exceptions to rules. Rickman’s legion of fans across the globe are thankful he had the confidence to keep at it until his talent was recognized.
Or what about Anna Mary Robertson Moses? Better known by her nickname Grandma Moses, she is a renowned American folk artist who didn’t pick up a paintbrush until age 78.
Grandma Moses was a housekeeper, farmer and mother for much of her adult life before she began to paint scenes of rural life. A prolific painter who generated over 1,500 canvasses in three decades, she initially sold her paintings for $3 to $5 each. Relatively quickly, her going rate increased to between $8K and $10K per painting, with her highest-selling work going for over a million dollars.
She started her painting career at 78. I think it’s safe to say that 30, 40 and 50-year olds are still well within the limits of starting a new career.
Another person who didn’t let age stop them from changing careers is Momofuku Ando. His name might not be a familiar one, but his products are a different story.
At age 48, responding to a nationwide food shortage after WWII, Ando invented the first “instant noodles.” Originally called “chikin ramen,” his product would go on to be sold to millions of people all over the world.
But Ando was just getting started. At age 61 he invented Cup O’ Noodles. The brand quickly became a household name, not to mention a college student standby, with worldwide demand reaching 98 billion servings in 2009. That’s a lot of noodles.
Creating the Change You Desire
If you have the desire to change your life by changing your career, being “too old” is just an excuse to prevent you from jumping into the pool.
Remember, after the initial shock of cool water is absorbed by your skin, the next feeling that comes is that of excitement and achievement. The same thing happens when you decide to make changes in your life that will ultimately allow you to be happy, healthy and fulfilled.
As a teacher, your value only increases with age. Think how many years of experience you have under your belt, not to mention scholarly acumen and classroom management finesse. Why settle for less at the very moment when the hard work you’ve put into your education and career can do the most good and pay the greatest dividends?
The Time Is Now
If you are unsatisfied with your working conditions, salary or general happiness due to a stagnation in your career, it’s time to make a change.
If you’re a teacher who is fed up with the system and the lack of respect that is inherent in today’s educational world, sign up for “How To Tutor Online.” My course can lead to the change you’re looking for.
The course begins January so keep an eye on your inbox to assure your spot in the class.
I will teach you, step by step, how to set up and run your own online tutoring business. By following the modules in my course, you will:
—Build a thriving teaching business
—Make your own schedule
—Only teach the subjects you love
—Decide which class size you want
—Be able to do your job from anywhere in the world
—Begin reaping the financial rewards you deserve
Remember, it’s never too late to change your career. You deserve to love your job and get the pay you want. Sign up for “How To Tutor Online” and start the next phase in your life.
Let’s do it together.
