So you were an expert in your old field. But now you’ve quit. Finished the race. Tied the bow on the dapper ribbon. You’re starting out as the new kid on the block again because you got the right stuff (Get it? No, just me. Ok. Moving on….) and you’ve sorta forgotten how to be the new kid.

You want to be seen as experienced (you are a professional, after all) but your experience has been in an entirely different industry. You want to be seen as driven, but you also don’t want to drive over people and don’t want to be driven over yourself.

You want to be respected. You want to learn.

And you want to be successful.

Put simply, you don’t want to be the newbie forever.

Here are 7 steps to being a successful newbie from Day 1:

Even if it’s a decision you were excited to make, it can be hard to remove yourself from a job you felt successful in and throw yourself completely into...

Changing careers is a big deal.

It is scary and risky, but it can also be a rewarding experience. A significant reason why many people hold back from making that leap is that they worry about how making such a change will affect their finances. A career change may entail some difficult compromises when it comes to your finances, and most often prefer to play it safe. Let's be real. There’s that rent or mortgage to think of. Not to forget the electric, water, cable bills, childcare... The list goes on and on. 

Yes, the spark is losing its shine when it comes to your current job but it pays the bills, right? It is stable and reliable, so even if you want to get out of it, you think “It’s that not bad. I’ll give it a few more months before looking elsewhere”  but for how long do the few more months really last?

There are proven ways to help you take that leap of faith with confidence and pursue a career that will provide you with the...

I read a lot about networking. A LOT. I'll admit that, as an introvert, the idea of networking makes me a little anxious. I know all the rules but honestly, the only way I get through any of those events is to not network. 

Yeah, you read that correctly. I don't network at networking events. 

Here's what I mean: I don't focus on what the person can do for me (bad) or even how I can help them (better). I focus on simply getting to know that person. Starting that conversation is much easier if you know you have something in common with them, like the same alma mater. Think about it. How many times have you seen someone wearing a baseball cap or shirt with your school and you got excited and maybe even introduced yourself? That's a form of networking!!!! So, use that same energy when connecting with other alums from your school(s).

As a Director on the Wellesley College Alumnae Association Board of Directors, I'll admit to being 1000% biased in favor of alum...

You know you’re doing too much. You feel scatterbrained and like you’re always forgetting something. You’re exhausted but feel like you must keep going because if you don’t do it, who will? And quite honestly, you don’t feel appreciated for everything you do.

Does any of that sound true? Yeah, I bet it does. I know it's been true for me. Been there. Done that. Grabbed a bottle of wine on the way out. I’m here to tell you that it doesn’t have to be this way. 

One of the most common obstacles people face when trying to make a career transition is finding the time to do it. Here’s a secret: It’s not a matter of time. It’s a matter of priorities. We make the time for the things that are most important to us. If your career transition is a top priority, you’ll find the time. If it isn’t, you’ll find an excuse. Either choice is fine. It’s fine if making a career change is a top priority and...

For 2 decades (yes, over 20 whooooole years!), I’d been waiting for the right moment to turn my life around. I was convinced that things would be perfect when I lost weight, got a different job, or made more money. I felt that once those things fell into place, my life would really take off. I’d start working on those goals and then would sabotage myself. I’d start Weight Watchers in earnest, only to fall back into old habits within a month or two. I’d apply for jobs but didn’t really care if I got them. I completed a 2-year coaching program and started a coaching business but didn’t give it my all. Why? Because I was waiting for the perfect moment when everything would be right, the stars in alignment, my chakras perfectly doing whatever chakras are supposed to do. Of course, that meant that nothing in my life that meant a lot to me ever got off the ground.

Looking in from the outside, I didn’t seem like someone who waited for the perfect...