Feeling stuck in your current career and yearning for change? Dive into our blog to discover inspiring stories of individuals who dared to pivot into a career change and found unimaginable success. Let their journeys light your path to a fulfilling professional transformation.
10 Inspiring Career Change Success Stories
In a world where career evolution is standard, drawing inspiration from those who've forged new paths and crafted their dream careers is crucial. With our 10 inspiring career change success stories, you can jumpstart your own career change journey!
From entrepreneurs who reshaped industries to creatives who transformed their passions into global phenomena, we've selected diverse stories to ignite your imagination and fuel your career aspirations.
After all, it's never too late to pivot into something you genuinely love.
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Why Make a New Career Path?
In a recent year, 63% of workers who lost jobs have changed industries, according to a Harris Poll survey of more than 1,970 Americans in October. The top reasons given for their career switch were being laid-off or fearing a layoff, more money, and no room for growth in their field.
Whether changing careers for better work-life balance, a challenge, or better salary and benefits, make a major career leap to find your dream job.
10 Inspiring Career Change Success Stories
1- Luvvie Ajayi Jones
From Digital Strategist to Bestselling Author and Speaker
Although not primarily a writer, Luvvie, a digital strategist and speaker, leveraged her blogging platform into a professional speaking career, tackling subjects like digital strategy and activism.
In her own words, Luvvie describes how embracing the evolution of her career enabled new successes.
"I was no longer the girl with the blog... I had evolved into... the international keynote speaker, the CEO of a media company. I had grown, and that was exactly what was needed, because it allowed my work to have more impact." (2)
"Creating a life that is authentic, bold, and purposeful takes audacity. It takes disruption."
According to Luvvie.org, her TED talk, “Get Comfortable with Being Uncomfortable,” has over 9 million views and counting.
Luvvie Ajayi Jones unabashedly stepped into a new creative presentation of herself and made a leap into a thriving future. So where do you thrive? Dive into your new purpose with Unmudl.com.
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2- Michael Bloomberg
From Investment Banker to Media Mogul and Mayor
Michael Bloomberg began his career as a general partner at Salomon Brothers investment bank, but was demoted to the firm's IT division and then laid off. However, he saw opportunity.
His IT experience became the foundation for his future success. He possessed a key insight that others had missed: In the trading world, swift and dependable data were invaluable.
So he founded a business that would ultimately metamorphose into Bloomberg LP. This enterprise revolutionized the trading landscape, offering unprecedented speed and depth of data. His innovative approach reshaped trading floors globally.
Not content to rest on his laurels, Bloomberg expanded his influence into media, creating Bloomberg News and Bloomberg TV. Forbes chronicled his journey, emphasizing how these expansions not only cemented his status as a media titan but also made him the richest man in New York. (3)
In a further testament to his unyielding ambition and public service mindset, Bloomberg transitioned into politics, serving as the Mayor of New York City.
In a journey that could have ended with a career setback, Bloomberg showed that with the right insight and relentless drive, career 'obstacles' can actually be stepping stones to greater things.
3- Sara Blakely
From Selling Fax Machines to Founder of Spanx
Once a door-to-door fax machine saleswoman, Sara Blakely dared to dream beyond the conventional path set before her. Armed with resilience and an innovative idea, she pivoted her career to launch Spanx.
This bold career transformation not only reshaped her life but also solidified her status as one of the world's leading female entrepreneurs, showcasing that with belief and determination, one can rewrite their own story.
With a net worth of around 1 billion, her hard work and life-changing decision to press forward with career change and start her own business brought her wealth and fame.
However, her journey of becoming a billionaire wasn’t a straight shot. Sara Blakely's ascension to billionaire status wasn't without its hurdles and setbacks. In fact, it was "founded in heartache and loss." (4).
In an interview with Forbes, Blakely reflected on the challenging moments that shaped her, including enduring the significant personal loss of 11 people close to her. This harrowing experience infused her with a zest for living each day to its fullest.
She also learned a powerful success lesson from her father:
“Growing up, he would ask us what we failed at that week. If we didn’t have something, he would be disappointed. It changed my mindset at an early age that failure is not the outcome, failure is not trying. Don’t be afraid to fail,” she explains." (5)
Her willingness to embrace failure as a learning opportunity is a hallmark of her entrepreneurial journey. In doing so, she not only built a billion-dollar brand but also became an icon of resilience and ingenuity, embodying the transformative power of career change.
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4- Scott Harrison
From Nightclub Promoter to Revolutionary Non-Profit Founder
In a podcast, Scott Harrison explains that "He had all the things that were “supposed to” make him feel deeply fulfilled. But he realized instead that he had become the worst person he knew." (1)
Scott Harrison's career shift wasn't just about leaving the glitzy world of nightlife; it was about embracing a completely new identity built on empathy and activism. It all started with a transformative journey:
"He went to Liberia in West Africa as a volunteer photojournalist. He was suddenly in a country with no electricity, no running water, and they only had one doctor per 50,000 people that lived there. That was the moment his life changed; he found the purpose he was looking for." (1)
Scott "saw the effects of dirty water firsthand and returned to New York City on a mission. (6)
He began a profound mission, founding charity: water in 2006. With a vision to transform lives, his non-profit now ensures that people in developing nations can access clean and safe drinking water. With over 28,000 water projects launched, his organization has changed the lives of over 8.5 million people worldwide.
His book, "'Thirst' is a hope-filled book about finding your purpose in life and pursuing it against all odds," says Arianna Huffington, founder & CEO of Thrive Global. "This book will inspire you to believe that you are more than the obstacles life has put in your path, and the world is more generous than it often seems.” (1)
Scott's life story reminds us that it's never too late to reimagine our role in the world, and that each of us has the capacity for profound, world-changing impact, starting with a single, brave decision to change our career path. (1)
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5- Jeff Bezos
From Wall Street to the World's Marketplace
Jeff Bezos took a bold leap of faith when he transitioned from a secure job as a vice president at Wall Street firm D.E. Shaw & Co to chase a then-unproven concept: an online bookstore.
"In 1994, Bezos read that the web had grown 2,300% in one year. This number astounded him, and he decided he needed to find some way to take advantage of its rapid growth. He made a list of 20 possible products to sell online and decided books were the best option." (7)
Bezos wasn't just betting on a business; he was betting on the future of the internet itself. Inspired by the rapid growth of web usage, he identified an opportunity and chose to venture into the online marketplace.
Bezos's story reminds us that sometimes, the greatest ventures arise from a humble idea and an unyielding belief in possibility.
His risk paid off in a way that reshaped not just his life but also the global retail landscape. Amazon, born from Bezos' foresight and ambition in the 1990s, has grown into a multi-billion-dollar tech giant that stands as a testament to the power of innovation and daring.
His willingness to defy the status quo created a new paradigm, forever altering the way we shop, interact, and live. Jeff Bezos’ story proves that the best time to change your career might be when you see an opportunity too great to ignore, even if the rest of the world hasn't realized it yet.
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6- Martha Stewart
Model, Stockbroker, Gourmet Cooking and Home Arts Entrepreneur, Media Empire
Martha Stewart, born in 1941, modeled during college. Photo of early modeling days courtesy of Martha Stewart and lofficielusa.com (8)
However, she soon shifted to full-time stock trading! Martha already had a career change success story before her most significant career move!
Reflecting on her time in finance, Martha credits the experience with laying the foundational knowledge she would later apply to changing careers again.
"The [stockbroker] job taught me so much about what it takes to build a real business, a real company—a meaningful and useful enterprise."(9)
Fueled by her passion for cooking, crafting, and home decorating, she shifted gears once again in 1976, this time launching into the world of gourmet cooking and home arts. What started as a small catering business soon blossomed into a media empire that included TV shows, books, and a wide range of lifestyle products, elevating her into a household name.
Martha Stewart's journey is a powerful lesson in the limitless potential that comes with daring career changes. Her success teaches us that no matter your current profession, it's never too late to change your trajectory and chase what truly fulfills you.
With grit, business savvy, and an indomitable spirit, Martha Stewart proves that career reinvention can be the key to creating a life that is not just successful but also deeply rewarding.
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From gracefully gliding on ice to capturing stories with her pen, Vera Wang journeyed through diverse passions, including figure skating, a sales job, and a Vogue magazine fashion writer.
Vera embraced change again at 40, transforming her life, and stitching dreams and aspirations into iconic dresses. In an article about Vera, entitled "Know When to Walk Away … and Start Something New," Vera gives the secret to her success.
No matter how bad things get, no matter how discouraged I feel, no matter how much of a failure I feel like — and that applies to motherhood, friendship, everything — I try to believe there’s a reason, there’s a process, and there’s a learning experience. Maybe the journey is where I gained wisdom, where I gained confidence, a sense of reality, a sense of creativity.(10)
Vera is a testament to late bloomers and dreamers everywhere, dominating the fashion industry, especially with her ethereal bridal wear. Her story is a beautiful reminder that it's never too late to reinvent oneself and weave a new tapestry of success.
She took her lifetime career experiences, synthesizing them into a unique skill set that would later define her entrepreneurial journey. This career transformation wasn't a departure from her past but rather proof that every skill you acquire adds up in unexpected and often magnificent ways.
Each twist and turn, rather than being a detour, can be a stepping stone to a fuller expression of yourself!
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8- Walt Disney
From Struggling Cartoonist to Entertainment Empire
Initially a struggling cartoonist, Walt Disney faced multiple setbacks, including the failure of his first animation company. However, rather than bowing to adversity, he embraced change and relocated to Hollywood, where he co-founded Disney Brothers Studio with his brother Roy.
Walt's unwavering faith in his dreams and ability to pivot and adapt led to his creation of an entertainment empire that has enchanted generations.
One of his more famous quotes reminds us that career change success stories happen every day!
“If you can dream it, you can do it."
It's our belief in the journey and resilience against setbacks that truly define our destiny. Walt Disney's career trajectory shows us the transformative power of embracing change.
By choosing to veer off the beaten path, Disney turned his dreams into a reality, showing that sometimes your 'second act' can eclipse your first in ways you never imagined.
The courage to rewrite one's script, to change roles and scenes, is what truly elevates an ordinary story into an epic tale. So if you're facing insurmountable obstacles, remember Walt Disney's transformative journey and some of his many wise words:
“All our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them.”
“First, think. Second, believe. Third, dream. And finally, dare.”
And he lived by his words. Do you dare to dream of a future where you find your idea of success?
Colonel Harland Sanders, the iconic founder of KFC, embarked on many jobs throughout his life, ranging from a railroad worker to running a service station.
It wasn't until his 60s, after his service station closed, that Sanders took a leap of faith, embracing his passion for cooking.
He traveled from door to door and pitched his secret chicken recipe to restaurants. This late-career pivot led to the birth of the global phenomenon known as Kentucky Fried Chicken.
Sanders' story stands as a powerful testament to the fact that age is just a number, and it's never too late to start anew, pursue your passion, and change the trajectory of your life.
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10- Maya Angelou
From Singer and Dancer to Renowned Activist and Internationally Acclaimed Poet
Maa Angelou worked as a singer, dancer, and civil rights activist before turning to writing. Her debut memoir "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" made her a global literary star. One of her best quotes is about change:
“What you're supposed to do when you don't like a thing is change it.If you can't change it, change the way you think about it.Don't complain.”
Her transformative life story is a poignant testament to the power of resilience, adaptability, and the belief that one can always reinvent oneself, irrespective of past challenges or age.
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Check out ourcourse offerings, with many online and on-demand offerings. Or get in touch to find out how we can help you achieve your dream job! Contact us at 512-669-5624 or email at hello@unmudl.com
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