We are excited to welcome Mandy Gray. She previously worked for her family’s business where she was accountable for managing the office, performing human resource functions, and all other duties as assigned.
Have you ever thought about making a career change…in the middle of your career?
I did …
After undergrad, I got married to a wonderful man and began supporting my sister-in-law’s business. It was important to me to support my family. I enjoyed my work and I was good at it! But … this wasn’t my dream.
- “Why would you do that?”
- “What are you trying to accomplish?”
- “What if you fail?”
Have you ever contemplated pursuing something that you’ve always wanted? You may have asked yourself these very questions. I did.
To conquer these doubts, I made sure that a feasible plan was in place to make my career change a success.
This required:
- months of research,
- calculating my finances, and
- consulting with professional coaches to develop my plan.
In all my preparation, I was not prepared for the apprehension in the ones closest to me. I reassured everyone that I had a plan, the plan was in action, and that the rest was up to me!
What they may also be afraid to grasp is that a better you makes a better them. Following your dreams will provide them with an improved version of you.
If you are having thoughts about a possible career change in the middle of your already successfully career, ask yourself:
- “Why shouldn’t I do it?”
- “What wouldn’t I be able to accomplish if I tried?”
- “What if I succeed!”
Then take my advice: have a plan, put it in action, and remember… the rest is up to you.
By the way … I start law school in the fall! What dream deferred are you thinking about pursuing?
Want to connect with Dr. Gia? Click HERE to request information.
I do have that urge to start my own business but just not the capital to do it. Who am I kidding, I still have student loans that I am running away from . But I guess the key to it all is to run toward whatever professional goals that you have. I am sure that there are loans out there for minority people like myself. But there is fear toward taking that leap. However, this is encouraging because Fear is not of God. Don’t mean to get religious but this is my belief. Therefore, we will see what steps I take next.
Tishalee, you are on point. Mandy raises a great question and has the courage to choose a life changing answer. Many of us face similar choices but often decide to take the easy way out.
Staying in our comfortable roles, passing up opportunities for real satisfaction, complaining that the world won’t celebrate our true value. Yet when provided the chance to showcase our worth, we turn our backs on our potential and comfortably settle in our now.
We all know friends, family and co-workers, who endlessly lament their current career direction. Yet when faced with the real choice of changing careers, returning to school or starting their own business, they often choose the safety that comes with the job they know. In essence, they become P.O.W.’s.
Prisoners Of Work, trapping themselves and their ideas, living a life of what if’s and tomorrows. Tomorrow is where our dreams go to rest before they die.
Mandy is abundantly clear that bringing a dream to life takes more than desire. She is creating a plan to succeed and doing the one true thing that allows us to follow our dreams. Taking action.
“If you won’t follow your dreams, who will?” – Anonymous