You’ve worked hard to get to where you are today and it’s probably been some long, grueling years. But there’s a feeling in the pit of your stomach and you find that you keep asking yourself, “am I really meant to be here?”
Oof.
It’s one of the most unsettling feelings to have followed a path for so long, only to feel like you’re in the wrong place after killing yourself to get there.
Is it too late? Are you relegated to that path forever? After all, you can stomach it – you just don’t love it. And starting over sounds exhausting.
Yeah, I get it. But I want to encourage you with this series by showcasing each week, for four weeks, a different celebrity who made 1 of the 4 types of career transitions late in life to critical acclaim and success.
What are the 4 types of career transition? Well, I’m glad you asked. The 4 types of career transition are:
- A Move – Same industry, same role, different company / Different industry, same role, different company
- A Pivot – Same industry, different role, similar skills
- A Shift – Same industry, different role, different but transferable skills
- A Complete Change – Different industry, different role, different but transferable skills
I promise to go into detail about each of the different types of transitions in a future blog post. But without further ado, let’s get to today’s feature, shall we? Bonus points if you can figure out who it is before you reach the bottom.
In her early career, this actress worked hard to hone her craft and gain recognition. She attended Juilliard, where she studied acting and developed her skills. After graduation, she began her career on the stage, appearing in a number of Broadway productions.
She did alright for herself, but it wasn’t until she moved into TV and landed a role in a popular TV drama that she began to gain wider recognition. Her performance in the show was praised by critics and audiences alike, and it helped to launch her career in Hollywood.
One of her most notable performances was in a film that received critical acclaim and earned her an Academy Award nomination. In the movie, she played a character who was flawed and conflicted, and her performance was widely regarded as one of the best of the year. But it wasn’t until she turned 57 years old that she actually won an Academy Award.
As she continued to build her career, this actress became known for her ability to bring depth and complexity to every role she played. Today, she is considered one of the most talented and accomplished actors in Hollywood. Oh yeah, she’s now one of the few EGOTs around.
So who is this dame of Hollywood?
None other than Viola Davis. Her career move from theater to TV and movies (think of this as maintaining the same role – actress – but moving companies – from the world of theater to Hollywood) ultimately paid off in the form of critical acclaim and commercial success.
Viola Davis worked 8 long years in theater before really committing to jumping into the world of TV and film. She could’ve said to herself, “I’m a theater performer – it’s Broadway or bust. I’ve worked too hard to get here.” But, if she had done that, we wouldn’t have sensations like How to Get Away With Murder, The Help, or Woman King.
All she had to do was say, “I’ve been here long enough. It’s time to try something else with the skills I have.”
So what about you, love? You don’t necessarily have to throw the baby out with the bath water. If you love the substance of what you actually do, that nagging feeling that you’re in the wrong place may be just that – you’re at the wrong company. You may just need to find the same or similar role in the right company that aligns with your personality and values. It may seem like the smallest of career changes, but it can make a huge difference. As Ms. Viola can attest.
Does that resonate with you? If it did, I’d love to hear from you. Let me know in the comments below!
Next week I’ll be featuring another celebrity who made a career pivot late in life in order to achieve career success. Stay tuned!
Always in your corner,
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