Yahoo Finance How to change careers in your 40s – when you’re juggling bills and children
The New Investors video series brought to you by Yahoo Finance reveals the secrets of the most successful entrepreneurs and business people in Australia today. This is the tenth episode of the season.
Career changes at any age can be daunting, but they’re particularly difficult when you’re juggling bills, a mortgage or children - or all three.
For former NSW Liberal Party leader, Kerry Chikarovski, it was all three - and she did it twice.
While the road can be rocky, Chikarovski picked up a few tips along the way.
Nike wasn’t kidding with ‘Just do it’
Chikarovski’s first career change came at 34, when she realised she hadn’t achieved her dream of becoming a politician.
After years of running her own legal practice and teaching at the College of Law, Chikarovski came to a fork in the road: Stay unhappy, or chase her dreams.
“All of a sudden I'm standing at the ironing board, bawling my eyes out, and my then-husband, Chris turned around and said, ‘What's wrong?’
“I said, ‘I'm 34 years old. All I've ever wanted to do is be a politician, and I'm nowhere near my goal’.
“He's a very sensible man, my ex-husband. He said, ‘Well, stop crying about it and go do something about it’.”
With a confidence boost from Chris, Chikarovski phoned her local member the next day with one request: “I want your job.”
That bold conversation launched Chikarovski’s political career into motion - and eight months later she became Member for Lane Cove.
After more than a decade in politics, Chikarovski had a long list of achievements under her arm, most notably her rise to NSW Liberal Party leader and Leader of the Opposition.
When her colleagues decided they wanted a new leader, prompting a vote, Chika lost the ballot to John Brogden. It was then her career in politics hit a wall.
Chika had to make her next move.
But, career changes are incredibly challenging, especially coming from a high profile position. It left Chika feeling lost and wondering whether there was really life after politics.
“You have to work out what you want to do to make sure that you feel as fulfilled, maybe not as fulfilled, but at least as much as you can be fulfilled as you were as a politician.
This led to Chika’s second, and perhaps more gritty career change.
Confidence in your abilities
After she initially lost the ballot to Brogden, Chika was still adamant on staying in politics, but her former party, and her children, had other ideas.
Chika sought some solace in her holiday home to decide her fate: “I sat on the balcony for a week on my own. Left the kids, left everyone behind, told my office not to ring me, and I actually wrote down why I should go and why I should stay.”
In the end, Chika prioritised her children, who were “over it”, and decided to leave.
“I walked out with nowhere to go, which was pretty scary because I had two kids and a mortgage,” Chikarovski explains.
The uncertainty of whether she’d be able to support her children, Chikarovski explained, was the toughest part about making the decision to leave politics.
While she admits her ex-husband was supportive, Chikarovski had to dig deeper to make the change.
Her mother’s advice to “have confidence in what you can do”, and her passion for helping others, birthed Chikarovski and Associates, her government relations consulting business.
Be passionate about whatever you’re doing
While confidence might kick you into gear, being passionate is what will keep your motor running.
“Make sure you’re passionate - find the thing which you really enjoy doing,” Chikarovski said.
“If it's not working for you, move on and do something else.”
If you’re thinking that might be easier said than done, Chikarovski believes even just being passionate about whatever you’re doing at the moment is enough.
“Two things happen from that: You might actually learn to enjoy it, which is always a good thing.
“But the second thing is: People appreciate passion and commitment.”
Chikarovski said even if you’re not in your ideal job, but you’re the most enthusiastic and the hardest worker, that could have a significant reward.
“You might find that whoever you're working for says, ‘Well, that's someone I need to take a better look at. Maybe there's another role in this organisation they could do better than what they're doing now’.
Don’t be afraid to ask for other opportunities
“I think one of the things which keep people back is that they don't think they're qualified for things.
“I've got to tell you - the only way you're going to find out is if you have a go.”
If you’re looking to mix up your careers, Chikarovski said it’s imperative you’re not afraid to ask to have a go elsewhere.
“If you're working in an organisation, and there's something else you want to try, and you've shown that you've been very good at what you've done, and you've been committed to it - put up your hands and say, ‘I want to have a go at that’.”
The New Investors video series brought to you by Yahoo Finance reveals the secrets of the most successful entrepreneurs and business people in Australia today. This is the tenth episode of the season.
