The 3 C’s of Making a Successful Career Change

Making a career pivot can be scary. I know first hand because I’ve pivoted multiple times in my own career. I’ve worked at big companies like Ernst & Young and Time Inc. and smaller companies like Moviefone. I’ve also worked in different industries from public accounting to consumer packaged goods to media. I now work for myself as a startup investor, an author, and growing my own publishing consulting business, Bookbound. (Bookbound even has a podcast!)

When I reflected recently on the pivots I’ve made, it struck me that there are three factors that consistently played a role in a successful pivot: curiosity, connections, and courage.

Curiosity: When I decided to leave media, I was curious about sectors outside of the one that I was working in and met with my friend and entrepreneur, Soraya Darabi, to learn more about the startup space. Soraya told me that she had many female friends in New York City who wanted to launch businesses but they couldn’t find any female investors or advisors to support them. She piqued my interest and planted the seed that angel investing might be worth exploring.   

Connections: It’s no secret that a strong network leads to opportunities. Part of my role in digital media was to meet with emerging technology companies and potential partners, which helped me build strong connections in the startup and tech world. These founders and investors were fantastic sounding boards and not only helped me figure out my next chapter; they also opened doors for me.

Courage: I’ll never forget how nervous I was to leave Time Inc. to go out on my own. It took courage to leave a safe and comfortable environment and a brand and platform where I always knew I would get a call back. Taking this leap was the opposite of that, but it ended up being one of the best decisions I ever made because it got me to where I am today.

BOTTOM LINE: Take the meeting, be curious and open, connect with people outside your industry, and don’t let fear stop you 💫

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