So you’ve had a long, successful career in sales and marketing. You’ve worked with the same company for years, or maybe you’ve moved around to diversify your experience and knowledge. Regardless of how many companies are listed on your resume, at this point in your career you’ve “lost that loving feeling”. You’ve hit a ceiling; the industry you’re working in isn’t exciting anymore and your day-to-day routine lacks a sense of challenge.
You know you want to switch gears and start a new career, but before you do, here are 3 crucial factors you should consider before you make any rash decisions.
A common mistake people make when switching careers is diving in headfirst. They get so wrapped up in their desire to leave their current job situation that they forget to think about the consequences their actions could have. So even though your current position may be “sucking the life out of you”, remember, there are still bills that need to be paid and mouths that need to be fed. So, unless money does in fact grow on trees where you come from, we recommend using the job you have to find the opportunity that will take you to the career you dream about.
Think of it as a spectrum of transitioning roles and projects, rather than taking a giant a leap of faith (without a security net in place). Finding the right job or starting a new business doesn’t happen overnight and can be a stressful endeavor on its own. Don’t add to that stress unnecessarily. Besides, handing in your letter of resignation is way sweeter when you know you have something to look forward to starting right away.
Whether you realize it or not, over the years in sales and marketing you have built up an extensive network of contacts and connections. And regardless of your background, your network is your strongest asset. So revisit the connections you’ve made and extract the most “valuable players” from your contacts. Identify the people that could help you get a “foot in the door” with companies you’d like to work with or who have started their own businesses and likely have some lessons you could learn from.
Whatever you decide to do, leveraging your network in the right way can lead to a more successful start to a new career. If you decide to start a new business or enter a new market, a set of well-placed contacts will definitely put you miles ahead of even the most skilled professionals.
At this point in your career, the last thing you may want to do is work for another organization. If a lack of professional flexibility and control are some of the reasons why you’re looking for a new career in the first place, then finding a job that puts you right back into that setting isn’t the answer.
That’s why business ownership tends to appeal to a lot of sales and marketing executives. They know they have the business acumen to run a business and the network to get some initial business through the pipelines. But in some cases, affiliating yourself with a credible business partner may make more sense than starting something from scratch. A good partner can help expedite your go-to-market strategy.
Franchise companies like WSI are great for partnering with, especially if you’re looking to start a business in the shortest possible time. Business ownership can be really daunting and challenging. But with the right network and a partner who can give you crucial support where and when you need it, you can easily avoid the pitfalls that so many other business owners face.
Want to learn more about what it takes to be an entrepreneur and own your own business? Read our detailed Entrepreneur’s Guide to Success to help develop your entrepreneurial mindset, attitude, and character.