3 Tips On Making Career Transitions
Life lessons from a stranger on the Acela Express
I was on the 6:20pm Acela train from Penn Station to Washington’s Union Station for a job interview with WUSA, the local CBS affiliate in the DC metroplex. The meeting, set up by my William Morris agent, was prefaced as, “They’re looking for a Latina reporter.”
I hated that.
You know, the idea that my leading attribute amongst the many that secured me the interview was a trait entirely out of my control. But, as a fledgling TV reporter, looking for a move out of cable into network television in a Top 10 market, this was a great opportunity. And this was, after all, broadcast news, where almost every decision about on-air “talent” is made by a few men at the top, based on largely superficial characteristics (read: appearance).
In the seat next to me was a distinguished looking man in his mid-to-late 50’s. He had blue eyes, a light gray suit and a small brown briefcase. I had a bunch of nervous energy to expend, and thus, took his kind eyes as an invitation to strike up a conversation.
Over the course of the next three hours, I was taken on an unexpected journey.
I learned how he had moved to China in the late 70’s to learn the language, right as the country’s new Open Door Policy1 led to a wave of western businesses entering the country for the first time. I learned how he opportunistically jumped at the chance to be a fixer, of sorts, to help set up these companies in special economic zones, which ultimately transformed China into the world’s factory.
I sat transfixed as he described the speed and innovation of the era, how he fell madly in love with a local woman and proceeded to spend the next 20 years in the country raising a family and witnessing the rise of a global power. How he ultimately moved to Australia with his family and at the age of 42 decided to go to law-school with a bunch of 20-year olds. How after “doing his time” in big law, he decided to become a United Nations mediation expert. Which is how he found himself on that train to DC, as an international peace negotiator, working a deal.
“I was bored,” his eyes gleamed when I asked how he had the audacity to start an entirely new career from scratch, “It’s MY life after all. Why not?”
13 years later, I remember nothing about the job interview but I still think about this man and the energy, humility and adventure that were clear, organizing principles in his life.
Every single time I have made a major career transition (and let me tell you there have been many at this stage), I think about him. I’m certain that his story played a part in what ultimately gave me the confidence to walk away from a relatively successful career in broadcast news, just two years later.
As I reflect back on this stoked human and the decade plus of professional experience I’ve amassed since we shared that brief train ride, I’ve come to understand the lessons his story laid bare:
3 Tips On Making Career Transitions (and staying stoked on life):
Be willing to compromise → there’s a famous line in Sex And The City where Carrie laments that, “In New York City you’re always looking for a job, apartment, or a boyfriend, but you rarely get all three.” When starting an entirely new career, it’s important to remember you have to make compromises. You cannot expect the same seniority, pay and respect. Something has to give. And you have to be ok with that. My train mate didn’t so much as blink, talking about what it was like to be at the bottom of the totem pole in big law at the age of 44 after the accolades of his prior career. He had a vision for his life that encompassed so much more than ego.
Learn the language → every industry (or hobby) has its own vernacular, but a lot of the core concepts remain the same. I remember when I left broadcast news to join the international design firm IDEO, I had to learn to share my ideas in ways that resonated with a new audience of designers. I quickly learned that the narrative approach to sharing an insight remained the same, even if the language and delivery mechanism changed.
Don’t doubt your experience and value, but learn how to talk about it differently.
Embrace being a beginner → the most salient characteristic of a beginner is curiosity. A beginner KNOWS they will mess up, but their drive to learn must overcome that fear or they will never emerge from that nascent stage. I wish you could have seen this man’s eyes light up as he talked about all that he was learning in this latest job. There’s something fun and freeing about being a newbie. Lean into it with joy and adventure!
I fully plan on shaking up my career again someday. I want to do right by this stranger, and I’m not quite 40 yet 😉 My latest ideas range from a PhD in Behavioral Economics to opening a bookstore-bar-venue where I can host literary/cultural events in my small mountain town…
What’s at the top of your list?
What’s stopping you?
2 Things That Caught My Attention This Week
🎧 The Economics of Girl Scout Cookies: Did you know that during Girl Scout cookie season, other cookie manufacturers decrease their production and sales forecasts? Such is the power of the all-mighty Girl Scout 👧🏽 This short & sweet podcast episode delves into the supply chain, wealth politics and sales strategies of one of my favorite seasons around 🍪
📚 Out of the Sierra: A Story of Rarámuri Resistance: The Rarámuri (or Tarahumara) are an indigenous group in Chihuahua, Mexico first made famous outside the region by the ultra-running community in the book Born To Run. But for some of us, raised amongst this community, they were legendary long before that. I have acute memories of their colorful skirts and beautiful mountain villages when we lived in Chihuahua. My childhood friend, Victoria Blanco, spent more than a decade doing participatory research with this community and her debut book, slated to come out in June, explores the incredible resilience and community of these people. Pre-sales matter, so consider purchasing!
Special thanks to Emma Dorge and Lauri Valerio for the edits this week. And with profound gratitude to the distinguished stranger on that Acela Express that inspired me so. I wonder where his life endeavors have taken him since…
I vote for the bookstore-bar-venue.
As someone who is very much at the "I got bored" point, and cooking up a major career and life upheaval, I would love to read more about your own transitions, and what they've taught you. Thanks for this, train man will live rent-free in my head too now.