Career Changes Support Group
This community is dedicated to the difficult challenges of transitioning from one career or job to a new one. Especially as we grow older, it can be very difficult to acquire the skills and relationships and take the financial risk to make the switch.
I went back to college at 35 to finally get an education that could make me a decent living. I'm in IT now and thought I would love it... and I did when I was in a more development oriented position. I work for a huge company in a building full of cubicles(ugh) and the whole place took on a new client a few months ago. The new work is not satisfying in any sense of the word, it is the most frustrating atmosphere I have ever worked in and I really hate it. And I'm not the only one, the morale in the office is terrible now, everyone is upset all the time, frustrated and unhappy. I work remotely alot so it keeps me out of that direct atmosphere but its still there, hanging over my work at all times. Now to top it all off we're being forced to work overtime and give up our stat holiday on monday to meet a deadline. I want out desperately.
The thing is I need to continue to make a decent wage as Im supporting my daughter and her baby and boyfriend. I found a little used bookstore that's for sale and I want it soooooo bad. It's cheap enough and has a good history of profit for the last 5 years or so. I've been trying to work on a business plan so I can apply for funding but with this overtime now I just don't have time... I feel so stuck; so trapped.
Others are applying for other jobs and trying to get out now but I don't want another job working for someone else. All I have wanted all my life since I was 15 yrs old is to be self-employed. I love books, worked the college library when I was there and even set up and ran a library for a non-profit for about 7 years. I know books and this place is small enough I could run it pretty much all by myself. It's the one thing that has caused me a bit of joy and excitement in the last few weeks. I just need to find time to make it happen.
The thing is I need to continue to make a decent wage as Im supporting my daughter and her baby and boyfriend. I found a little used bookstore that's for sale and I want it soooooo bad. It's cheap enough and has a good history of profit for the last 5 years or so. I've been trying to work on a business plan so I can apply for funding but with this overtime now I just don't have time... I feel so stuck; so trapped.
Others are applying for other jobs and trying to get out now but I don't want another job working for someone else. All I have wanted all my life since I was 15 yrs old is to be self-employed. I love books, worked the college library when I was there and even set up and ran a library for a non-profit for about 7 years. I know books and this place is small enough I could run it pretty much all by myself. It's the one thing that has caused me a bit of joy and excitement in the last few weeks. I just need to find time to make it happen.
I think your love of books is just great, and I so hear you about being in that kind of atmosphere. I think if you can swing it, the downturned economy is a great opportunity to look around and see what kinds of satisfying careers will be out there when things turn around.
I also have improvements planned for the store and some local marketing since this has never been done for this store before - and yet it has done better every year for the last 5 years. I have a dream but I am not jumping into it blindly.
As for starting smaller I have started on that. I am creating a website and will begin selling off my huge collection of used books online first... get into the internet marketing (something my IT background is useful for)and then when/if I buy the physical store I can still use the website as an online presence for the store. I am doing lots of research and will make sure this is a viable business before I purchase it. I love books but I also love food and shelter.