Do you ever look longingly at companies that do more innovative and exciting work… and you'd love to pivot into doing more exciting work, but it seems impossible?

You worry that you're too old, that you missed your chance.

You might think, "how would an organization like that ever look at me?"

Or "I don't have the 'right' kind of work in my work history or career portfolio for them."

I just saw a woman make this very transition, so I know that it's possible. She was in her 50s, feared it was “too late,” that there was no way her dream companies would ever look at her.

I don't want you to be held back by these fears that are keeping you from landing the job you dream of, so I want to share what she did in a step-by-step way.

1. She made a list of her dream organizations.

2. Even though she wasn't sure it would be possible to land the job she wanted (instead of just what she could get), she started reaching out to people at these companies and applying for jobs *as if* she believed that she could land the job.

3. She started reaching out to people in her network or who she met at professional events to reconnect, share her goal, and ask if they knew of any companies she should be looking at… and asked if they would be willing to make an introduction.

Even though she didn't *fully believe* that these companies would ever look at her, within a few months, she started landing her first interviews.

Just a few weeks later, she got a job offer at a company that does exciting work and shares her values!

Her company was excited to bring her on because she brings years of experience to the role that will help them as they grow.

While it takes putting yourself out there to transition, you never know what’s possible until you try.

Early in my career, I intentionally pivoted from doing pretty basic graphic design to becoming a strategic advisor to my nonprofit clients. With each project I did, I tried to include more strategy. And with each project I pitched, I included more strategy in the proposal.

Within a year or two, I was entirely focused on strategy-driven work with clients like Friends of the High Line and helping lead strategic planning processes.

You're never stuck forever just because your pathway has taken you there.