Seven years ago, I made one of the scariest decisions of my life: I left a successful business partnership to pursue my calling to become a full time coach. It wasn’t an easy career change as it involved the prospect of letting down someone who had become a dear friend. But today, I’m living out my calling in a deeply fulfilling way, and that friendship is stronger than ever. Here’s how I overcame fear of career change and learned a great lesson about trusting in the strength of my friendships.
Why Career Change Feels So Scary
Even when we know without question that staying in our current job is no longer serving us, we can still be consumed by fear of making a career change. As a career change coach, I don’t think I have met a single person yet who hasn’t started their journey with at least a little bit of fear or trepidation.
This could be a fear of failure such as:
- “What if I’m not good enough in this new path?”
- “What if I regret leaving what I’ve built?”
It could be a fear of disapproval:
- “What will others think?”
- “Will they understand my decision, or judge me for walking away from something successful?”
Or it could be, as was my case, a fear of losing connections to people who are important to us:
- “Will my relationships survive this change?”
- “Will my colleagues feel betrayed?”
These fears are valid, and they are a part of being human. They tap into our basic needs for love and belonging and for safety. And, as such, it is important that they be acknowledged – whether that is simply by writing them out in your journal or chatting with a trusted friend or a therapist or coach.
However, if these fears are not then confronted, they can lead us to a debilitating inertia which keeps us stuck in situations we know are not fully aligned for us. They stop us from reaching our true potential, connecting with our true self and bringing our true gifts into this world.
Your career change fears don’t have to hold you back. My story is proof that it’s possible to pursue your dreams while maintaining the relationships that matter most.
My Story: Leaving a Business and Trusting in a Friendship
I went into business with the artist Lucy Loveheart back in 2014, together with two other friends. We formed a great team as ‘Lucy Loveheart Creations’ (LLC) and achieved some notable success such as selling our products into the likes of Chatsworth House, Kew Gardens and M&S. I loved working in the business and found real excitement seeing Lucy’s joyful artwork reach a wider audience. And from working alongside three talented, spirited women whom I learned so much from. In so many ways it felt like the dream ticket. I was channelling my experience and skills from my corporate days into building a business which had the potential to bring so much happiness to people’s lives.
But underneath this, there was a growing sense (a niggle) that there was something else, something deeper which I was meant to be doing. In 2015 I had the lightbulb moment on Cromer beach which clarified for me that my true path was to work as a coach. And two years on from that, I realised that I needed to commit myself to this path wholeheartedly. I didn’t want to be in LLC half-heartedly – I felt it deserved more than that.
Leaving this business one of the hardest things I have ever done. I was terrified of letting my business partners down, especially after all that we had been through together. My biggest fear was that Lucy would not want to continue our friendship. I built up to the conversation, knowing that there was really no way of avoiding it if I wanted to pursue my calling.
When I finally shared my decision with Lucy, I was honest about my reasons and expressed my gratitude for everything we’d built together. To my relief, she was incredibly supportive. She understood my need to follow my heart—and her encouragement gave me the final nudge I needed to take the leap.
Seven years later, we’re still great friends. We celebrate each other’s successes, and I’ll always be grateful for her support during such a pivotal time in my life.
Lessons for Overcoming Career Change Fear
Drawing from this experience of making a career change, there are a few lessons I learnt which I want to share to support anyone who is considering a similar move but feeling fearful of ruining their relationships:
1. Acknowledge Your Fears
Fear is a natural part of change. Rather than suppressing it, acknowledge it and explore what’s causing it.
Here are a few journaling prompts to help elicit any fears you may have:
- What or who am I afraid of losing?
- What’s the worst that could happen—and how would I handle it?
- What could I gain by following my dream?
2. Communicate Honestly
If you’re worried about how others will react to you wanting to make a career change, approach the conversation with honesty and gratitude. Try to be conscious of any defensiveness which can put you into a lower vibration. Take ownership of why this is important to you – unapologetically.
Here are a few tips for navigating tough conversations:
- Express your reasons clearly – this could be about living out your purpose, doing work which will enable you to feel more joyful or leaving a situation which is detrimental to your wellbeing
- Reassure them of their value in your life – if your colleagues or people you might be leaving behind know that they are still going to be important to you this can soften the edges
- Be open to their feelings and feedback – just as you are wanting them to be open to yours (it doesn’t mean you have to agree with them but at least let them be expressed)
3. Trust in Strong Relationships
This was perhaps my biggest lesson. And that is to trust in true friendships and know that meaningful relationships can withstand change. When you honour your truth with kindness and integrity, you create space for those connections to evolve.
My continued friendship with Lucy (and other former business partners) is proof that relationships built on respect and understanding can thrive, even when paths diverge.
4. Focus on Your Calling
Your calling is your compass. When you align your career with your deeper purpose, I believe that the rewards—both personal and professional—are worth the risk. The denial of this calling can be the source of much unhappiness and unrest. It can also lead to underperformance and to bringing a lower vibration to your current job which then impacts those around you.
Reflect on your this now:
- What work lights you up?
- What would you regret not pursuing?
- What impact might it have for you to continue on your current path?
How to Take the Leap of a Career Change
If you’re ready to embark on a career change, here are some actionable steps to guide you:
Define Your Vision: Imagine your ideal career. What does it look like? Take the time to describe it in detail and put it into writing.
Plan Your Path: Map out a clear, step-by-step plan to transition from where you are now to where you want to be. Break it into small, achievable milestones.
Build Your Support Network: Surround yourself with a circle of support—friends, family, mentors, or a coach—who believe in your potential and encourage your progress.
Take Action, One Step at a Time: Change doesn’t have to happen all at once. Start with one small, meaningful action that brings you closer to your goal.
If you’re feeling stuck, unsure of how to move forward, or lacking the support you need, working one-on-one with a coach can provide the clarity, structure, and encouragement to make your career change a reality. Explore how we can work together to help you take that leap.
Trusting Yourself and Your Relationships
Making a career change can feel like stepping into the unknown, but it’s also an opportunity to grow, align with your purpose, and create a life you love. Trust in yourself, and trust in the relationships that matter to you. The people who truly care about you will want to see you thrive—just like my friend did when I chose to leave our business. Seven years later, that friendship is one of the greatest gifts I’ve carried with me on this journey.
