When it comes to changing careers, many of us are stuck, said Alexandra Levit in The Wall Street Journal. We can’t afford to quit our day jobs—especially now—and we don’t see how it’s possible to simultaneously work and pursue something new. “The key is to set small, short-term goals for your new calling.” Don’t think of it as changing careers. Instead, think of it as making time to take a class, attend networking events, or build a new business in stages. “Set aside specific windows during the day for e-mail and networking, so that you can devote your lunch hour or break time to your new career.”
If a pay cut is the only thing standing between you and a new career, take the leap, said Chris Farrell in BusinessWeek. You might be better off in a lower-paying job you love. That’s because you’re apt to work longer—and thus use less of your retirement savings. Of course, the transition from a high-paying job to a highly rewarding one is easier if you have a financial cushion. For many older workers, it’s part of the point of saving. “You save not to have freedom from work, but freedom to do the work you want,” says Marc Freedman, head of Civic Ventures, a nonprofit that encourages baby boomers to launch new careers.
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