More people than ever are changing their careers. Though the primary reason may be because of the state of the world economy in the past few years, other reasons could be simply feeling unhappy with one's current career and desiring a change of scenery, or it could even be health related.
In my case, it is the latter that has changed the game for me.
As a musician, my hands mean everything towards what I do and how I earn a living. But now, I'm faced with having developed Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in both my left and my right hands.
I think for some people, changing their career can be a very difficult challenge. For me this has not been the situation. I first began having problems with my hands (it was my left hand first) back in 2008. With those initial problems I encountered, something snapped instantly in my mind. I realized that my days as a performer may be numbered, and so I set forth with trying to make peace with this realization.
I was a bit depressed at first. After all, in my 39 years on this planet, I have been playing instruments since I was about 3 years old, playing the saxophone since I was 8 or 9 years old, performing live music in public since I was 16, and making a living as a full time musician since I was 24.
Sometime around 2009 I realized that, though music has been virtually all I've known my entire life, I have many interests outside of music. Furthermore, I also realized that there were far more angles to music than just the performance end of it.
With all of that said, I have decided that, if my performance career must end, a pursuit in web design and application programming will be the next interest I follow, but with a concentration on...well...the music industry. As has been said by many successful entrepreneurs, "to make money in business, stick with what you know."
I am currently working on a joint project, of my conception, with my oldest brother, my father, and a family friend with a very strong background in both business and engineering. Much has been accomplished, but there is still much left to do. My hope is that we may have this project up and running by the time my hands and my tired body scream out "I've had enough", with regards to performing live music. Publicly, I have hinted at a retirement date of sometime around late Fall of 2013.
In sum, I would say that a career change doesn't have to be a course filled with dread. It may be an opportunity for you to look upon yourself and say, "this is me 2.0!"
I am currently working on a joint project, of my conception, with my oldest brother, my father, and a family friend with a very strong background in both business and engineering. Much has been accomplished, but there is still much left to do. My hope is that we may have this project up and running by the time my hands and my tired body scream out "I've had enough", with regards to performing live music. Publicly, I have hinted at a retirement date of sometime around late Fall of 2013.
In sum, I would say that a career change doesn't have to be a course filled with dread. It may be an opportunity for you to look upon yourself and say, "this is me 2.0!"
