Change for Good

Every time I polish my résumé, I feel a bit like I’m thumbing through a scrapbook of past lives. The arc of my career hasn’t been a straight line – it’s been more like a winding path with unexpected forks and scenic detours. There are themes that tie it all together, but on paper you might wonder if I have a touch of occupational ADHD.

I can rationalize many of those pivots: cross‑country moves for my family, the ebb and flow of funding in my field, for example. Still, I’ll admit that boredom and a restless curiosity were often the true catalysts. For a long time I worried that bouncing between careers made me unreliable or fickle. Then I saw a statistic that made my heart smile: according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median job tenure for millennials in 2022 was 2.8 years, while for people in my age group it was 9 years. Whew. Maybe it’s not just me.

As I looked back, three forces kept showing up: changing social patterns, shifting passions, and emerging opportunities. In my public health work, priorities and funding changed with diseases. Fifteen years in, I was a different person than the idealistic graduate student I once was. I had more skills, more perspective and, yes, more wisdom (thank you, mistakes). At the same time, new roles appeared that didn’t exist when I started. Coaching is one of them – I only discovered it when I hired a consultant who happened to be a coach. That “accidental” introduction turned into my own calling.

What keeps me grateful for my zig‑zagging path are the people and experiences it’s brought me. I’ve worked alongside passionate change‑makers and met individuals who were deeply unhappy but too afraid to rock the boat. No one can tell you whether one career or ten is right for you, but I’ve learned that the nagging urge to quit or the daydream of finally getting that degree is information you shouldn’t ignore.

Change isn’t a sign of failure. It’s a sign of life. Yes, it comes with butterflies (hello, anxiety), but those butterflies are there to nudge you toward growth. When you approach change as an ally instead of an enemy, it becomes energizing, inspiring and deeply clarifying. Here’s why leaning into career change can actually be good for you:

• Personal Growth & Learning. Every transition pushes you out of your comfort zone and forces you to learn new skills and perspectives. Continuous learning keeps your mind sharp and your spirit engaged.

• Routine Burnout Prevention. Staying in the same role for too long can drain your passion. A fresh challenge reignites your creativity and motivation.

• Aligned Passions & Values. Your interests evolve. Changing careers lets you pursue what genuinely excites you right now, not what suited you a decade ago.

• Adaptability & Resilience. Navigating change builds muscles you can’t get any other way. In today’s unpredictable world, adaptability is invaluable.

• Expanded Networks & Opportunities. Each new field introduces you to different people and ideas. Opportunities you never imagined will appear when you step into a new arena.

• Improved Well‑being. Doing work that lights you up improves your mental health, confidence and work‑life balance.

• Purpose & Fulfilment. Aligning your work with your purpose brings deeper meaning to every day.

Choosing change is ultimately an investment in yourself. It’s about honoring that inner nudge instead of silencing it. If you’re feeling stagnant, under‑challenged or secretly dreaming of something different, it might be time to start a new chapter. And you don’t have to do it alone.

As someone who has reinvented her career more than once, I understand both the exhilaration and the fear. Coaching gave me the support and clarity I needed to move forward with confidence. If you’re ready to explore what’s next but aren’t sure where to start, let’s talk.

Together we can turn that restless curiosity into a plan that excites you.