from thinking about your dissatisfaction at work. If you are flexible financially and a new opportunity that may initially pay less or require a move comes along, you'll be more ready to take advantage of it.

5) Work part-time or even volunteer. Years ago, I worked days at a technical job in front of a computer screen, then sold jewelry at night in a department store. Being single in a new city, I thought rather than sit alone in my apartment or hang out in the local bar in the evenings, this would be a great way to meet people. Much to my surprise, I found that because I liked the interaction of sales rather than the solitary nature of IT work, I decided to make sales my career. Working part-time is a low risk way to dip your toe in the water, build contacts and test a new industry.

A career change can be scary when you're moving into middle age and feeling, at least on the surface, comfortable. Initially, you may even fail at a new endeavor. But you may also say to yourself, I only wish I had done this sooner.

Studies of

After years of success, you may find that your current job is not as satisfying as it once was. Usually, this realization doesn't come overnight. Like termites gnawing a piece of timber, the process may take months for you to notice.

Maybe you now know, after what seems to have been an eternity of effort, that you will no longer be CEO of your organization. But instead of seeing the writing on the wall and deciding to make a change, you decide to stay inside your comfort zone rather than succumbing to the voices of discontent within you.

Consider my two neighbors. One had been a successful insurance salesman, but his company had been rocked by a scandal, his morale was low and he tired of doing the same old thing. He longed to join a high-tech company, maybe to sell computer software, but he didn't even know the difference between Windows 98 and 98 windows.

The other neighbor was the manager of a local bank branch. Within a short period of time, the bank had been through three mergers. With each change, a new sign was erected over the bank, branches were closed and employees were laid off. He didn't have much hope of staying employed in his industry for the next three decades, his remaining working years.

Neither was happily employed. However, neither acted on this knowledge because of the "golden shackles" keeping them in place. What were their golden shackles? They had fallen into the financial traps that accompany "success:" mortgages on nice homes, children to put through college and payments for cars that befit their positions.

For both of my neighbors, all they had known were these industries. They had been successful and had established themselves in their careers and in their community.

If they were still in their 20s, they could change positions quite easily. But, at middle age, the prospect of beginning again in a new industry, both in status and in earnings, was painful. On the other hand, riding the gravy train into retirement didn't seem a likely possibility.

Are you in a position similar to my neighbors? Here are five steps to help you remove the golden shackles that may keep you stuck in an unsatisfying or insecure job:

1) Do lunch. Invite out professionals in your target industry. Don't ask for a job, just ask for advice. (Everybody is flattered to have someone ask for his or her advice.) Find out what happens in a typical day. Ask your lunch mate, If you had to do it all over again, would you? Maybe you'd find that the job is not as desirable or glamorous as you might think otherwise. On the other hand, informational interviews may help you to make contact with potential hiring managers.

The neighbor in banking decided he wanted to be a brand manager, so he had lunch separately with several assistant brand managers with a nearby consumer products company. Because the company believed in the Southwest Airlines hiring philosophy of hire for attitude and train the skills and impressed by his initiative and transferable skills, they recommended him to their boss, who hired him.

The play Six Degrees of Separation is based on the premise that we are only six or fewer people away from meeting anyone in the world. Put this theory to work and ask yourself, Whom do I know who can help me?

2) Take classes. The neighbor who wanted to work in high-tech enrolled in seminar and evening computer classes. This helped him in in two ways. First, he was able to learn about the industry and its jargon (every industry has its own jargon). Second, he was able to show prospective employers just how serious he was about his career change.

3) Join an industry association. Go to your library and research Gale Research's Encyclopedia of Associations. In this resource, you will find groups for just about every professional endeavor, from the Association of Celebrity Personal Assistants to the Zebra Breeders Association. Members are more likely to be upper-level managers who could positively influence your career, rather than entry-level.

4) Postpone new debt and other financial obligations. Stay both physically and fiscally lean and mean. Don't buy a new home or car to take you away from thinking about your dissatisfaction at work. If you are flexible financially and a new opportunity that may initially pay less or require a move comes along, you'll be more ready to take advantage of it.

5) Work part-time or even volunteer. Years ago, I worked days at a technical job in front of a computer screen, then sold jewelry at night in a department store. Being single in a new city, I thought rather than sit alone in my apartment or hang out in the local bar in the evenings, this would be a great way to meet people. Much to my surprise, I found that because I liked the interaction of sales rather than the solitary nature of IT work, I decided to make sales my career. Working part-time is a low risk way to dip your toe in the water, build contacts and test a new industry.

A career change can be scary when you're moving into middle age and feeling, at least on the surface, comfortable. Initially, you may even fail at a new endeavor. But you may also say to yourself, I only wish I had done this sooner.

Studies of p

d over the bank, branches were closed and employees were laid off. He didn't have much hope of staying employed in his industry for the next three decades, his remaining working years.

Neither was happily employed. However, neither acted on this knowledge because of the "golden shackles" keeping them in place. What were their golden shackles? They had fallen into the financial traps that accompany "success:" mortgages on nice homes, children to put through college and payments for cars that befit their positions.

For both of my neighbors, all they had known were these industries. They had been successful and had established themselves in their careers and in their community.

If they were still in their 20s, they could change positions quite easily. But, at middle age, the prospect of beginning again in a new industry, both in status and in earnings, was painful. On the other hand, riding the gravy train into retirement didn't seem a likely possibility.

Are you in a position similar to my neighbors? Here are five steps to help you remove the golden shackles that may keep you stuck in an unsatisfying or insecure job:

1) Do lunch. Invite out professionals in your target industry. Don't ask for a job, just ask for advice. (Everybody is flattered to have someone ask for his or her advice.) Find out what happens in a typical day. Ask your lunch mate, If you had to do it all over again, would you? Maybe you'd find that the job is not as desirable or glamorous as you might think otherwise. On the other hand, informational interviews may help you to make contact with potential hiring managers.

The neighbor in banking decided he wanted to be a brand manager, so he had lunch separately with several assistant brand managers with a nearby consumer products company. Because the company believed in the Southwest Airlines hiring philosophy of hire for attitude and train the skills and impressed by his initiative and transferable skills, they recommended him to their boss, who hired him.

The play Six Degrees of Separation is based on the premise that we are only six or fewer people away from meeting anyone in the world. Put this theory to work and ask yourself, Whom do I know who can help me?

2) Take classes. The neighbor who wanted to work in high-tech enrolled in seminar and evening computer classes. This helped him in in two ways. First, he was able to learn about the industry and its jargon (every industry has its own jargon). Second, he was able to show prospective employers just how serious he was about his career change.

3) Join an industry association. Go to your library and research Gale Research's Encyclopedia of Associations. In this resource, you will find groups for just about every professional endeavor, from the Association of Celebrity Personal Assistants to the Zebra Breeders Association. Members are more likely to be upper-level managers who could positively influence your career, rather than entry-level.

4) Postpone new debt and other financial obligations. Stay both physically and fiscally lean and mean. Don't buy a new home or car to take you away from thinking about your dissatisfaction at work. If you are flexible financially and a new opportunity that may initially pay less or require a move comes along, you'll be more ready to take advantage of it.

5) Work part-time or even volunteer. Years ago, I worked days at a technical job in front of a computer screen, then sold jewelry at night in a department store. Being single in a new city, I thought rather than sit alone in my apartment or hang out in the local bar in the evenings, this would be a great way to meet people. Much to my surprise, I found that because I liked the interaction of sales rather than the solitary nature of IT work, I decided to make sales my career. Working part-time is a low risk way to dip your toe in the water, build contacts and test a new industry.

A career change can be scary when you're moving into middle age and feeling, at least on the surface, comfortable. Initially, you may even fail at a new endeavor. But you may also say to yourself, I only wish I had done this sooner.

Studies of

help you remove the golden shackles that may keep you stuck in an unsatisfying or insecure job:

1) Do lunch. Invite out professionals in your target industry. Don't ask for a job, just ask for advice. (Everybody is flattered to have someone ask for his or her advice.) Find out what happens in a typical day. Ask your lunch mate, If you had to do it all over again, would you? Maybe you'd find that the job is not as desirable or glamorous as you might think otherwise. On the other hand, informational interviews may help you to make contact with potential hiring managers.

The neighbor in banking decided he wanted to be a brand manager, so he had lunch separately with several assistant brand managers with a nearby consumer products company. Because the company believed in the Southwest Airlines hiring philosophy of hire for attitude and train the skills and impressed by his initiative and transferable skills, they recommended him to their boss, who hired him.

The play Six Degrees of Separation is based on the premise that we are only six or fewer people away from meeting anyone in the world. Put this theory to work and ask yourself, Whom do I know who can help me?

2) Take classes. The neighbor who wanted to work in high-tech enrolled in seminar and evening computer classes. This helped him in in two ways. First, he was able to learn about the industry and its jargon (every industry has its own jargon). Second, he was able to show prospective employers just how serious he was about his career change.

3) Join an industry association. Go to your library and research Gale Research's Encyclopedia of Associations. In this resource, you will find groups for just about every professional endeavor, from the Association of Celebrity Personal Assistants to the Zebra Breeders Association. Members are more likely to be upper-level managers who could positively influence your career, rather than entry-level.

4) Postpone new debt and other financial obligations. Stay both physically and fiscally lean and mean. Don't buy a new home or car to take you away from thinking about your dissatisfaction at work. If you are flexible financially and a new opportunity that may initially pay less or require a move comes along, you'll be more ready to take advantage of it.

5) Work part-time or even volunteer. Years ago, I worked days at a technical job in front of a computer screen, then sold jewelry at night in a department store. Being single in a new city, I thought rather than sit alone in my apartment or hang out in the local bar in the evenings, this would be a great way to meet people. Much to my surprise, I found that because I liked the interaction of sales rather than the solitary nature of IT work, I decided to make sales my career. Working part-time is a low risk way to dip your toe in the water, build contacts and test a new industry.

A career change can be scary when you're moving into middle age and feeling, at least on the surface, comfortable. Initially, you may even fail at a new endeavor. But you may also say to yourself, I only wish I had done this sooner.

Studies of

only six or fewer people away from meeting anyone in the world. Put this theory to work and ask yourself, Whom do I know who can help me?

2) Take classes. The neighbor who wanted to work in high-tech enrolled in seminar and evening computer classes. This helped him in in two ways. First, he was able to learn about the industry and its jargon (every industry has its own jargon). Second, he was able to show prospective employers just how serious he was about his career change.

3) Join an industry association. Go to your library and research Gale Research's Encyclopedia of Associations. In this resource, you will find groups for just about every professional endeavor, from the Association of Celebrity Personal Assistants to the Zebra Breeders Association. Members are more likely to be upper-level managers who could positively influence your career, rather than entry-level.

4) Postpone new debt and other financial obligations. Stay both physically and fiscally lean and mean. Don't buy a new home or car to take you away from thinking about your dissatisfaction at work. If you are flexible financially and a new opportunity that may initially pay less or require a move comes along, you'll be more ready to take advantage of it.

5) Work part-time or even volunteer. Years ago, I worked days at a technical job in front of a computer screen, then sold jewelry at night in a department store. Being single in a new city, I thought rather than sit alone in my apartment or hang out in the local bar in the evenings, this would be a great way to meet people. Much to my surprise, I found that because I liked the interaction of sales rather than the solitary nature of IT work, I decided to make sales my career. Working part-time is a low risk way to dip your toe in the water, build contacts and test a new industry.

A career change can be scary when you're moving into middle age and feeling, at least on the surface, comfortable. Initially, you may even fail at a new endeavor. But you may also say to yourself, I only wish I had done this sooner.

Studies of

from thinking about your dissatisfaction at work. If you are flexible financially and a new opportunity that may initially pay less or require a move comes along, you'll be more ready to take advantage of it.

5) Work part-time or even volunteer. Years ago, I worked days at a technical job in front of a computer screen, then sold jewelry at night in a department store. Being single in a new city, I thought rather than sit alone in my apartment or hang out in the local bar in the evenings, this would be a great way to meet people. Much to my surprise, I found that because I liked the interaction of sales rather than the solitary nature of IT work, I decided to make sales my career. Working part-time is a low risk way to dip your toe in the water, build contacts and test a new industry.

A career change can be scary when you're moving into middle age and feeling, at least on the surface, comfortable. Initially, you may even fail at a new endeavor. But you may also say to yourself, I only wish I had done this sooner.

Studies of people on their deathbed reveal an interesting fact. When asked, Do you have any regrets about your life? their answers fall into two categories: I wish that I had taken a risk with a particular relationship. and I wish I had taken a risk with a business opportunity.

Nobody ever answers, Gee, I wish I would have just played it safe.