Based on the answers you gave, you’re ready to leave your current career behind and look for something different. Maybe you’ve already achieved everything you could and you’re looking for a new challenge. Or maybe you’ve hit a dead end, and changing direction is the only way to keep moving forward. Whatever the reason, you’re ready to begin a new adventure in your career.

There are four main ways to begin a new career:

• Prepare for a new role
• Move to a new industry
• Go into business for yourself
• Go back to school for certifications or a new degree

Which path is best for you will depend on the specifics of your situation: your strengths, your life goals, the resources you have on hand, and what you’re interested in doing.

QUESTIONS TO EXPLORE
Before embarking on a significant career change, it’s crucial to take inventory of where you are now:

1. What exactly do you wish were different?
2. In what ways are you already prepared for the change you want?
3. What other careers are most interesting to you?
4. What skills, credentials, experience, or connections that you already have could give you a head start in a new career?
5. What else would you need to do and learn in order to launch your new career?
6. How determined are you to make this happen? What will you do when the road gets tough?
7. What resources (such as family support) can you rely on to help you make this journey?
8. How will you fund the transition? Are your savings enough or will you need outside help?

Give yourself some time to really consider these questions. Your answers will tell you a lot about what kinds of change could work for you and how you should get started.

From what you’ve told us, it sounds like you could be up to the challenge of building your own business. 

Unlike freelancers and employees, who sell their time in exchange for services, an entrepreneur works at creating a business that’s bigger than themselves. While such an operation is more complex and requires an initial investment, it has the potential to be scalable—and that means a chance for higher profits in the future.

Entrepreneurship takes vision. A promising entrepreneur is one who sees a gap in the market and works to fill it: opening a pet spa resort and hotel in a neighborhood where none exist, creating a new-and-improved last-mile delivery service, developing an online therapist finder…. The possibilities are truly endless, if you’ve got the right perspective.

SET YOURSELF UP FOR SUCCESS
We’ve seen too many entrepreneurs jump into building their business full of hope and confidence and faith—but short on planning and analysis. Think about this: only one out of ten new businesses survives beyond 2 years. The other nine go under. 

Taking the time to carefully prepare before you make the leap can make the difference between survival and going broke. For example: 

• Researching the market you want to enter, to know where the best gaps and opportunities are
• Knowing the profile and needs of your ideal customer
• Writing a plan for your business to help you think through the details
• Thinking through possible scenarios, risks, and problems before they arise, so you aren’t taken by surprise
• Creating a plan for funding the business that allows you a realistic amount of time to become profitable
• Setting goals, so you’ll know whether you’re on track or getting into trouble
• Figuring out where you’ll go for expert advice when you need it
• Rounding out your own soft skills as a leader and professional

YOU CAN DO THIS
If you’ve got the entrepreneurial spirit and a vision for a business of your own, then you’ve got what you need to start the planning process. Everything else can be learned along the way.

We’re not gonna lie: to do this right takes determination … and a lot of work. But if you’re disciplined, careful, and ready to learn, building your own business could be one of the most amazing things you’ll do in your life. 

Some people thrive working online, and others don’t. It largely comes down to how comfortable a person is using technology and how well they work on their own. Based on what you told us, it sounds like working online could be a great choice for you.

There are lots of advantages to digital and remote work: more opportunities with clients near and far, no commute, a near-infinite array of tools that help you do high-quality work, higher earning potential, greater independence, a more peaceful work environment… The list goes on and on.

Of course, there are downsides too. Working from home can be isolating—and distracting. The lines between work and daily life can become blurred so that you feel like you’re always “at work”. The good news is that there are ways to adjust the remote lifestyle so it works for you.

DIGITAL & REMOTE WORK IN LATIN AMERICA
In recent years—thanks in part to the pandemic—opportunities for digital and remote work have blossomed. Here are some options that are popular in Latin America:

• Remote versions of traditional work, such as accounting, sales, paralegal, administration, design, marketing, personal fitness, therapy, coaching, and customer service
• New online careers, such as digital project manager, virtual assistant, social-media manager, community manager, SEO expert, funnel builder, and growth hacker
• Turning your expertise into a product by offering consulting, courses, and social-media content

Remote employees have it easiest: their company will provide support and a system to work within. Digital freelancers have the luxury—and the responsibility—of creating their own online ecosystem to support their business, deliver their services, and connect with customers. And online entrepreneurs have thousands of options for digital tools that will help their business operate efficiently.

The opportunities are pretty much infinite. With the help of the internet, if you can dream it, you can make it happen.

It doesn’t matter how old you are, who you are, or where you’re from. With the right mindset, the right tools, some patience, and plenty of determination, you can achieve any career goal you dream of.   

We hope these recommendations spark your imagination and give you a sense of direction. Over the next few days, we’re going to email you some more ideas and resources, so that you can explore your options from a solid foundation. 

No matter which path you decide to take in your career, we want you to know that you can do this! You absolutely have it within you to learn, to gain new skills, to kick ass in a new job, and to bring something unique and innovative to what you do. We’re so excited for your career journey! And we hope to be with you every step of the way.