Have you reached a point in your life, perhaps midlife or beyond, where you possess greater confidence and experience, yet find yourself questioning whether your current job truly fulfils you? This is a common crossroads, and 2026 could be the year you make a significant shift.
Expert Advice for a Career Transformation
Transformation coach and host of The Midlife Entrepreneur podcast, Jo Glynn-Smith, specialises in guiding people through this exact dilemma. Having left a 25-year career in the fashion industry herself, she now helps others navigate major professional changes. She identifies a core issue: many people simply don't know what they want because they've never truly paused to consider it.
"Particularly women," Glynn-Smith notes. "We spend a lot of time thinking about other people and what they need. Many female leaders are constantly in service to others." She attributes this partly to upbringing, which often emphasises being caring and helpful, a mindset that then carries into adult careers.
Furthermore, she observes that many follow a prescribed path—school, university, a job—without ever questioning if it's the right fit. "We get stuck in a career that probably doesn't resonate for us," she says. With longer working lives ahead, staying in an unfulfilling role for decades is a daunting prospect.
Six Practical Steps to Rediscover Your Path
If you're ready for a change in 2026, Glynn-Smith outlines a clear, actionable plan to begin your journey.
1. Return to Core Passions and Strengths
The starting point is introspection. Glynn-Smith begins coaching sessions by asking clients what they genuinely enjoy. This involves analysing your current role: which tasks energise you and which drain you? If the answer isn't clear, she suggests looking back to childhood. "If I'm looking in your eight-year-old bedroom and you're playing, what are you doing? That's generally you at your very core," she explains. Everyone has innate strengths; the key is identifying them.
2. Acknowledge the Role of Fear
Fear of the unknown is a major barrier. "Our brain is completely driven by fear," Glynn-Smith states. A radical career switch can feel terrifying, especially when considering financial and practical constraints. She highlights a generational shift in thinking, praising Gen Z's non-linear approach. "They've grown up with the idea of a side hustle... it can be a hobby that becomes a business," she says, which mitigates financial fear by allowing you to build something you love while maintaining an income.
3. Conduct Thorough Research
This step costs nothing but effort. Glynn-Smith advises speaking to people already in your desired field, exploring part-time or Open University courses, and piecing together a potential transition pathway. "Is there a 10% you could knock back... to create opportunity to start building something up?" she asks.
4. Rebuild Identity and Confidence
Life stages, particularly motherhood, can stall careers and erode professional identity. Glynn-Smith points out that by the time many women can refocus, they feel exhausted and their career momentum has slowed. Identity can also be lost in an unenjoyable job. She recommends examining the limiting stories you tell yourself and identifying what is truly holding you back.
5. Create a Financial Plan
Once an opportunity is identified, practical planning is essential. "Do you have savings? Could a partner manage for six months if you retrained?" Glynn-Smith urges a realistic assessment of your current capacity, whether that means night school, an apprenticeship, or waiting a few years if now isn't the right time.
6. Redefine Your Personal Success
Success in a new venture often looks different. Glynn-Smith finds that many entrepreneurs seek a good income and pride in their work, not necessarily vast wealth. "Their success looks very different to the success they may have wanted for themselves in their 20s," she says. While working on your purpose is more joyful, she cautions that it still requires dedication and effort. It's fulfilling work, but it is still work.
