Next Exit: Rerouting Your Career

Sometimes the journey from one career to another is a quick exit from one road to another, but most times there are detours along the way that need to be managed and navigated with little direction or advance notice. Kim Knipe graduated with visions a career in human resources, but as happens too often, her career took a different, unplanned route. She was a working mother bouncing around corporate America from one job in tech to another: consultant, technical writer, tester, project manager, marketing manager, etc. While those jobs paid the bills, they weren't fulfilling. Due to happenings in Kim's personal life, Kim became interested in becoming a registered dietitian because she wanted to have a positive impact on the community around her. This required her going back to college while raising three and five-year-old daughters. In the end, Kim offers insight, recommendations, and maybe a tinge of regret for how she made her journey; making for a very realistic story.

A number of the people that I've interviewed have had a helpful advantage that has made their career transition a bit easier - a spouse or partner who they can rely on for financial support or health insurance; that's not the case with Megan Boyle. She’s gone through a number of career transitions since graduating college; her most recent going from teacher to nurse. It's hard enough to transition when you have someone to fall back on, but in Meghan's case, she studied for nursing all while she worked as a teacher full-time. It's a great inspiration for anyone who thinks they can't.

Susan Laskos had two careers that she loved; first, as a restaurant owner, a career that involved her love of food and entertaining and introduced her to friends that she has to this day. She studied in France, came back to the United States, started a family and then owned a successful restaurant in Philadelphia. Then she was introduced to flying and journey from the kitchen to the cockpit began where the view is “so much better” than a basement kitchen. We talk about the journey began, how buying a car started it all off, and how a broken ankle helped her find her way. We also discuss the pushback she faced for being a woman in a “man’s” world.

If you live in the United States and you're self-employed (an entrepreneur, freelancer, or business owner) then health insurance is a major consideration when thinking about working for yourself. Fact is most people get covered through their jobs and when you’re the boss, you have to figure this out for yourself, but just because you’re responsible for making this decision, doesn’t mean there isn’t help for you out there. Marta Rusek is a concerned citizen and digital storyteller that founded the Get Covered Philly campaign, which works to connect people to resources on health insurance. This interview is chock full of links. Please got to the website for a complete listing of those helpful resources from the interview. [](http://www.nextexit.site/health-insurance…-business-owners/)[](http://www.nextexit.site/health-insurance-self-employed-entrepreneurs-freelancers-business-owners/)[Health Insurance Episode - Show Notes](http://www.nextexit.site/health-insurance-self-employed/) * [Get Covered Philly](http://g

Nicolas Estrada escaped the violence of Medellin, Colombia to earn a business degree in the United States. When he returned to Colombia, he used that degree to great success but not great satisfaction as an international marketing executive. While visiting his sister in Barcelona he found his true calling and through education, dedication, and sacrifice has become a renowned jeweler whose work can be found in galleries around the world. You can see Nicolas’ work at the following places: Instagram: [](https://www.instagram.com/nicolasestradajeweler/)[](https://www.instagram.com/nicolasestradajeweler/)[@nicolasestradajeweler](https://www.instagram.com/nicolasestradajeweler/) [](https://www.instagram.com/nicolasestradajeweler/) Website: [www.nicolasestrada.com](www.nicolasestrada.com) Also - here's the info I provided in the intro [Suicide Prevention Lifeline](https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org) 800-273-TALK (8255)

Andrew Gormley started his professional career developing websites as an 8th grader. Eventually he took those talents to software companies as a frontend developer and made a good living. Upon seeing instability with his then current employer, he prepared and when that instability impacted him directly, he was ready to begin the next phase of his professional life by turning his love of video storytelling into a career focused on wedding and corporate filmmaking. A year in, Andrew sits down with Next Exit to discuss how he changed careers and what recommendations he has for career switchers. Andrew online: website: [](https://silverandspark.com)[](https://silverandspark.com)[www.silverandspark.com](https://silverandspark.com) website: [](https://andrewgormley.com)[www.andrewgormley.com](https://andrewgormley.com) Twitter: [@darkdriving](https://twitter.com/darkdriving) Instagram: [https://www.instagram.com/darkdriving](https://www.instagram.com/darkdriving) Andrew also recommended the following great organiza

Jason Cabassi started the Walking Dead 'Cast as a hobby 8 years ago and at the time, that's all it was a hobby. He had a great job as a technical writer; it paid well and offered the prestige of writing for great companies such as Apple, but it didn't "light him up." His boss talked him out of quitting twice before the third time took and Jason took his hobby of podcasting and turned it into a fulltime job. We talk about how he made that decision and how it's been since he gave up the corporate life. You can find his podcast network at [www.podcastica.com](http://www.podcastica.com), where you'll find links to podcasts about many of today's biggest shows such as The Walking Dead, Game of Thrones, and Westworld. t:  [@NextExitPod](https://twitter.com/NextExitPod) f: [NextExitPod](https://www.facebook.com/NextExitPod/) w: [www.nextexit.site](http://www.nextexit.site)

His upbringing said work the 9-5, even if you hated it, but somehow Marc Supsic got past that, went to school to become a sommelier (wine steward for regular folk), and then started Wine Living - a business aimed at bringing wine living to people in their homes. You can find out more about Marc at [](www.wineliving.info)[www.wineliving.info](http://www.wineliving.info). Find more notes over at [](www.nextexit.site)[www.nextexit.site](http://www.nextexit.site) Follow the podcast: T: [@NextExitPod](https://twitter.com/NextExitPod)

Alana was an administrative assistant in a team building exercise one day at work and realized she had the wrong job. That day she decided to go through the steps (and challenges like the bundle of joy that joined along the way) to become a police officer. Find out how she reinvented herself. Comments or suggestions - reach me here: e: [nextexit@marketinghead.com](nextexit@marketinghead.com) t: [@NextExitPod](nextexit@marketinghead.com)

Andrea McCauley was working as a librarian for a large non-profit organization based out of Philadelphia. She was committed enough to that career that she got her Masters in Library Sciences. Around the time that her job moved to Washington, D.C., the opportunity to own a bar presented itself unexpectedly. She had dreamed of owning a bar before, but never actually worked in one; this didn't stop her and her fiancé, Pat. Five years in, we spend the time to discuss adjustment, how they learned, the power of mentors, health insurance, and the sacrifices. We talk about how that happened and what it looks like now that they're five years in. T: @odditybar W: http://odditybar.com email the show at spencer@nextexit.site  

Spencer talks to Valerie Worthington was a researcher and is now a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu instructor and author of "Training Wheels: How a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Road Trip Jump-Started My Search for a Fulfilling Life". She made a drastic choice to change her career in order to be more fulfilled by her work. You can find out more about her at valerieworthington.com.