Making the Leap: Midcareer switches

Or it can be an opportunity for new experiences.

Nick Burlison spent nine years in banking, most recently with Regions Bank in Springfield, before purchasing Nixa-based Marketing Partners Inc. in May for an undisclosed amount.

He left the commercial banking world – a place he admitted earned him a comfortable living – because he wanted an opportunity to own a business.

“I wanted to get out on my own and try it before I got too complacent,” he said. “I’m 27 years old, which is old enough to try and make something work, but young enough that if it doesn’t work I can always start over again. I knew that now was the time to try something or else I wouldn’t have the opportunity.”

Burlison’s situation was unique – he was Marketing Partners’ banker when former owner Mark Shea told him that he wanted to sell. Burlison jumped at the opportunity; he said his first-hand view of other small-business owners gave him a good base of knowledge to work from.

“As a banker, I saw a lot of poor decisions that some small-business owners made and I saw a lot of good decisions that were made,” he said. “Being able to know what some people did when they got into a bind has been helpful.”

Sally Rowe, assistant director of the Missouri State University Career Center, said prior experience – both in jobs and in life – can provide a distinct advantage for those who are changing careers, as opposed to those starting fresh out of school.

“Working with people who have been out there in the work force, they know themselves better,” she said. “They have greater self-understanding and self-knowledge. The process of self-assessment – reflection about needs, values and interests – is very important.”

Trying something different

Nick Sanders has a doctorate in clinical psychology from Springfield’s Forest Institute, but he decided after completing his residency to go into a new field. For nearly two years, he has owned the Springfield office of New Horizons Computer Learning Center, along with the rights to the southwest Missouri territory.

Sanders said the two jobs aren’t as disparate as they initially may seem.

“Dealing with customers and employees, I feel like I use my psychology background every day,” he said. “Dealing with people and the personalities that we deal with all day, every day, it really helps me navigate the corporate waters.”

He’s also incorporated more of his background specifically into the business, teaching classes on professional development topics including leadership, conflict resolution and time management.

Sanders said the decision to make a midcareer switch was a pragmatic one.

“In a traditional psychological practice, there’s not the opportunity to have passive income, and there’s really not a viable exit strategy, and those were two things I was looking for in a business,” Sanders said. “There’s the potential here that if I’m not here, I can still make money, and I have a product here that I can sell whenever I would want to retire or move on to another business.”

Personal reasons

Not everyone changes careers for the thrill – some look for new positions out of necessity.

Amy Carroll and her husband, Todd, have owned Cookies by Design for nearly five years. When Amy gave birth 18 months ago to her first child, Emma Grace, the work got a little more difficult.

Now the couple is expecting their second child, which prompted Carroll to look for a new line of work. She began working for 2 Balance, a marketing and communications firm, in the spring. The couple has listed Cookies by Design for sale with The Kingsley Group for $95,000.

“When I found out that I was expecting our second child, this organization fit in with my family situation better than this crazy retail business that we’re in,” Carroll said. “It’s something I can do early in the morning, or after (Emma) goes to bed, or while she’s next to me in the room.”

Carroll decided to change businesses based on an assessment of her own situation and needs – a process MSU’s Rowe said is critical to a successful change.

“Typically, career changers have a lot more to consider in the decision-making process. They have to consider their families, and they may have children or even be caring for an aging parent,” Rowe said. “They’re looking at salary – it’s more of a factor for them in their choices, especially if they’re a sole supporter.”

Mark Williams got out of the computer industry, doing research and development and design work for 30 years, when he opened Marco’s Pizzeria on Park Central Square in February 2005.

His change was partially because of the computer engineering industry – which he said had been in decline ever since he started, due to increased outsourcing – and partially because of personal burnout.

The restaurant business had appealed to Williams since his college days.

“I had worked in restaurants and thought it was fun,” he said. “I thought it would be a good business to have, because there’s always a place for a good restaurant.”

And despite the long work hours – sometimes 80 hours or more a week – Williams said he’s glad he switched.

“It’s much different than engineering work or technical work, and if I didn’t do it, I’d always wonder,” he said. “You have to do it to know whether you could; even if it didn’t work, at least I’d know.”