Professionals make career 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 Burlison 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.”

See SBJ’s July 31 issue for more about the process of changing careers and other Life & Career Transitions coverage.