The Surprising Financial Opportunity She Had At Costco

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Does She Have Any Regrets About Saying Goodbye To Teaching?

“Somebody said ‘Teaching got the best of me, and my family got the rest of me,’ and that kind of broke me.”

– Maggie Perkins

“Should I stay or should I go now?” Although the phrase brings to mind The Clash’s punk rock classic, it’s a weighty question for leaders contemplating a career move.

A record number of CEOs left their roles last year, according to the 2024 Global CEO Turnover report by Russell Reynolds Associates (RRA), a global leadership advisory firm. The analysis, which tracks CEO departures from 13 global indices, indicates 202 CEOs left their roles in 2024, up 9% from 2023.

RRA broadly attributes the global increase to investor activism and technological change, but it was also likely a deeply personal decision for each of those leaders. Whether you helm a worldwide powerhouse, a Main Street staple or a treasured family business, the decision to leave is influenced by a multitude of factors requiring careful consideration.

Engage in self-reflection

Ashwini Nadkarni, M.D., assistant professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, says the decision to step down should come after a process of self-reflection.

“I think it’s helpful for leaders to ask themselves a set of questions to arrive at that conclusion and take some time to be thoughtful when they assess their decision,” she says. “Some important questions to ask oneself include…”

• How have I grown?
• What skills did I gain?
• What have I achieved?
• How have I contributed to other people’s development or success?
• Am I still professionally fulfilled in this position?

Nadkarni explains that those answers then must be weighed against the leader’s goals. If a leader is considering retirement, these answers could determine if they’ve accomplished all they hoped for during their career. If a leader is not considering retirement, but instead contemplating a career move, they must examine their answers and ask if their current position and company will enable them to continue growing and help others do the same.

“Leaders have to ask themselves, ‘Is there that space for me?’” Nadkarni says. “The other question that they have to ask themselves is, ‘Will my departure create space for others?’… There’s that tipping point where our growth compromises the growth of others.”

Nadkarni says it’s also important for a leader to consider how they’re handling the challenges of their position. What was once exciting and invigorating may now be exhausting and overwhelming.

“People can end up becoming increasingly cynical or experience emotional exhaustion, and so when that point comes, it’s a great time to hand over the role to somebody else because you know that they’ll apply a new energy,” she says.

Although every leader would prefer to exit on their own terms, sometimes external stressors lead to a departure. Nadkarni says if a leader is consistently receiving negative feedback, it may be time to make a change. Unexpected life events such as health problems or the death of a spouse can also require a person to leave a position.

Seek support

Even if all signs are pointing to resignation or retirement, it can still be a difficult transition, especially if it’s a long-held position or a role in a family business. Nadkarni says seeking support from friends and family, consulting with a career coach or seeking mental health support can help leaders reconcile their personal emotions and the company’s needs.

If a person is “not in a place of acceptance about the fact that the organization and the individual are moving in two different directions… to get to that place of acceptance, it probably requires some additional reflection,” she says.

Nadkarni acknowledges that leadership changes in family businesses can sometimes be especially stressful or intense due to the emotions that come into play with family dynamics.

“There are actually organizational psychiatrists and behavioral health specialists who specialize in that specific area of focus, where they consult families in that setting,” she says. “Seeking out advice from such a person who’s had that experience and expertise in those specific situations is important.”

Leave a legacy

As leaders prepare to leave a role, they may want to solidify their legacy to ensure their time spent was meaningful.

To do so, a leader should first identify their values, which will in turn define their sense of legacy. For example, many people value relationships within the business or visibility of specific projects or work, so Nadkarni advises shoring up those things in the months leading up to an exit.

“I think most people would probably agree that a legacy as a leader is certainly defined by your impact on your team and mentorship that you’ve had, the career advancement that you’ve facilitated for others,” she says. “Continuing to amplify that over time, I think that that is really critical.”

She says leaders can build on that outside their role and continue to share their expertise in their next professional chapter through consultant work, writing and teaching, or even “creating your own content platform for people or exploring things like social media as a way to offer that information.” She adds, “A lot of times people will move from a leadership role to teaching at a college.”

She also notes that many of the skills used at work are also needed in nonprofit organizations and can be shared through volunteer work.

Activate a plan

Nadkarni suggests, if the leader is leaving on their own terms, to allow at least a year for the exit process and transition to a successor. It’s important to allow enough time to talk to key stakeholders and help develop the incoming leadership team.

“Having those meetings and ensuring you have a good runway… that’s key,” she says.

Although the idea of leaving a leadership role can be overwhelming and the exit process can be exhausting, it’s best to be proactive. Otherwise, those Clash lyrics may come back to haunt you: “If I go there will be trouble, and if I stay it will be double.”

By planning ahead and working thoughtfully through the transition process, you will not only promote and facilitate the company’s next chapter but also blaze a new trail for yourself. 

Photo by Prostock-studio/Shutterstock.com

Ken Griffey Jr., 13-time MLB All-Star, retired from the baseball diamond and hit a home run with his second career: photography.  

After playing 22 seasons—with teams including the Seattle Mariners, Cincinnati Reds and Chicago White Sox—Griffey began photographing professionally, covering Major League Baseball, Major League Soccer, the NFL, Indy Car and perhaps most notably, the 2025 Masters.

The 55-year-old baseball legend transformed a hobby into a rewarding “second act,” and career change consultant Joseph Liu says you can, too.

Do you have what it takes to change careers?

Liu, who hosts the Career Relaunch podcast, says Griffey is a good example of showing how someone can marry their past profession with their current interest.  

“On the surface, playing baseball and taking photos may seem completely unrelated…” he says. “[But] part of photography is about anticipating and deciding what image you’re trying to capture, so in this case, his sports instincts can actually help improve his photography. It just shows how your profession may evolve as your life evolves.”

Liu has interviewed more than 100 people who changed course mid-career to pursue a new interest. Whether they were an Army sniper turned children’s magician or an investment banker who became a couple’s counselor, they generally share three characteristics:

• Clarity: “They take time to get clear on what matters to them, what they feel is missing [and] what they want to have more of,” he says. “Even if these people don’t know exactly what their second act is going to be, they can define the characteristics of [it],” whether that be flexibility, more autonomy or more meaning.
• Confidence: “They amass both the internal confidence to know they’re doing the right thing and also outward confidence to project that to others,” he says. This confidence originates from “[defining] their values and [making] decisions that serve those values,” he explains.
• Courage: “It often takes a bit of a leap of faith to step off the beaten path and follow a nontraditional career, so having that bravery to follow your instincts, to trust yourself is critical,” he says. “Without courage, the changes tend to be too small or too incremental to make a really major difference in a meaningful way.”

Starting a second career

Knowing it can be difficult to make that leap, Liu recommends starting with microactions.

“Dip your toe in with no excess pressure… [that] you’re going to start making money right away,” he says. Start small by taking an evening course or buying that piece of equipment that allows you to explore that hobby of yours.

“Test it out. See how it goes. See how it sits with you… how much you enjoy it [and] how much traction you gain.”

Griffey first picked up photography so he could attend his kids’ sporting events and not be a distraction. His presence at youth games caused a buzz, as he was still an active baseball player.  

“I figured, nobody’s messing with the photographer. Let me pick it up; let me try it,” he said in an interview on Mornings @ The Masters. “I got a couple photographer friends who sent me a couple of cameras and lenses and said, ‘Here you go.’”

Although at that time Griffey likely wasn’t considering photography as a second career, his actions introduced him to a new skill, and Liu says talking to people who are currently “doing the things you want to do” is an important step. It’s easy to overanalyze a situation and make assumptions, but a conversation with someone who’s already working in that space can be encouraging and a shortcut to the information you need to make the change.

“The final [step]… is to err on the side of action,” Liu says. “Actions are what open up opportunities… [Don’t] feel like you’ve got to make the perfect move into this new sector, but broadly move yourself toward the direction that you think might be promising.”

Should you pursue this professionally?  

Learning a new skill or picking up a post-retirement hobby doesn’t automatically mean it should be a second career. In fact, Liu cautions people against making that assumption.

“Just because you enjoy doing something on the side doesn’t mean you’re going to still enjoy it if you’re doing it professionally, especially if your livelihood depends on it,” he says.

Liu says asking yourself the following questions is a way to overlay practical considerations on a genuine interest or hobby.   

1. How energized do I feel by this? “It’s important, if you’re going to pursue a second career, that it really energizes you because it takes a lot of effort to branch off and do something different,” he says.
2. Does a market exist for this? This is a practical, yet necessary question, which Liu says should be followed up by:
3. Do I have a way of reaching that market? Can I access the customer base or reach the people I want to work with?
4. Can I make enough money doing this?
5. Do I have the skills and credentials to be credible in this space? If not, can I gain those skills and credentials?

If you decide to proceed, Liu says do not dismiss your previous experience and assume it’s irrelevant.

“There’s a lot of imposter syndrome when people change careers, and they think ‘I didn’t come from this background, [so] I don’t have a right to play in this new space,’” he says. “[But that’s] not useful. If you can embrace it and see it as a differentiator, that can actually help you sell a unique story to people that separates you from traditional applicants.”

Should you pursue a second career in retirement?

Although the promise of a second career can be exciting, Liu says it’s not for everyone and no one should feel compelled to continue working, if they’re able and want to retire.

“If you’re at the point of retirement and you feel like it’s time for you to just kick back and relax, I feel like the choice is yours,” he says. “No one should feel pressured to necessarily have a second act or encore career.

“It goes back to the idea that everyone’s career path and career journey is quite unique.” 

Maybe the joy of making homemade bread is in sharing it with friends and family, but perhaps your memoir would resonate with readers around the world. The choice to pursue a second career or turn a hobby into a money-making venture is a decision specific to you and your circumstances. Whatever you decide, being intentional is key, according to Liu.

“Thinking your career is going to just naturally evolve on its own and that one day this is just going to work out…” he says. “That’s just not what happens.”

Photo by Ground Picture/Shutterstock.

Are you always day dreaming about a perfect career with your fingers crossed that it will happen some day?

London is packed with almost endless opportunities, so you can decide….are you a dreamer or a someone who will ultimately turn that dream into a reality?

Give your career a quick MOT check!

Try answering the following questions to check if your current profession is right for you.

1. Would you describe your current role as your dream job

2. Are you motivated at work?

3. Do you feel energised most of the time?

If you answered no to the three questions above, this is a first step in admitting that something is not quite right and that you will either have to change your attitude or change your profession. There are many reasons why you may feel disengaged in the workplace. Perhaps you are feeling undervalued, have an unrealistic workload or have concerns over a lack of career opportunities. Or it might be time for a complete career change.

Mai Tai understands the diverse needs of driven city professionals and we have listed five tips to help you design a life which goes against the grain.

Tap into your passion

When you are completely changing your career path, you need to make sure you are swapping for something that you really want to do. Think about the passions you have outside of work and how they could be included in a potential career. List your desires and then assess your options. If you work so much that you are struggling to find out what your passions are. 

Ask an expert

You are not the first person to decide a career change is in order and there is help and advice available. Do some research online and offline. Alternatively, why not seek the help of a career change consultant or a life coach?

Mind the gap!

When you have identified the career, you would like to have, don’t get overwhelmed by gaps in your experiences. Acquiring an entirely new skill set takes time, but step by step, you can achieve your goals. Think about the knowledge and qualifications you need and formulate a long-term plan to acquire them. And it is not all about qualifications, sometimes work shadowing for a day or a few weeks is necessary and many companies would be willing to help out.

Getting the correct qualifications and/or skills for a career change is essential, but gaining knowledge about the wider industry is also important as it will allow you to converse with people already working in your desired sector. Try to gain a deeper understanding of challenges faced by that industry or new opportunities that might be arising, and your eagerness to become part of that industry will seem more credible.

Your CV Makeover

Once you find yourself applying for a job in the industry you would like to work in, it is time to accentuate the positive. Start with your CV. It should focus on the skills you have which are relevant to the industry, your career history should come second.

At the interview, employers can be a little nervous about someone who has decided to opt for a career change. They may question how committed you would be to your new role. It is your job to reassure them. Get prepared to tell them how your previous career enabled you to recognise that you would be suitable for the new role and tell them about your transferable skills.

Insiders tip! Shake up your entire CV by getting an experienced freelancer to re-write it for you. Check out the People Per Hour website for some of the best in town.

Get some experience

You’re probably already familiar with the phrase, “Experience in a Similar Role Required”! It can prove to be a bit of a chicken and egg situation, so be prepared to gain experience on a voluntary basis. For example, if you are looking to get into marketing, look at local organisations or charities who might be looking for someone to help them out, but cannot afford to pay. The experience will prove to be beneficial.

Our mindset towards career change is a funny old thing. Other big life decisions such as marriage or moving house, can be changed when something is not right. Yet when it comes to our career, by the age of 30, we are expected to be on the right path.

There are so many reasons why not to change career. Financial commitments, relationships, bad timing or perhaps a lack of confidence. Going against the grain takes guts and ambition, so focus on the action steps necessary for the change to take place.

Whilst some people might be prepared to take the leap, others may be motivated by the security of staying exactly where they are just to pay their mortgage. So, if you are on the fence, consider this. A recent report suggested that by 2050, up to 40% of current jobs, will no longer exist. Consequently, widening your experiences and expertise can only be a positive move in the long run.

I couldn’t find any recent stats about the number of careers someone would have in a lifetime but it doesn’t matter. Your happiness is a positive thing for everyone, especially the people that work with you!

Shar Fuller © Mai Tai Group 2018

Article created by: Vėja Elkimavičiūtė

The only thing worse than a toxic workplace is staying in a toxic workplace, but like frogs in boiling water, we often don’t notice the “heat” until someone points it out or, finally, some final incident pushes us over the edge.

So one person asked the internet to share the reason they left or were fired from their last job. From idiotic management to unsafe working conditions, netizens responded with a host of stories. We also got in touch with career coach Daphne Gomez to learn more. So get comfortable, pour yourself another cup of coffee, and get scrolling. Be sure to comment your thoughts and upvote your favorites. 

Audrey Hepburn was an icon.

Rising to fame in the 1950s, she was one of the greatest actresses of her era. In 1953, Hepburn became the first actress to win an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award, and a BAFTA Award for a single performance: her leading role in the romantic comedy Roman Holiday.

Even today, over half a century later, she remains one of just 15 people to earn an “EGOT” by winning all four major entertainment awards: Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony. By the 1960s, she was averaging more than one new film per year and, by everyone’s estimation, she was on a trajectory to be a movie star for decades to come.

But then something funny happened: she stopped acting.

Despite being in her 30s and at the height of her popularity, Hepburn basically stopped appearing in films after 1967. She would perform in television shows or movies just five times during the rest of her life.

Instead, she switched careers. She spent the next 25 years working tirelessly for UNICEF, the arm of the United Nations that provides food and healthcare to children in war-torn countries. She performed volunteer work throughout Africa, South America, and Asia.

Hepburn’s first act was on stage. Her next act was one of service. In December 1992, she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom for her efforts, which is the highest civilian award of the United States.

We will return to her story in a moment.

Efficient vs. Effective

You get one, precious life. How do you decide the best way to spend your time? Productivity gurus will often suggest that you focus on being effective rather than being efficient.

Efficiency is about getting more things done. Effectiveness is about getting the right things done. Peter Drucker, the well-known management consultant, once encapsulated the idea by writing, “There is nothing so useless as doing efficiently that which should not be done at all.”

In other words, making progress is not just about being productive. It’s about being productive on the right things.

But how do you decide what the “right things” are? One of the most trusted approaches is to use the Pareto Principle, which is more commonly known as the 80/20 Rule.

The 80/20 Rule states that, in any particular domain, a small number of things account for the majority of the results. For example, 80 percent of the land in Italy is owned by 20 percent of the people. Or, 75 percent of NBA championships are won by 20 percent of the teams. The numbers don’t have to add up to 100. The point is that the majority of the results are driven by a minority of causes.

The Upside of the 80/20 Rule

When applied to your life and work, the 80/20 Rule can help you separate “the vital few from the trivial many.” 1

For example, business owners may discover the majority of revenue comes from a handful of important clients. The 80/20 Rule would recommend that the most effective course of action would be to focus exclusively on serving these clients (and on finding others like them) and either stop serving others or let the majority of customers gradually fade away because they account for a small portion of the bottom line.

This same strategy can be useful if you practice inversion and look at the sources of your problems. You may find that the majority of your complaints come from a handful of problem clients. The 80/20 Rule would suggest that you can clear out your backlog of customer service requests by firing these clients.

The 80/20 Rule is like a form of judo for life and work. By finding precisely the right area to apply pressure, you can get more results with less effort. It’s a great strategy, and I have used it many times.

But there is a downside to this approach, as well, and it is often overlooked. To understand this pitfall, we return to Audrey Hepburn.

The Downside of the 80/20 Rule

Imagine it is 1967. Audrey Hepburn is in the prime of her career and trying to decide how to spend her time.

If she uses the 80/20 Rule as part of her decision-making process, she will discover a clear answer: do more romantic comedies.

Many of Hepburn’s best films were romantic comedies like Roman Holiday, Sabrina, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, and Charade. She starred in these four films between 1953 and 1963; by 1967, she was due for another one. They attracted large audiences, earned her awards, and were an obvious path to greater fame and fortune. Romantic comedies were effective for Audrey Hepburn.

In fact, even if we take into account her desire to help children through UNICEF, an 80/20 analysis might have revealed that starring in more romantic comedies was still the best option because she could have maximized her earning power and donated the additional earnings to UNICEF.

Of course, that’s all well and good if she wanted to continue acting. But she didn’t want to be an actress. She wanted to serve. And no reasonable analysis of the highest and best use of her time in 1967 would have suggested that volunteering for UNICEF was the most effective use of her time.

This is the downside of the 80/20 Rule: A new path will never look like the most effective option in the beginning.

Optimizing for Your Past or Your Future

Here’s another example:

Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon, worked on Wall Street and climbed the corporate ladder to become senior vice-president of a hedge fund before leaving it all in 1994 to start the company.

If Bezos had applied the 80/20 Rule in 1993 in an attempt to discover the most effective areas to focus on in his career, it is virtually impossible to imagine that founding an internet company would have been on the list. At that point in time, there is no doubt that the most effective path—whether measured by financial gain, social status, or otherwise—would have been the one where he continued his career in finance.

The 80/20 Rule is calculated and determined by your recent effectiveness. Whatever seems like the “highest value” use of your time in any given moment will be dependent on your previous skills and current opportunities.

The 80/20 Rule will help you find the useful things in your past and get more of them in the future. But if you don’t want your future to be more of your past, then you need a different approach.

The downside of being effective is that you often optimize for your past rather than for your future.

Where to Go From Here

Here’s the good news: given enough practice and enough time, the thing that previously seemed ineffective can become very effective. You get good at what you practice.

When Audrey Hepburn dialed down her acting career in 1967, volunteering didn’t seem nearly as effective. But three decades later, she received the Presidential Medal of Freedom—a remarkable feat she is unlikely to have accomplished by acting in more romantic comedies.

The process of learning a new skill or starting a new company or taking on a new adventure of any sort will often appear to be an ineffective use of time at first. Compared to the other things you already know how to do, the new thing will seem like a waste of time. It will never win the 80/20 analysis.

But that doesn’t mean it’s the wrong decision.