What to Do When Success Doesn’t Feel Successful Anymore
You’ve built a career, maybe raised a family, checked off most of the boxes that people label “success.” From the outside, life looks good. But inside, something feels off. The title, the paycheck, the routine—it’s not filling the tank anymore. Some call it a midlife career crisis. Others lump it under the larger midlife crisis. Either way, the question surfaces: Is this it? Or is it time for a change?
You’re not alone. Research shows many professionals start reevaluating work between their late 30s and mid-50s. Careers, industries, and even your own values shift over time. What once energized you may not serve you anymore. But that isn’t failure or restlessness. It might simply be growth.
Why Midlife Career Crises Happen
- Shifting priorities: In your 20s and 30s, success might have meant climbing the ladder. Midlife often brings different questions: Am I making a difference? Is this sustainable?
- Burnout: Years of running at full speed can leave you drained. What once felt like drive now feels like depletion.
- Industry changes: Technology, market shifts, or company shakeups can suddenly make a steady role feel unstable.
- Life transitions: Kids grow up, parents age, health shifts, and suddenly your perspective changes.
- Identity shifts: Who you are at 25 isn’t who you are at 45. And that’s a good thing. You’ve grown, and your work should grow with you.It’s no wonder people start wondering if they’re in the wrong dugout altogether.
Signs It’s Time for a Change
- Work that once energized you now feels hollow
- You daydream about doing something entirely different
- The Sunday night dread is heavier than ever
- You feel stuck in autopilot with the same meetings, same problems, no spark
- You’re asking bigger life questions: What’s my purpose? What do I want to do with the years ahead?
That tension isn’t weakness. It’s a signal, like a check engine light, that it may be time to pause and reset.
Think of baseball: when a batter keeps fouling off pitches, they step out of the box, adjust their stance, and reset. Mid-career is your chance to do the same.
Myths & Realities About Midlife Career Changes
| Myth | Reality |
|---|---|
| It’s too late to start over. | Many people do their best work in midlife and beyond. Colonel Sanders didn’t start KFC until his 60s. Julia Child published her first cookbook at 50. |
| You’ll have to start from scratch. | Most careers build transferable skills—leadership, communication, problem-solving—that apply across industries. |
| A career pivot means instability. | A thoughtful midlife career change can actually bring more stability because you’re finally aligned with your purpose. |
Fears That Hold People Back From a Midlife Career Change
- “Am I too old?” No. Reinvention isn’t age-dependent—it’s clarity-dependent. Many leaders discover their best work after 40 or 50.
- “What if I fail?” Failure is part of growth. Even Abraham Lincoln faced repeated setbacks before becoming president. Rick Ankiel, a pitcher who lost his control, reinvented himself as an outfielder and played years in the majors.
- “What about money?” Financial realities matter, but clarity helps you make wise, not rash, decisions.
- “I don’t know what else I’d do.” That’s where guided reflection matters. The skills you’ve built often unlock more doors than you realize.
Practical Steps if You’re Considering a Midlife Career Change
1. Get curious, not panicked.
Don’t treat this season as a five-alarm fire. Take it as an invitation to explore. Read, listen to podcasts, pay attention to what sparks your energy.
2. Find sounding boards.
Trusted voices—friends, mentors, guides—can help you see what you can’t on your own. Even the greatest leaders had advisors. St. Paul had Barnabas; even athletes rely on coaches.
3. Experiment in small ways.
Dip your toes before you dive. Take a class, volunteer, or shadow someone in a field that intrigues you. Sometimes a small experiment reveals whether it’s passion or just curiosity.
4. Audit your skills.
Years of experience don’t disappear. Communication, leadership, problem-solving, and resilience are portable skills. They may fit in more arenas than you think.
5. Clarify what matters most.
Is it freedom? Impact? Stability? Growth? Without clarity, you risk just trading one rut for another. Write it down. Share it with someone. Let it shape your decisions.
What Not to Do in a Midlife Career Crisis
- Don’t quit without a plan. Walking out on Friday without a Monday vision leads to regret.
- Don’t isolate yourself. Keeping these questions bottled up makes them heavier. Talk them out.
- Don’t chase money alone. A raise feels good in the short term, but purpose keeps you going long term.
- Don’t ignore your values. If your work doesn’t align with who you are, no paycheck will fix it.
How LifePlan Helps in a Midlife Career Crisis
This is often the sticking point: you know something has to change, but you don’t know what. That’s where our LifePlan process comes in.
LifePlan helps you:
- Step back and see your whole story: strengths, passions, values, and experiences
- Spot patterns and blind spots that may be holding you back
- Create a practical roadmap for your future that ties together both life and work
It’s not therapy, and it’s not a one-off seminar. It’s a structured process we walk through with you, so you can align your entire life with intentionality rather than merely switching careers.
People often come to us feeling restless, uncertain, or even defeated. They leave with clarity, confidence, and concrete next steps. That shift from confusion to clarity is the turning point that can transform a midlife career crisis into the most meaningful season of your life.
Why Work With The Barzel Group?
We’ve guided leaders, parents, executives, and everyday professionals through midlife career transitions. The process is deeply personal but also practical. You’ll walk away with clarity and next steps you can act on right away.
And if you want to keep growing alongside others, the Barzel Leadership Circle is a community of leaders who sharpen one another—iron sharpening iron. You’re not meant to navigate these questions alone, and you don’t have to.
So…Should You Make a Midlife Career Change?
Maybe. But the better question is: Should you keep living on autopilot?
If you’re restless, stuck, or questioning your direction, that’s your signal to pause. A midlife career crisis doesn’t have to be the end of the story. It can be the beginning of your most intentional chapter yet.
Contact us to learn how LifePlan and The Barzel Group can help you turn this season of uncertainty into a more purposeful future.
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