The document provides advice on making a successful career transition through a 4-step process: 1) Pray specifically about the desired career change and journal your prayers to see how God affirms or closes doors. 2) Plan thoroughly by researching the new career, creating a business plan and timeline, and setting goals and tasks. 3) Push for progress by making decisions, setting goals based on research, and tracking your advancement. 4) Trust the process when doubts arise by reviewing past prayers and research, talking to supporters, and trusting that God began and will complete the transition.

1. Pray specifically about the career transition you want to make. God cares about every
detail of your life, and that includes the type of work you do. I prayed for several years
leading up to my career change. I journaled my prayers, which I highly recommend. You
can look back and see patterns where God has affirmed the career path you want or
where He has shut the door.
Over and over, God used other people to affirm my desire to write. Here are a few quotes
from my journal:
"You have a gift with words."
"When I was discouraged, you wrote me a letter that spoke to the heart of my situation."
"You have a lot of business writing experience. It wouldn't be that big of a jump."
There's something powerful about seeing your prayers on a page and then seeing God
answer them a few pages over. He is a God of clarity, and the Bible shows us that He's not
one to hint about a person's calling or the next move. Invite Him into your career
transition, and He will show up!
STEPS TO HELP YOU
MAKE A SUCCESSFUL
CAREER TRANSITION
4
peggybodde.com
Step 1: PRAY
Eight years ago, I transitioned from a corporate leader to running my own business as a
full-time writer. What a difficult but rewarding journey!
One of the most redeeming things about learning the hard way is helping others learn the
easy way. I call this recycled strength, a term inspired by 2 Corinthians 1:4. Recycled
strength happens when God’s strength carries Christians through adversities, and they
pass what He’s gifted them on to others.
It’s my honor to share with you what I learned through my big career transition. I hope it
encourages you and propels you a giant step closer to the career that God has waiting for
you.

2. What does the new career pay?
How soon could you start earning money?
How much money do you need to save for the transition?
Who can you talk to that's already successfully doing the career you want to transition
into? What do they say is hard? What do they love about it? What tips do they have?
What professional organizations can you join to help you understand more about the
new career?
Is a relevant degree important? Is it a showstopper?
Can you enlist a recruiter?
What contacts do you have within your network who can help you?
How does this affect your taxes?
How will it affect your health insurance?
What equipment, programs, and supplies do you need? How much will they cost?
What are the most effective ways to secure projects or assignments?
How long do you have to wait to get paid?
How will you invoice and receive payment?
Create a business plan!
Create a plan that covers all the details. I was talking to a friend who believes in God but
sees Him as a big "eye in the sky" that just oversees things in general and doesn't care
about the details. I asked him if he'd ever read God's instructions to Noah about how to
build the ark. Or to Joshua about how to carry out the Battle of Jericho. Hello!!
Our God cares very much about details. He's a planner who works through order and
structure—present in our big dreams and all the details needed to get make them come
true. It helps to keep that in mind as you pray and prepare for your potential career
change.
Do the research and crunch the numbers. [Build a lot of spreadsheets]
If you're switching from corporate to self-employed:
STEPS TO HELP YOU
MAKE A SUCCESSFUL
CAREER TRANSITION
4
peggybodde.com
Step 2: PLAN

3. Can you try out your new career while still doing the old? For example, I wrote
freelance and tutored people in English during my last two years at corporate.
Working parallel helps build your confidence and resumé while you still have the
security of your existing career. I understand how difficult this is, but if you can endure
it for even six months, it will be worth it in the long run.
When will you leave your current career?
When will you start your new career?
How will you measure if your new venture is successful or not? I tracked my income
and hours worked. I wanted to make enough to support myself, but I didn't want to
work more than 40 hours a week. I was leaving a career that required a 60-hour work
week, so balance was important to me. I already knew I'd enjoy the actual work, but if
you're unsure if that will be the case for you, you may measure success by how
enjoyable and rewarding the work is.
Sit down with your plans and decisions and create a timeline that includes the major
milestones. Start with the end in mind. If you want to quit your current job a year from
now, identify that date and work backwards.
Document each major milestone. These milestones become your goals, or where you
want to be in the future.
Under each milestone, list every task that needs to happen in order for you to reach
that milestone. Assign dates to each task.
Post your goals and tasks where you can see them every day and set aside time every
week to work on them.
Do a check-in every month and talk about your struggles or progress with an
accountability partner.
After you've conducted research and created your overall plan, use what you learned to
make decisions and set goals. This step is rewarding because you'll start to see progress!
The prayer and planning steps are important, but it's a great feeling to stand on that
foundation and start moving forward.
Make decisions:
Set goals:
STEPS TO HELP YOU
MAKE A SUCCESSFUL
CAREER TRANSITION
4
peggybodde.com
Step 3: PUSH for PROGRESS

4. What if I made a mistake?
Who am I to think that I can change careers now? In midlife?!
Is it too late to change my mind? This is scary.
I'm not qualified to do this. What was I thinking?
Maybe I didn't hear God correctly. Maybe I thought this is what He wanted for me, but
I was wrong.
Go back to your prayer journal. Highlight the places where God affirmed your career
change.
Take out your research and planning. This is a tangible reminder that you didn't make
this decision lightly!
Look at the goals you've already completed and how far God has brought you. He's
not in the habit of leaving things incomplete.
Phone a friend! Talk to the person you've confided in about your career transition.
Share the doubts you're experiencing. Friends who have been with us from the
beginning become our strongest encouragers.
Trust the process because it began with prayer. God is in it, and I'm here to tell you
that it works. If you get stuck, go to my website and shoot me an email. I'm here to
help!
This step is the hardest! You've prayed, planned, and pushed for progress, but there are
times when doubt hits hard.
All of these questions are normal.
I worked in the same career for almost 25 years before I transitioned into something
completely different, so I get that it's unsettling. It's completely natural to get three steps
in and wonder if you're doing the right thing.
That's why the previous three steps are so important. The enemy of our souls wants to
keep us small! He'll whisper doubts for as long as we allow ourselves to listen. But, know
this. When we bathe our dreams in prayer and God's presence, the enemy doesn't stand a
chance.
STEPS TO HELP YOU
MAKE A SUCCESSFUL
CAREER TRANSITION
4
peggybodde.com
Step 4: TRUST the PROCESS