If you're eyeing a big career change, this one's for you.

I’ve coached 92 passionate powerhouses through career changes—big and small—that led them to more fulfillment, agency, confidence, freedom, and financial stability.

So by now, I know: if you’re considering a big career change—things like switching industries, corporate to entrepreneurship, redefining your role—your biggest concerns are usually:

💰 Will I make enough money?
💪 Can I actually pull this off?

But if we dig a little deeper, we find something that goes beyond financial stability or self-belief: Belonging ♥️

Big career changes can stir up fears about losing your people—and uncertainty about whether your next people will embrace you.

Some of this is the literal changing of the guard. Goodbye old boss, hello new boss. Goodbye old coworkers, hello new coworkers. Goodbye office banter, hello coworking space chat. Goodbye teammates, hello professional networks and entrepreneurship groups.

But then there’s the sneakier, deeper stuff:

😨 Will my family respect my decision—or think I’m making a huge mistake?
😨 Will my friends still get me if my lifestyle, schedule, or paycheck changes?
😨 Will this shift my marriage or relationship dynamic in ways I’m not ready for?
😨 If my work crew was a big part of my social life, who do I turn to now?
😨 What will [waves hand at people on the Internet] think of the new me?!

I’ve seen these fears keep people in the familiar hell over the unfamiliar heaven too many times, so I’m going to help you start to tackle them.

♥️ Find your hype squad. Find even just ONE person close to you who sees your vision for where you’re going and why. They won’t just be there for you on the other side—they’ll be cheering for you every step of the way, even when you feel shaky.

♥️ Stay rock solid in your sense of self. I get it, you want everyone to think you’re amazing—to be seen and heard and understood. But you’re the captain of your own ship. If you wait for approval from everyone in your life, you’ll never set sail.

♥️ Surround yourself with inspiring people. Heck, find people who are 10 steps ahead of you, doing the damn thing (and check your comparison anxiety at the door). They’ll be incredible mentors and sources of guidance—and one day, you’ll be able to give back too.

♥️ Let yourself be surprised. I know you’re the center of the universe, but so is everyone else—of their universe. Many people won’t actually notice that you’ve made a big change, and I’ve found most times, people are delighted by someone going after what they want.

♥️ And if your fears are right, you’ll be OK. Listen, there will be people who don’t come along on the ride. Incompatibility or jealousy may be at play—or you won’t have the same things to bond over. But there are many more people excited to meet and support you!

Onward!
Grace

P.S. Is the money piece holding you back from making a career change? Dr. Annie Cole, Founder of Money Essentials for Women, and I are hosting a free workshop on how to combine career and financial planning on March 20 2-3pm ET. Register here (all genders welcome)!