Shifting Gears: How to change careers

There was a time when a career change seemed like a radical decision, but over the past decade changes in technology and economics have transformed the landscape. Whether by choice or necessity, career changes are more common — and more desirable — than they used to be.

Local business owner Meghan Adams trained to be a broadcast journalist, lived in Washington, D.C., worked on “Nightline,” and even interned at the White House. It was an exciting beginning, but soon family pressures and several relocations took their toll. When she found herself back in Texas and closer to her family, she brainstormed with her sister, and soon the two opened a business: The Hospitality Sweet.

“We started our business right after we each had our first baby, so we could stay home with them and still do something creative,” says Adams, who has always enjoyed cooking. She thought there might be some profit in offering casseroles to order, but soon the business gravitated toward sweets. “Cakes, cookies, cupcakes, cake balls — and we also do hors d’oeuvres and box lunches.” This past year, when Dr. Phil turned 60, the sisters flew to Beverly Hills to make a special delivery. “We did a thousand cake balls for him,” Adams says.

Until recently, customers have picked up orders from Adams’ home, but this year the business has set up shop in London Café inside Timothy Oulton at Potter Square. Although they still take special orders, Adams says, “Now people will be able to come into the store and buy our sweets, rather than having to order a day ahead.”

Another local businesswoman who adjusted her work for her family life, Stacy Huston worked for 16 years in banking before she found her career of choice. When her daughter was born, she decided to try her own business, although the business she chose surprised her friends. She opened a Handyman Matters franchise. “People who know me know I’m not handy,” Huston says. “But I was just dissatisfied with the type of people that had been working on our home. It might sound crazy, but I thought I could be the one to change that for East Dallas.” You might expect Huston’s customers to be surprised that the business is owned by a woman, but she says that rarely happens. “The majority of people that hire us are women,” she says. “It makes logical sense. When something’s broken, they’re the ones who take care of it.”

For Willie and Coote’s Theresa Linson, a software and web designer, all it took to spark a career change was noticing that her friend’s Lakewood beauty salon had a lot of untapped potential. “I saw a huge opportunity for growth, and that’s what I like doing in business — taking something and making it huge,” Linson says. Hair stylist Karen Dittmar, who started the business, is free to manage the salon operations, while Linson handles the business side. And the result has been a successful partnership; the team recently opened a second location in Carrollton.

Lakewood Realtor Marissa Fontanez worked in corporateferent.” Fontanez has been a Realtor for seven years, and her favorite part of the job is the keys after a purchase, or that look of relief when they can say ‘Sold!’ and move on.”

For those who are interested in a career change, local Realtor Scott Carlson suggests for someone who wants a career that revolves around their family, but also supports their need and their desire to work and bring home an income,” Carlson says. He also points out that the work can be satisfying for death, divorce — all these life challenges or transformations — - says Dr. Lynne Roberts, who went on to develop a pediatric dermatology program at UT Southwestern and Children’s Medicalmatology.”

Sometimes a career change comes after a due to her own growth and changes in her in- lis had a successful, award-winning career as a journalist before becoming a health and hard-charging person,” Ellis says. However, her drive for success about making a few simple changes that will simply change your life. Choices we make today will affect us years from now, so let’s get started.”