Should You Change Your Job, Your Career, or Do Something Else?
Many professionals hit a point where growth slows.
The big question shows up:
Should I change my job, switch careers, or try something different?
Recently, I had a clarity call with someone from the automobile sector.
He has spent 20+ years in production. Now, at 45, he is thinking about moving into academics.
If you’re in your 30s, 40s or 50s, you feel the same.
You are stuck in a salary range and you want to grow.
The Two Obvious Options
1) Change the job
It looks easy.
New company, fresh start. But a new job often means relocation and proving yourself again.
For the first 6–12 months, teams watch you.
Politics are real. Stability comes later.
Even with a 20% raise, costs and stress eat into it.
2) Change the career
A full career switch resets everything.
The 20–25 years you invested don’t transfer.
New degrees, new networks, and time to build credibility.
If you want academics, you may need degrees and years of preparation. That pushes your timeline.
The Third Path (My Recommendation)
Stay in your current job and build a system in parallel.
There’s a saying: “The known devil is easier to manage than the unknown.”
You already know how your current job works.
If it’s relatively safe, keep it.
Use it as your base while you build something new on the side.
Jobs give stability. Systems create freedom.
Why I Believe in Systems
Between 2021 and 2025, I lost four jobs for different reasons. Every time, a system saved me.
Back in 2014, I started my first coaching and training venture (a franchise). That taught me one core lesson:
Don’t depend only on a job. Build a system that can pay you, even if the job does not.
Stop Searching for the “Right Platform.” Create One.
If you are thinking you never found the right platform.
You are right.
My response: Don’t keep searching. Start building.
If you start a new career you will take another 5 years to reach where you want to.
Do you have liberty to spend that much time?
Instead, create your own platform today.
Start by Monetizing Your Skill
Whatever your background is —HR, marketing, operations, production—you know something useful.
Package that into value others can pay for.
Three evergreen problem areas where people always seek help:
- Health (physical, mental, emotional)
- Wealth (career, business, money)
- Relationships (communication, mindset, balance)
If you can solve a real problem in any of these, you can build a parallel income system.
The Real Example from the Clarity Call:
The person works in automobile production. He already trains ITI students and is interested in Yoga and NLP.
My advice: stay in your job. Shift toward the training division if possible.
In parallel, build a small digital platform around Yoga/NLP and practical production skills. Start simple.
Teach what you know.
Ask the “One Thing” Question
From the book The One Thing:
What’s the one action that makes everything else easier or unnecessary?
My answer is Go digital.
You can write your answer and share in comments.
So that’s the focus—create a basic digital business while keeping the job.
The C.A.S.H. Model (Four Income Engines)
Build your parallel system with these four tracks:
- C – Coaching
- A – Affiliate Marketing
- S – Services
- H – High-Ticket Offers
You don’t need all four at once. Start with one, then add the next.
When Should You Consider Leaving the Job?
Use these three levels as milestones:
- Level 1: Your system earns 50% of your job income. You gain safety and confidence.
- Level 2: Your system consistently earns equal to your salary for 12–14 months. Now you’re in the safe zone.
- Level 3: Your system beats your salary for 18–24 months. That’s your green light to transition.
This usually takes 18–24 months. Be patient and consistent.
Final Thoughts
Your current job is your golden goose — don’t kill it too soon.
Stay where you are, but start building your system in parallel.
When that system begins to pay you consistently, you’ll unlock something rare — real freedom and real options.
Ready for the first step
Watch my free 30-minute training — it walks you through the exact first steps to launch your digital business.
https://www.digitalfreedomshift.com
Once you’ve seen it, if you want a personal plan tailored to your background, book a Clarity Call.
But start with the training — 30 minutes is all it takes to know your next move.
But first, watch the free training—30 minutes is enough to know your next move.
Don’t quit the job. Build the system that gives you freedom.
One Response
This is an insightful and practical approach. Thanks Dr Ashish.