It can take years of hard work, dedication and perseverance to like you’ve “made it” in your chosen career -which is why , for many, the idea of starting again from scratch is absolutely terrifying. Yet, those who boldly make the switch after decades spent in a familiar industry are often rewarded, whether with financial gain, or, more importantly, greater fulfillment and personal satisfaction. Though the transition may be challenging at times, a career change later in life can be the golden opportunity to pursue a long-held passion and find meaningful work for the years ahead.
The following six professionals have successfully navigated a midlife career change. What follows are their stories of taking the leap. […]
Patrick and Carolina Molloy said goodbye to their NY City home in the summer of 2017, shortly after leaving decades-long career in the corporate banking and financial services industries respectively. You could say that the move was the beginning of a grand adventure.
“I spent 31 years in cash management, and I enjoyed it” Patrick recalls. “I liked the travel and I liked interacting with a lot of people.” Carolina, who was a management consultant, also appreciated the daily face to face interactions.
However, at that point in our lives, we both wanted a change from Corporate America”, Carolina explains. “we wanted to be entrepreneurs. With Patrick’s passion for adventure sports, we knew out business was going to be in that industry. We just had to choose where to relocation” With its moderate climate, abundant resources for new entrepreneurs, ad an already developed adventure sports industry, Chattanooga was the perfect spot.
By July 2018, Adventure Sports Inovation was up and running. “We spent a whole year researching, forming out business plan, attending conferences, scouting our gear” Patrick says. Learning how to use some of the gear proved to be a challenge for Patrick initially. “I spent 3 whole weeks in my garage trying to master the electric unicycle!” Patrick laughs. “Since then, we’ve developed proprietary training methods, so now we get most adults road ready in two 30-minute lessons!”
According to the Molloys, there was plenty of help along the way. Patrick explains “Being in Chattanooga has been invaluable. We probably sat in 30 different sessions in our first Startup Week alone. And then, we were able to hire some really good people. Our staff has worked hard to make the customer experience so exceptional”.
One of Carolina’s favorite parts of the job is seeing the direct result of their hard work. “I enjoy that we created Adventure Sports Innovation just the 2 of us – it was our brainchild. We’ll get customers that ask: ‘where else can I find ASI? Is this a franchise?’ To which we reply , “no, this is it!’ We have a running list of places where we could expand one day.” Patrick ads, “When we conduct training and we watch people learn and adapt to our gear- and they come away smiling, that’s the most rewarding thing”.
Adventure Sports Innovation (ASI) has been bringing new innovations for outdoor fun to Chattanooga since 2018, with unique products like the Swincar E-Spider off-road vehicle; a full set of Personal Transportation Devices such electric unicycles, mini-electric bikes and HoverShoes from InMotion, Enzo e-bikes, E-Scooters, mini-Segways, e-Skateboards and hoverboards for fun around town, and the Lift E-foil, Kymera e-jet bodyboard, Manta e-SUP and the Schiller waterbike for great times on the water! While you’re at ASI, experience the latest in Virtual Reality to bring the great outdoors inside, the FingerCoaster design-it-yourself rollercoaster, Flymax: Extreme Hang gliding simulator, and Vertigo: Walk The Plank! There is nowhere else where you can experience (and buy!) all of these exciting products in one place, with new equipment being introduced all the time. ASI helps make Chattanooga one of the most unique and fun places to live and to visit!
ASI also offers group events – BIG adventures for your small group (5-12):
– Celebrate special occasions (birthday, bachelor/bachelorette, etc.)
– Group adventures (church groups, scout trips)
– Have fun with your co-workers and learn to work better together in one of our Team Building sessions
– Learn in our STEM academic field trips for home-schooled groups, summer camps or middle and high schools.
There is nowhere else where you can experience (and buy!) all of these exciting products in one place, with new equipment being introduced all the time. ASI helps make Chattanooga one of the most unique and fun places to live and to visit!