Tips to Reinventing Yourself

Cassandra L. Baker, PhD

May 17, 2021

Education is the key to reinvention. I know it seems cliché, but it is true.

My name is Dr. Cassandra Baker, and I left the automotive industry after 16 years of traveling through airports, living outside the country, and missing family events. I wanted a different life. So I reinvented myself into an author and transitioned into teaching.

Whether you leave a job, lose your job, or retire, it is a life-changing experience. To reinvent yourself means that you are on a journey of discovery – of self, resources, and people.

Transitioning is never easy. Lose the fallacy that surrounds transitioning. Most people believe transitioning can take 6 months or one year. Transitioning can take several years, but it happens in phases. In other words, reinvention is a process. This is why you must change your mindset. Be patient and be honest with yourself about what you want. Sometimes, you do not know what you want, and that is completely okay. Become excited about your new path. Where do you begin?

Step 1: Resources

One of the keys to transitioning and reinvention are resources. Take stock of your resources. One of your greatest resources is your health. Stay healthy, workout, take walks, and eat right. Next, take stock of your finances. Use this as an opportunity to move forward in your financial life. Finally, examine your hardware and software to see how you can improve. It will be difficult to transition without the right tools. Be honest with yourself when it comes to resources.

Step 2: Investigation

Investigation is a time where you can explore new roads. It can be a time of self-discovery. Look into starting a business, writing a book, or learning how to do business with your state or local government. Go to conferences. Take a course. If you want to start your business, get a mentor. You can start your investigation online or at your local library. Investigation will help you get out of your comfort zone and set on a new path by creating a new vision. There is an old proverb that says when the student is ready, the teacher will appear.

SCORE	The nation’s largest network of volunteer, expert business mentors	https://www.score.org/find-mentor
Small Business Administration	Small Business Administration	www.sba.gov
SBDC	The Small Business Development Center (SBDC) provides tools, training, and resources to help small businesses grow and succeed.	https://americassbdc.org/find-your-sbdc/
International Trade Administration	Learn how to import and export	https://www.trade.gov/learn-how-export
	Free or Cheap College for Senior Citizens	https://www.thepennyhoarder.com/save-money/free-college-courses-for-senior-citizens/
Coursera	Free college Courses	www.coursera.org
Candid	Information for starting Non-Profit	https://learning.candid.org/training/

Step 3: Education

When you think you have found your path, then educate yourself. Go back to school, take online courses, workshops, and webinars. Education will help you to grow personally and professionally. You are now surrounding yourself with people who have the same goals. Educating yourself naturally leads to networking.

Step 4: Networking

Investigation and education lead to natural networking. Why? Because you are widening your circle of contacts and casting your net into deeper waters. Networking involves communication and meeting the right people to help move you toward your goal—not just social media. This can be done by joining an association, taking a course, becoming an adjunct instructor, teaching a course at your local library, or volunteering. Create a website for yourself with matching business cards so you can have a virtual presence. The result of your networking should be forming your own tribe or a new group. Your tribe is a group of people like yourself with whom you can bounce around ideas, and they will tell you the truth and challenge you. A good tribe will assist in your growth.

Step 5: Arriving

At some point, you will arrive at your new destination, new job, new book, new business, or new degree. Do not think of this as an ending, but a new beginning. Take stock of your resources again. You will see that you have a new arsenal. Be happy! Your mind, network, and education level have now been expanded. Congratulations!

About the Author

In addition to being the author of Key Tools of Writing and Research: A Guide for the Student Writer, Cassandra L. Baker, PhD, is an instructor of business management at Gwinnett Technical College. She previously worked in the school of business and school of humanities at the University of Phoenix teaching various business courses at the graduate and undergraduate levels, including writing and research. Prior to joining academia, Cassandra spent fifteen years with Ford Motor Company and Volvo Cars of North America. She is a highly accomplished executive with experience in franchise management, organization management, financial management, and strategic planning within marketing sales and service.

Tips to Reinventing Yourself

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