Career Change Playbook: Courage, Cashflow & Unexpected Wins
Looking for a way to love your work again?
If your planning a career change your approach to personal branding could be key.
"You miss 100% of the shots you don't take."
This famous quote, by ice-hockey legend Wayne Gretzky, is more than just a sports mantra.
It's a powerful galvaniser for those moments when we find ourselves at a crossroads.
Do we stick to the familiar, predictable path, or do we take the unknown option - risky perhaps - but brimming with potential for growth and new success?
Taking that risk - especially with a career change - means embracing uncertainty and courageously stepping into a new direction.
In a recent episode of The Content Mavericks Club, I spoke with someone who embodies this spirit perfectly - Ellie Knowler, a brand designer who took a courageous shot and transformed her career.
Ellie's story is a brilliant real-world example of someone in a successful, stable career who realised she wanted something more.
After a decade as a radiographer, she decided to take that fork in the road, turning towards her original creative calling as a freelance brand designer and social media manager.
Her experience offers a fascinating look at calculated risk and thoughtful strategies to make a significant career change work.
In this post, I'll explore three powerful learning points from my conversation with Ellie that offer valuable insights for anyone considering a career change, building an authentic personal brand, or simply looking to align their work with what truly drives them.
Listen to the full Takeaway Episode with Jason Caffrey:
1. Career Change Is A Work In Progress – And That's Okay
In our often-airbrushed online world, there can be immense pressure to present a flawless image from day one.
But Ellie's journey reminds us that authenticity lies in the process, not the polish.
She's refreshingly open about her freelance career being an ongoing evolution. Her willingness to share the uncertainties and learning curves builds genuine connection and trust with her audience. It's not about being perfect; it's about being real.
While Ellie does curate her content (showcasing her portfolio on Instagram, for example), she uses platforms like LinkedIn to share the setbacks and frustrations alongside the successes. This makes her three-dimensional and incredibly relatable.
“I love LinkedIn because you can really connect with people and it’s not really about the perfect posts… you can share your real stories about your business and your life.”
Ellie doesn't have all the answers – she'll tell you she doesn't know what her career will look like a year from now.
But she's excited by that uncertainty, committed to the journey, and open about the risks and anxieties that come with it.
And that's something to truly admire.
Your Action Steps:
Share your challenges and learnings openly - this builds relatability and trust
Don't wait for "perfection" or a fully formed business to start building your brand presence and sharing your story
View your career pivot or freelance journey as an evolving narrative that your audience can connect with
2. Combine Passion with Pragmatism
The subject of career change often ignites strong opinions, especially regarding the "all or nothing" approach.
My personal experience tells me there are benefits to operating without a safety net – necessity truly can be the mother of invention, and the immediate need for income can sharpen focus.
However, the all-or-nothing approach also has its downsides.
When you fall, you can break, making it much harder to get back up.
That's why Ellie's thoughtful approach makes so much sense.
Her decision to leave healthcare was driven by a deep desire for creative fulfilment.
But as anyone who's made a big career change will tell you, passion alone doesn't always pay the bills – cash does.
What stood out in Ellie's story was her smart, practical approach.
She didn't just abandon her previous career.
She thoughtfully created a safety net by maintaining her radiography skills and picking up casual shifts.
This gave her the financial breathing room to build her freelance design business without the crushing pressure to be profitable from day one.
Cashflow is the lifeblood of any business, and Ellie made sure she was covered.
“Knowing that I could pick up these shifts and have a little bit of income stream coming through every month made the transition a bit easier.”
Everyone has a different appetite for risk.
Only you can decide your threshold.
But this practical step, this safety net, is the unglamorous, unsung hero in so many of life's challenges.
For Ellie, it provided the space and time needed to build a sustainable, flourishing new venture.
Put This Insight Into Practice:
Identify and maintain an income source during your transition if possible to reduce financial pressure
Make conscious choices about projects and client work that align with your core passions and support your goals
Be authentic about these practical considerations - it's a relatable and often inspiring part of the entrepreneurial story
3. Turn Serendipity into Opportunity
I’ve discussed before how happy accidents have changed the world.
This theme reappeared with Ellie, reinforcing the fact that life rarely unfolds in a straight line, and careers are no different.
When Ellie switched careers, becoming the social media manager for a financial guru wasn't part of her grand plan.
Her focus was squarely on building her brand design business.
However, after successfully managing social media for a friend who rowed across the Atlantic, she found herself unexpectedly in demand as a content creator.
“If you’d told me a year ago that I’d be doing social media for a finance podcast, I wouldn’t believe it. I love it, but it wasn’t part of the plan”
Ellie discovered she's not only good at social media but genuinely enjoys it – a pleasant surprise!
None of this would have happened if she hadn't been prepared to try new things and flex in unexpected directions.
By doing so, Ellie developed new skillsets, expanded her network, and gained experience in an entirely new sector.
This is a powerful way to build any career.
Ellie's experience is a compelling reminder that sometimes the most valuable opportunities are the ones we didn't expect.
Being open to serendipity can lead you down paths you never imagined, ultimately enriching your professional journey.
Your Turn To Capitalise:
Be receptive to collaborations or projects that genuinely excite you, even if they seem like a detour
Reflect on how diverse experiences can broaden your skillset and add unique dimensions to your personal brand story
Don’t be afraid to say "yes" to intriguing possibilities - they often lead to unforeseen growth and new passions
Conclusion: Take Your Shot
What are the critical lessons we can draw from Ellie Knowler's inspiring journey into freelance life?
Your three key takeaways are:
Be a work in progress: Authenticity in your evolving story builds genuine connection.
Combine passion with pragmatism: Smart planning and a safety net give your creative ambitions the space to flourish.
Turn serendipity into opportunity: Stay open, because unexpected paths can lead to your most significant growth.
Ellie's story is a powerful testament to Wayne Gretzky's wisdom.
She saw an opportunity for a more fulfilling direction that aligned with her creative calling - and she took it.
Making the change involved courage, practical planning, and an openness to the unknown, but as she's building her brand and career, it's clear that for her, it was a shot worth taking.
Want to dive deeper into Ellie Knowler's journey?
Listen to the full interview on Spotify or Apple, or watch on YouTube.
Get your free Career Change Content Cheat Sheet
As with all Content Mavericks Club content, I want it to be as easy as possible for you to put these learning points into action.
So to help you really lock in the lessons from my conversation with Ellie, I've done what I do with every guest interview.
I’ve spent several hours carefully distilling her most crucial insights into this downloadable cheat sheet for you.
It captures the key lessons and suggests straightforward steps you can implement today in your own career.
Plus links to the full transcript and other valuable resources.
Download your cheat sheet now for zero pounds.
About The Content Mavericks Club
The Content Mavericks Club is a newsletter, blog, YouTube channel and podcast featuring creators and entrepreneurs who share their challenges and successes they navigate in their business and digital marketing.
It is a resource hub for content professionals and business leaders who want to accelerate the return on their digital marketing.
It’s mission is to provide entrepreneurs, creators and boot-strappers actionable content marketing insights.
With real-world lessons from real-world experience, The Content Mavericks Club won’t just help you raise your content game.
It will help you overcome personal and professional hurdles too.
Join The Content Mavericks Club today, and meet the content mavericks who get it right, get it wrong, and then get back in the game.
The Content Mavericks Club is created by Creative Kin CEO Jason Caffrey.
About Jason Caffrey
Jason Caffrey is the host of The Content Mavericks Club and CEO of Creative Kin, a content production and marketing company that drives growth for ambitious brands through the power of podcasting.
Jason's mission is to help businesses of all sizes craft compelling podcasts and fully repurpose them to elevate their content strategies.
Through The Content Mavericks Club, he shares insights from leading content creators and marketers, providing valuable takeaways for those looking to enhance their own content game.
Build Your Brand with a Podcast-First Content Strategy
The insights shared on The Content Mavericks Club come from years of experience at Creative Kin, a podcast-first content marketing agency based right here in London.
We specialise in helping entrepreneurs and businesses like yours leverage the power of audio and video to build authority, connect with your ideal audience, and achieve powerful personal and professional branding.
If Ellie Knowler's career change has inspired you to transform your own brand, I offer a free, no-obligation consultation.
It's a relaxed and supportive space to discuss your ambitions and map out a content strategy to make them happen.
Book your free podcast and branding consultation now:
