Change was in the air on Friday March 5. The boss invited me into his office … on a Friday afternoon. The company was consolidating with another. “We are getting leaner, becoming more efficient” he said.

Maybe you have been in a meeting like that one.

It was that Friday afternoon talk with the boss that opened the door to my midlife career change. I wouldn’t call it a crisis because the unknown held at least as much hope as fear. But I really didn’t have a plan.

I admit that I had considered making changes long before that Friday. Twenty-some years into a career in Agriculture had been good to me. Banking, consulting, sales and teaching put food on the table, and more. But I had reached the point where I loved Friday too much, rarely looked forward to Monday morning.

I felt fulfilled when I led city wide ministry events. I organized concerts, helped men become better husbands, fathers, and followers of Christ. I liked working with church leaders from many denominations. I wondered if I could ever serve others through ministry and provide for my family at the same time.

Then it was like I was motoring down the road of life one Friday afternoon and came to a fork in the road. The diverging paths each had their own sign. One sign said “This Road Will Be Familiar And Straight”   The sign that I followed  said, “Beware – Unmapped Curves Ahead.”

Where are you going in your journey? Racing down familiar highways or on a ‘road less travelled’?

Are you a lover of Mondays yet?

I would like to travel that unfamiliar road with you. I’ve been there and done that.

Dan Hennenfent is a Professional Life Coach helping people make career changes that move them toward service through ministry. Since December 1999, Dan has been the Executive Director of a non profit 501(c)3 Public Charity that serves the poor and disadvantaged. danhennenfent@me.com