Change in direction

[piningforthefjords]

Been contracting for about 17 years. Been both in the UK and NZ during that time, done fair bit of military, public sector and private (banks etc) work during that time. Mainly worked as a Infrstructure specialist / enterprise architect / product manager...but have really never done what I really enjoyed.

Always been fairly creative type (played in bands, produced, written, video and motion graphics...you get the picture), but never done it as a day job. So, recently decided to move in a completely different direction, specifically into the world of freelancing as a motion/ video graphics / 3D design type. Still doing the 'day job' at present (with Investment bank), but looking to be fully skilled up by the end of the year ready to be a credible freelancer by then.

Just interested to know if anyone else has taken a similar change in direction mid way through their contracting career and if it was successful.

Obviously I am expecting some smarta£$e to say its mid life crisis etc, but its more about following a life long passion...

[cojak]

Not at all!

Half of the battle is having a clear end-state/vision of what you want to be or do as your Plan B - and you seem to have it.

Just work backwards from there and you may have an outline plan of how you're going to get there.

I'm sure that there'll be regulars here in that line of business, they'll be able to give you pointers.

Good Luck!

[piningforthefjords]

Thanks for the encouragement, appreciated.

Yep, that's pretty much how the business plan looks, i.e. working back from a position of being a saleable proposition on the freelance market.

Be good to hear advice / strategy from anyone in the motion graphics field on the forum. Mainly looking at AE, Ai, PS and Maya etc.

Cheers.