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Failure is part of every career. Projects collapse, targets are missed and promotions slip away. Most people accept those setbacks, recover and carry on. What is far harder to accept, especially for those in mid-career, is the thought of starting over. https://lnkd.in/e-bJwExu

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An interesting and thought provoking issue.

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George Morales

Bachelor's degree at James Lorenzo Walker College

1d

Pride

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Christo P.

Generalist/Improver/Academic

1d

Responsibility for a family.

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Jeffrey Miller

Keeping Promises at Scale | Turning Technical Wins into Board-Ready Milestones

1d

A failure in the flat part of the learning curve is like a one-off. In a sense, intuitively fits with what starting over involves - what is joining the steep and inexperienced part of a learning curve if not a place where failure (or at least the feelings associated with it) lurk around every corner where your book knowledge exceeds your experienced wisdom. I recognize I'm a little odd to keep courting the steep part every few years

Physician Rokinuzzaman Tasir

Medical Knowledge And Health News Medical Content writer

1d

Everyone should know this Healthy life happy life 🧬 Describe below 👇 https://rokinuzzamanhealth.blogspot.com/2025/09/what-causes-high-blood-pressure-with.html

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Josh N.

Founder at TCSS | Supporting Enterprises & MSP/VMS CW Programs in Facilities, Food Service, Industrial, Manufacturing, Logistics & Consumer Goods | With Compliance-Focused, Data-Driven Workforce Solutions

1d

What resonates here is that the fear of starting over isn’t really about failure — it’s about identity, security, and the weight of what’s already been built. By mid-career, professionals often carry years of experience, financial responsibilities, and a reputation they don’t want to risk. The idea of pressing reset can feel more daunting than missing a target or stumbling in the current role. From a workforce and staffing lens, I see this often when people consider pivots into new industries or roles. Transferable skills—leadership, problem-solving, adaptability—can absolutely carry them forward, but the psychological hurdle of leaving behind titles, networks, or “seniority” is what holds many back. That fear can be paralyzing even when the opportunities ahead are stronger than the status quo. The key is reframing: a transition isn’t about starting from zero, it’s about reapplying what you’ve mastered in a new context. Companies that recognize and embrace this bring incredible talent into their teams. And professionals who lean into this mindset often discover that reinvention is not only possible— it’s where their best chapters begin.

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