Hoda Kotb knows what it’s like to completely overhaul your career and start fresh in an entirely new industry.
The longtime journalist left NBC’s TODAY in January after 26 years and launched her own company, a wellness brand called Joy 101, in May. Becoming CEO for the first time at age 60 felt a little impossible for her, but that’s why she decided to take on the role, she said on the Dec. 8 episode of “The Mel Robbins Podcast.”
“Whether you’re 20, 40, 60 or 80, you can decide whether such a drastic career change is right for you by asking yourself one important question,” said Kotb, now 61.
In Kotub’s case, she was ready for a new challenge, and during her on-air 60th birthday celebration, she said she realized that continuing her career in journalism probably wouldn’t fill that need. “I almost had an out-of-body experience,” she said. “I kept thinking…this is the crest of the wave. I felt it…this is the best thing ever.”
Others may come to similar conclusions after a more frustrating process. Perhaps you’ve had a job where you didn’t receive enough positive feedback. Or maybe the company lacked opportunities for you to learn and grow.
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If you feel like you’re hitting a professional roadblock, Kotb says it’s time to sit down and think about what you feel is right for you. That self-audit shouldn’t be born out of envy or “FOMO” about what others have, she noted. And that doesn’t necessarily prompt a complete career reset. For example, you might ask for a raise or promotion at work instead.
“Look at your life. Look at it from 35,000 feet and then decide, do I want to change it?” she said. “And I want to tell you, I feel living breathing proof that you can change it at any time. What you thought was impossible is not impossible.”
Kotub previously said his decision to leave TODAY was also influenced by his desire to spend more time with his family. Waking up at 3:15 a.m. every day to get to work on time made this difficult, she told People in May.
Entrepreneurship now presents Kotb with a different kind of challenge, she says. “Being an entrepreneur is difficult,” Kotb told Variety in May. “I never realized how many hats you wear as an entrepreneur…I’m learning how to be a boss.”
To ease the anxiety of building a new career from scratch, you can start small, Kotb recommends. From writing your resume to creating a business plan to learning a new skill, spend 30 minutes a day doing something that will help you progress. For example, after a month, you’ll be able to do 900 minutes of basic practice instead of making the impulsive decision to quit your job without a plan.
“The baby takes steps toward the jump,” Kotb said. “Sometimes we want it and you’re like, ‘Run and jump off the cliff.’ Don’t do that. We’re not stupid. We need a paycheck. We need insurance. We need these things, but at the same time we can explore possibilities.”
Disclosure: NBC and CNBC are divisions of NBCUniversal.
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