For years, I woke up each morning with the nagging sense that something was... off. While most of my life seemed to "fit," I couldn't shake the feeling that maybe I was missing a crucial piece of the puzzle altogether. Sound familiar? If so, the idea of leaving your current career has probably crept into your thoughts on more than one occasion.
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Suffice it to say, changing career paths is not for the faint of heart. It entails undoing a lot of what you've spent many years trying to do and abandoning a sense of security. But it can be done, and certainly with more grace and finesse than I managed to accomplish when I left my 9 to 5 office job.
To find out how, we sat down with digital lifestyle expert® Mario Armstrong and his wife and business partner Nicole Hunter. They share about their personal journey and the advice they have for others considering a career jump.
A modern American power couple, Armstrong and Hunter's story started as many love stories do — in college. Today, Armstrong enjoys a career as an Emmy Award-winning TV host and digital lifestyle expert, and Hunter is the CEO of the couple's own thriving company. And both are spokespeople for the Invisalign® brand, which offers the most advanced teeth straightening technology in the world.
But if you had asked either one of them eight years ago where they would be now, you might have gotten a very different answer.
Of transitioning into their current careers, Hunter admits, "It was a slow process... one that took eight years to happen. We both were working our 9 to 5 jobs and Mario was doing a radio show on the side for free. So, for eight years, we were really building our brand — without even knowing it. Mario's knack to teach people personal technology really caught on. When his schedule consisted of recurring roles on regional TV news, NPR and local FM radio shows, we knew we had something special. So we took a leap of faith and started our new career together."
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The couple, who has always been very forward-focused, could tell it was time for a new career path when they felt their professional growth had stalled. "I wanted to move from just helping a small group of people to leveraging my knowledge to a huge mass of people on a major level," Armstrong explained.
So they made a leap into the unknown, and fortunately, landed on their feet — thanks in large part to their sheer determination. They've had to make sacrifices. They've leaned on each other for support. And the life they have to show for it? Well, it speaks for itself.
Whenever the opportunity presents itself, this enterprising couple tries to pass along the secrets to their success. In fact, Armstrong and Hunter have a few tips they like to share with people considering a transition:
- Have a vision of what you want to do
- Have a business plan
- Be debt free; don’t go into new business with debt
- Make sure you have clients before you “open your doors”
In addition, the couple divulged the five guiding principles that have allowed them to move forward in their life while inspiring others.
The first principle, Armstrong elaborated, is mindset. "Being mindful means to be aware of how we feel about ourselves and the ability to fight the inner critic. Focus on a positive mindset through meditation and self-caring, which can transfer to being empathetic, supportive and loving to others," he said.
For Armstrong, this particular principle proved to be the first step toward tackling a personal barrier: his smile.
"It’s important to be able to look in the mirror and be happy about what you are seeing — that changes how you talk to yourself and how you set your positive mindset," he said. "I neglected my teeth for a while. I noticed my front teeth shifting, which became more obvious to me in the mirror and in pictures. When it started to become part of my inner critic, I decided it was time to start paying attention to how my crooked smile was impacting my aspirations."
For Armstrong and Hunter, that meant opting for Invisalign treatment so their smiles and confidence matched the way they visualized themselves and their success.
"When you devote your own time, effort and energy, you will get the pay off or outcome you're looking for and this is the mindset I applied towards my own Invisalign treatment," Armstrong advised. "When you make an investment in yourself, you should weigh the difference between what seems like an expensive risk versus the long term benefits. In my case, I chose a brand with a proven track record of success to help me reach my goal and change my life for the better."
The second principle, he continued, is passion. "Find what it is that excites you. You will find your way when you know your why. Being a better human is identifying what you’re great at and being able to share it with others."
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Ultimately, Armstrong found that his smile was a major motivating factor in his life, saying, "A smile is the most important natural asset that anyone has to express their passion... A smile is so powerful, it can open up new opportunities and provides a sense of individual spirit."
Which brings us to the third guiding principle the couple relies on: visualization. "Work to really see success in all facets of life. How do you see yourself when you're with your kids, performing your work or having fun with your hobby? How is your inner self reflected in your outward appearance? Visualization is a powerful tool to determine how close (or far) you are to achieving your goals and seeing what may be standing in the way," Armstrong said.
In fact, the realization that Armstrong and Hunter's smiles didn't match their visualization of themselves brought them to a major breakthrough in their lives — and to the fourth guiding principle.
"Establishing an internal belief system is key," he said. "You need to actually believe in yourself and your ability to do that one thing you’re after. And you have to have the same confidence in those you choose to associate with. Make sure to surround yourself with people that you believe in and believe in you too."
It's after these first four guiding principles are achieved that the real work begins, Armstrong cautions.
"The last principle is the most difficult but also the most critical… taking action. Unfortunately, a lot of people can do the other four principles, but without action, you will never reach success," he said. "Overcome fear by trusting that if you are following your principles, action is the right next step to reach your potential."
As with all good things, though, there are always caveats. "We did all of the above, but nothing can prepare you for the unknown," Armstrong said. "So, no matter what happens, you have to have grit, guts and determination. We had many difficult times, but we kept believing in ourselves and in our vision."
This post was sponsored by the Invisalign® brand.
