"Obama was better – but Romney wasn't bad either" (February 2023)
Chris Massad didn't plan a career as a beer and wine director. He hadn't expected to move from nonprofit corrections to the hotel industry. It's a successful career change story of the coolest caliber.
Massad experienced his first horrible job during a college internship. Working in a court administrative office from nine to five, he says, "Every day was exactly the same: same cubicle, same work, same people, same office politics. I hated it ! "
But that wasn't enough to make Massad give up the field altogether. Since he loathed the office part, he fared far better in his next internship. In that internship, he interviewed inmates at the jail, spent afternoons in the courtroom, attended citywide gang unit rallies and went for rides with police .
The internships eventually led him to a degree in politics/management so he would be able to move up the ranks. But when he graduated and started working, he found the bureaucracy hard to swallow.
Massad explained, "Again, it was the same routine every day." His ideas were regularly shot down by upper management, and he saw a long, miserable road ahead of him. "I had an MA in public administration and it looked like four to seven years before I got a leadership position. I just didn't have it in me to do the same job over and over again for so many years. "
For Massad, the Sunday Scaries became a jack-of-all-trades and propelled him straight into the beer business. Read on to see exactly how he did it.
When did you really decide to make a career change?
I woke up every day dreading going to work. I couldn't get to sleep fast enough. It got to the point where my partner Abby looked at me one morning and said, "Either do something or shut up, because I can't listen to you complain anymore."
During this time I was immersed in the craft beer craze. I try to prepare new beers and drag Abby to every brewery I could. I started brewing with a friend at home and hosted tastings and pairings. Everyone I knew kept asking me, "Why don't you work in beer??"
Why did you not work in beer?
I thought this is how life works. You do what is expected of you, you follow the path whether you are happy or not, you take your time, you retire and that's life.
Changing careers felt like something for the adventurous and free-spirited – not for me.
I had doubts about my own abilities. I had always heard that it was important to know the difference between a hobby and a career, and I wasn't confident enough to turn my hobby into a career.
And so I applied and interviewed for positions in my "professional" field, but none of them really impressed me. Then I got an email from my friend Niall with the title "Are you still looking for?"
I was expecting him to mention a position with a nonprofit or political organization, but he told me that Broad Branch Market, a gourmet grocery store in DC where I lived, was looking for a beer buyer and floor manager and that I was interested? I was 28, no kids, no mortgage, not married, with manageable loans. It was time to make the leap.
After about a year at Broad Branch, the owners opened a second store, the Soapstone Market. I was offered the general manager position and ended up taking over the beverage program as well.
What was your experience when you quit your job and started something new?
Quitting was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do professionally. I knew it was the right choice, but I was still scared. I had already accepted the job at Broad Branch, and it took me another week to give my notice.
I also had difficulty with the lifestyle change. Working Monday through Friday from nine to five to Monday through Saturday from noon to eight and getting paid less was difficult.
Besides, I was the new guy who didn't really know what he was doing. The confidence I had built through training and experience didn't seem to count here.
What was the most stressful part of your career transition?
There were so many aspects that made it stressful.
What if it does not work out? What if I don't enjoy the beverage and food industry as much as I thought I would and have to crawl back to my old career? What if the change jeopardized my personal relationships? What if I let people down?
I had spent almost a third of my life (between education and work) in one field, and now I jumped ship.
Do you have any advice for Wannabe Career Changers?
You don't have to start a new career right away. You can keep your current job and test the waters of your passion with limited risk. You can quit your job and find something you're good at to pay the bills while you chase your passion. Or you can do what I did and just do it. All are fully acceptable. You must do what is best for you.
How important it is to save time for passion projects when your job is not fulfilling?
It's huge! The passion project not only gives you balance and joy, it also opens doors for a professional career. My passion for craft beer and home brewing connected me with Niall, who eventually offered me the career-changing job.
What is the best part of your job now?
I feel good. I really feel like I belong and am who I am at work. I can dress the way I am comfortable. I am surrounded by people with similar interests and can develop professionally without bureaucracy. I feel like I'm finally where I belong.
The best part is that even after the worst day or week, I still love it. I look forward to returning the next day. Taking work home doesn't bother me. Working a 14-hour day does not bother me because I love what I do. If you love what you do, it doesn't work anymore – it's your passion.
That's a good thing, but if I can leave you with one thing, it's this: Listen to your gut. Massad continued to apply for jobs in the area he knew, although he was not happy. Only when he realized that none of the roles excited him, it was not the position he himself hated, but the entire industry. Getting to know himself and embracing his passion has made things happen for him.
Not sure if you are in the same boat?, Career coach Christie Mims lays out the two signs that it's not your job that's making you unhappy, it's your career. Already knew that the answer is yes? Then check out these six different ways to discover your passion.
It's certainly scary to try something new – but it's impossible to read Massad's story and not strive for it.