Transferable skills: how to break into a new industry – Max Vishnev

Are you scared of leaving your career because you don’t want to waste those valuable skills you built up over the years? By recognising your transferable skills, you can become confident to realise your true marketability in any industry. And it might even fuel you to start a new business or two…

In this interview, I discuss with Max Vishnev, an inspiring entrepreneur, how he transitioned:

• From a career in Wall Street;
• To starting a successful walking tour business in New York City;
• To becoming a health coach
• To now being a real estate broker!

Max’s entrepreneurial journey was definitely not plain sailing. Yet it has also been incredibly rewarding,. And in each industry change, he has followed his passions and strengths to respond to his changing priorities in life.

Transferable skills are the strengths you realise and don’t realise yet

When you leave your career, you may feel you are wasting the hard earned skills that you’ve developed over the years. This is the story of how to transfer your skills to completely new industries so you thrive and keep your passion. 

Often when we look at how we have spent time outside of work, we can get clues. These clues can tell us:

• What we are good at;
• What we enjoy doing;
• What motivates us and gives us energy.

In Max’s case, taking a year to study in Spain. And following his curiosity to travel, he found a passion: speaking to people from different nationalities and exploring city streets. These newly found passions turned into a walking tour business.

How to break into a new industry: take a stock take of your developed skills and network!

By developing skills in one career or business, you can recognise what skills you can use in different industries. And being curious about who else is using these transferable skills and speaking with them could launch you into your new career. Or at the very least, give you ideas for your new direction in life.

In Max’s case, the people skills he developed on Wall Street and talking to strangers in Barcelona in his study year were very transferable. So much so, he used them to launch a business in leading walking tour groups across Manhattan. As a result, these skills were also later used in the real estate market too!

This interview will inspire you to reflect on what transferable skills you have developed in different roles over the years. Consider projects you have been involved in inside and outside of work.

So watch this honest thought-provoking interview to get a real insight into what it takes to start a passion-based business. And be inspired on how to pivot into new industries when your life circumstances change.

Books mentioned:

• Walking Away From Wall Street: From Corporate Bull to Building a Business – by Max Vishnev

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