My name is Tammy Trenta.  I have been able to make a successful career change from Financial Planning into Handbag Design.  As a former "Apprentice" contestant, I truly believe in Donald Trump’s mantra that if you do what you love, the money will follow and am living proof of that.  The key questions are:  “How much time will it take?” and  "Can your family support you in your move?"  Yes, it is possible, but much trickier when you are not just responsible for your own life, but for the lives of others as well.
 
Here is my story:
 
As a young financial planner in my 20s, I worked very hard, received a graduate degree in addition to a plethora of other industry credentials, designations and licenses, constantly striving for more.  I am now considered to be an expert in the field.  When I hit my 30s I got to a point in my life, where I was stable in my career and didn’t really feel like I knew what I wanted the next step to be.  I was comfortable but not necessarily satisfied.  I realized that most of my happiest as well as wealthiest clients were in fact, business owners.  I found an idea for stylish women’s career bags and started developing it in my spare time.
 
I continued to develop the concept at nights and on the weekend.  What was interesting was that I found myself turning down dates, happy hours and just about anything that distracted me from my idea.  At that point I knew I had found something I was passionate about because I didn’t feel like I was working.  It was more of a challenging project for me.  Once I launched the company, THERESA KATHRYN,  I got such a great response from people I felt like all the effort I put in paid off….until the next season came around!   
 
After about 1 ½ years of working at my day job and my bag business, THERESA KATHRYN grew to a point where even though I had a staff and some help, my company really needed me.  While it was scary at the time, I felt quite liberated when I left my very lucrative position as a financial planner to concentrate on this full time. 
 
Since, I was paying employees and reinvesting much of the business capital back into the business, the downside of it was that I had to find ways to reduce my standard of living.  What a shock?  For so many years I worked so hard to make more and more and more money….I didn’t mind one bit going without many of the things I had become accustomed to.  I had something that was greater and far more rewarding!
 
The transition has certainly been a life changing experience.  I love what I do now and have absolutely no regrets.
 
You’d be amazed when you’re a business owner how much more thrifty you can be.  I go without my monthly massages and facials, decided to cancel my personal training sessions.  I now run to stay in shape, and really don’t need all of the expenses I had before.  It’s not that I can’t afford them, but I prefer not to take money out of my growing business and spend it on things that are not that important to me anymore.   I also teach classes at the Learning Annex in LA and San Diego to help others who want to start their own business and I have a non-profit organization that supports women’s causes called the Theresa Katheryn Foundation,  so I feel rewarded in other ways.
 
My bags have appeared in numerous publications, TV shows, and are available in stores nationwide as well as online and select Bloomingdales locations. 
 
In one aspect, starting a business or making a career change is easier than ever.  There are so many online resources, classes you can take.  On the other hand, it really does require a full blown commitment.  Make sure that whatever it is that you chose to do is truly a passion of yours, something that will instill a relentless perseverance.  Expect to take some steps back in the meantime until can fully develop yourself in that capacity.
 
Rule #1 is don’t quit your day job.  The income you generate while you are working can help support your business idea as it develops.  I held onto my job for one and a half years before I had to leave because my business really needed me full time.  Also, when I made a transition, I did need to compromise my lifestyle quite a bit.  If you’re passionate enough, there will be things that you won’t mind going without for a while if it means realizing your dream. 
 
Rule #2 Test your idea.  Take a survey of our friends and family and anyone else who you believe would be your target customer and test if your idea is met with the same enthusiasm.  If you’re the only one who thinks you have a great idea and your target customers don’t you may need to rethink your idea.   I did a survey of 200 of working women to develop my idea on women laptops bag and I actually learned quite a bit in the process.
 
Rule #3 Most importantly, make sure you have enough saved up for 2 to 3 years to sustain yourself through the transition, especially if you have a family to support.  You can do this through raising money through obtaining loans or getting investors.  A well-thought out business plan is key.  Also, take what you think it will cost and multiply it by 2.5.  That’s what it really will cost.