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What was your former work?

University professor, teaching modern American history and history of medicine. I also published a book, Venus Envy, on the history of cosmetic surgery.

What is your new work?

I manage public relations for a financial services company.

What or who inspired you to make the change?

The looming monotony of academe, the tedium of grading student papers, the fact that I had no desire to write another book, the lure of a decent salary, and the realization that the most interesting people I had met in the last few years were all in business. Also my family and the "brown hills green trees" landscape of Northern California.

What was the biggest hurdle to making the change?

Realizing that I didn't have to keep doing something just because I was good at it - that there were other things I might be equally good at, or better, even if I didn't yet know what they were. And then convincing others that skills were transferable - the image of academia as an "ivory tower" for those who can't make it in the real world is alive and well.

Can you map out what steps you took in this transition?

Did you consult someone? - Family and friends.
Did you read career books? - Yes, I Could Do Anything if I Only Knew What it Was, recommended by my sister Sally.
Did you take any self-assessment tests? - I have never found these useful. The one I took in high school said I should be a locksmith.

What skills from your old career are useful in your new one?

All of them: The ability to research and synthesize a huge amount of information quickly, the ability to think on multiple tracks at once and envision multiple outcomes, the ability to write quickly and well, and the ability to work with people of different ages, interests, and abilities. And nothing hone's one's public speaking skills better than lecturing to undergraduates.

Is there anything you miss about the old career?

Sometimes I find myself missing the things that people imagine are true about academia. For example, in May, when my academic friends are starting summer break, I get nostalgic, but then I remind myself that it was never really a break, and I used to spend it researching and writing, and I get over it. So the short answer is no.

How do you feel now that you've taken the leap?

Sometimes I forget that I haven't always been doing what I'm doing, because it feels so normal. But every once in a while I think about the change I made and I am amazed that I held my nose and jumped and was able to make it work.

Now when you go to a party, how do you introduce yourself?

It depends on the party. If it's an academic party, I'll introduce myself as an ex-academic. Some people are amazed or insulted when people leave the brotherhood, but it's amazing how many of them are dying to know how you did it. But I'm not a terribly social person, so a lot of the time I just hang out in the corner and watch.

Have you ReInvented your work? Tell us how you did it.