He’s been a reporter, an investment analyst, a marketing consultant, and now he’s the CEO of a company that helps other companies innovate. Why did Michael Urlocker keep transitioning from one career path to the next, and more importantly, how?

Seventeen years ago, Michael Urlocker was a financial journalist, writing a column for the Financial Post. But like many unsatisfied workers, Urlocker realized that his industry offered him few opportunities. He wanted to try his hand at investment analysis, something he had always been interested in as a business reporter.

Fast forward ten years and Urlocker is now the CEO of The Disruption Group, a company he launched in 2005. After reading a book about innovation, Urlocker was inspired to use his knowledge and experience to help other companies succeed.

For Urlocker, changing careers was a challenge and a gamble. But in the end, he proved that positive thinking, determination and commitment to the job are all that is needed to delve into the unknown and succeed at it.

The barriers to career change

When Urlocker decided to move from journalism to investment analysis, his biggest hurdle was finding "an open door." He needed an employer who would risk hiring him, given that he had no experience. He says that anyone considering a radical career move should approach the problem as he did.

It’s a sales challenge. It’s not a skillset challenge." – Urlocker

Urlocker had to convince those around him that he was confident, knowledgeable, and able to succeed in a new industry.

"When I was a reporter, I went to see a bunch of investment firms and most of them told me to get lost. One of them took a chance," he says.

The risk

Most people are hesitant to change careers because of a fear of the unknown. But if you’re unhappy and unproductive in your current job, then Urlocker says it’s a risk worth taking.

One of the factors that people grumble about is stagnation, lack of development, lack of recognition, lack of rewards. If you’re sitting there stewing about those things without doing anything about it, then those are your rewards. If you’re willing to do something about it, then you need to take risks,” Urlocker says.

The reward

One of Urlocker’s biggest risks was the decision to launch his own company. The idea was born after reading The Innovator’s Solution by Clayton Christensen, a book that Urlocker says gave him a better understanding about the forces of competition and RIM’s success, even though he had been studying the company for eight years.

The book sparked not only interest, but confidence in the efficacy of disruptive innovation. In fact, he had so much faith in the concept that he was driven to start an entire company based on it, despite the risk involved.

“As an analyst, I was an observer of companies and of investments. As a management consultant, I play a role in formulating a company’s growth. So it’s much more about doing things than watching things and I find that incredibly satisfying and rewarding,”

Urlocker: attitude is everything

One of the driving forces that guided Urlocker through his career transition was positive thinking. Having an optimistic view of what you’re moving towards, says Urlocker, is essential when leaving your job.

"In many cases, people tell you all the reasons why they want to get out of what they’re doing and not the reasons for doing something else," he says.

In fact, Urlocker says that a negative attitude is harmful to any aspect of career building.

"When I’m hiring, I screen out those people. I want people who have a positive reason to be there, not a negative reason to not be there,"

Illusion versus reality

Although it’s important to be positive, it’s equally important to be realistic. Urlocker says that many people who change careers haven’t done their research, and so their expectations are based on an image.

"I had relationships with other people in the business. So I tried to find out as much as I could about how they saw the role," says Urlocker.

By talking to people who are already in the industry, Urlocker says that you can debunk any myths about your future role, and thus avoid disappointment.

Lifelong learning

Urlocker is a big believer in lifelong learning and self-improvement.

"It’s very important to be willing to take steps to teach yourself and supplement some of the skill sets that you might not have in the new industry," he says.

For example, Urlocker taught himself accounting when he was a financial journalist, as a way of enhancing his knowledge in the field.

"Demonstrate commitment to what you’re doing,"

Although changing careers is no easy feat, it’s not impossible either. Sometimes, the stakes can seem too high to place a bet, but it’s worth the risk when you have the reward in mind—the reward of pursuing your dream and following your passion, which will not only give you more out of work, but more out of life.

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