Edited by Julia Hanna and Jen McFarland Flint; illustrations by Rose Wong

When Mary Lindley Burton (MBA 1976) came to HBS in the mid-1970s, the Smith College religion major “felt like a fish out of water.” What saved her, she says, was a second-year course on self-assessment and career development. She filed away what she learned and took a job working at IBM in downtown New York. “My colleagues were the sons and daughters of firemen, policemen, and this was the first white-collar job in their families,” recalls Burton. “The word got around that I’d gone to HBS and these guys came to me to ask, ‘If I were to leave sales, what could I do?’ ” Burton helped her coworkers—and found her own new path when she founded Burton Strategies, in 1978.

Not everyone is in a place of wanting or needing to make a significant transition, Burton notes, but for those who are, keep the following in mind.

Don’t rush into the market.

“Take some time to consider what you want to drive the next career decision. Is it long-term objectives, or do you want to focus on what’s going on in your life right now?” One of Burton’s clients is about to add a second child to his family. “He’s no longer willing to be a slave to the markets, as it were,” she says. “So that is a big factor in his decision-making process.”

Do a thorough assessment.

Talk to people in the areas and roles that are of interest to you, to see if you’re a strong fit, and “very importantly, if the odds are sufficient for your own timeline, bank account, and family support system.”

Up the structure.

Build your own board of directors. “You need a group of people who will offer outside support and call you to account,” Burton advises.

Evaluate your approach on a monthly basis.

“Look at metrics like the source of your leads. Are you doing enough with your network?”

Know when to adjust your terms.

“If you want to do something brand new, remember you’re an unproven commodity. You may find some incredible opportunities—just don’t expect to start at your past peak,” says Burton.

Check in and take care.

“For me, self-care involves limiting news intake first thing in the morning. You also have to factor in and respect additional responsibilities due to the pandemic, such as child care. Finally, monitor moods. I always make sure my clients know the seven criteria for depression.”

Mary Lindley Burton is coauthor, with Richard Wedemeyer (MBA 1963), of In Transition: From the Harvard Business School Club of New York’s Career Management Seminar.

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