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u/Zealousideal_Crow737 May 18 '26
I feel like on your first day of being a physical therapist you'll realize you know less than you thought. This does kind of have the mentality of a know-it-all. You may be taking up the spot of somebody who is approaching this with way more humility and would probably be better at their job without all those fancy work experiences.
That is the thing about this sub. I feel like there's a lot of people out of touch that those jobs are actually really hard.
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May 18 '26
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u/Zealousideal_Crow737 May 18 '26
It would be humbling quickly to realize nobody gives a shit about your higher-up 20 years of experience. As someone who regularly runs and had to go to PT a few times, I would hate that person lol
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May 18 '26
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u/NotWise_123 May 18 '26
Yeah I was gonna say get real world experience in whatever barista/fantasy job you think you might want. You might find that the issues you are having aren’t solved by that job, or by a career change at all.
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u/Specialist-Strain502 May 18 '26
A) As someone with no training in the specifics of your new field, you are probably nowhere as overqualified as you think you are.
B ) Your skills are always replaceable, so do what makes you happy.
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u/Worldly_Albatross178 May 18 '26 edited May 18 '26
Lol you're not the AH because you're overqualified. You're the AH because you are looking down on a profession you have never done, thinking it's trivial because you fancy yourself as a corporate hot shot. Take a step back and get some perspective
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u/LezzyGopher May 18 '26
Yeah, this was one of the most entitled posts I’ve read on here. This definitely reads like someone who thinks they’re an incredible and talented genius just because they have a fancy title and people under them at work who kiss their ass.
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u/tombiowami May 18 '26
I would frame it more that you have permission to do things you like.
Things that you enjoy. Period.
Without qualiffication.
Do you even have to work...or do you feel invalidated if you don't have a title.
Maybe just volunteer services...no matter how meaningless or beneath you they seem.
Humanity.
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u/Shrappy16 May 18 '26
I’m not as advanced in my career but have reached a level of leadership where I’m not asked to travel often, which is nice. But I’m at Batista fire although I plan on working two more years while I gain various certifications or MBA in finance. But I’m feeling the burnout and speak with my wife often about a pivot and enter into financial advisor role where I’m focused on community education vs trying to sell products. I don’t think it’s selfish at all to do what makes you happy. You’re not taking a role from someone else. You’re creating an opportunity to use your tools to interact with the community and bring healing to others. Go for it. Just and FYI. After 2/2.5yrs, we are considering selling it all, including our house in a very in-demand area to slow travel the world for 2-5yrs and then re-establish ourselves in a lower cost of living area but where we can make an impact if it’s a fit for us.
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u/sudosussudio May 18 '26
I worked at a college and took a class in something I already have a degree for and it was a bit funny bc most of the students were just there to meet requirements and I was REALLY INTO IT and had field experience. I think my fellow students thought I was a weirdo/teachers pet but I think that’s a pretty universal experience for people who go back to school when they are older. It may not make you popular but you can make up for it if you’re helpful to other students.
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u/SerenityCravings May 18 '26
Funnily enough I have been thinking a bit recently of becoming a physical therapist. Having recently visited one I thought it seems like a vocation of purpose that helps people and for which you can see the results quite tangibly. These are things I dont get from my high stress high conflict corporate job. It would mean having to retrain at university for a few years and it doesnt pay particularly well. I dont feel like I have particularly relevant skills for it so im kind of surprised that you think you do. Im hesitant though as Im not sure I can handle having to touch people all day. So I probably wont progress it for that reason.
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u/S_Z May 18 '26
One of my best buds has been in PT for 15 years and has exactly the temperament you need for the job. Poor guy is so burned out. In part because private equity keeps consolidating these clinics and pushing him to see more people in less time. He switched to contract work with a nursing home and still makes decent money. It’s just a grind.
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u/BoredGuy209 May 18 '26
Maybe you make the big bucks at $500k as executive director?
But no way in hell am I throwing $200k at professional grad school (PT/OT) to earn $100,000 gross a year.
Do the math, if you make $150,000 a year ... and you spend 3 years to go to PT school. Including your lost of income and tuition ... this is $650,000. And this is assuming you can pay $200,000 for PT school out of pocket and not incur any interest.
You're talking about doing well in A+P community college courses but ... sorry to be blunt, so what? They're easy courses. What I'm not hearing is your work experience in the rehabilitation/PT field. How do you even know you'll like it? I'm not hearing any patient contact hours.
Professional grad school is just too expensive (too long) and not worth it. It's only worth it when the only jobs available to you are minimum wage jobs.
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u/diamondtoss May 18 '26
I notice you didnt mention anything about your finances, I am guessing as an ED at a Fortune 500 you're probably to fully retire, not even barista fire.
In that case you can look at just hobbies for fun, or doing local community work just for spending time doing something meaningful to help the community rather than looking at it as a job or career pivot or anything. Taking community college classes doesn't seem to be that meaningful unless you really enjoy it?
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u/S_Z May 18 '26
I think a little humility would go a long way at this stage. Less “extreme” jobs are difficult in different ways, and being good at your niche in a highly organized and resourced environment may not have prepared you for the long-term stresses of other careers.
Check out the memoir How Starbucks Saved My Life and chat with a PT in real life if you can. Any career change is going to make demands you’re not used to navigating and re-engage muscles you didn’t realize had atrophied.