How to make a big career change

‘Don’t imagine you can just stroll into your new life,’ says Sharmadean Reid. Photograph: Getty Images

Sometimes the hardest part is getting everyone else on board with the idea that you want something new. It’s not an intrinsically British thing to encourage people who want to do something different; there’s a reason we have the phrase “above your station”.

First, you need to develop an unwavering self-belief. You’re going to smash it – and you should say that to yourself every day. But don’t imagine that you can just stroll into your new life. Give the transition a year. That’s what it takes to swot up in your chosen field, feel confident in your skills and start to change people’s perceptions.

I started out in fashion. I’d read the style magazines since I was 12; I could name every collection and designer. Then I decided to open a nail salon. Few people believed in me; I was a total industry outsider. I did a nail course, made friends with beauty journalists and went to trade shows. WAH kickstarted the new wave of nail art, and now we have a salon in the heart of London. In short: know your stuff. Find a night course. Get a mentor. Talk to people about your passion.

My biggest career change has come fairly recently. I’ve always been into tech and was always the first person at school with the latest gadgets (yes, I had a pager). As the start-up culture blossomed, I thought, why not? For a while I’ve wanted to build software for salons. So two years ago, I made a plan. I went to every public talk on AI, data, software development, VR, bots: anything that might be useful. Eventually people just accepted that technology is what I do now.

There’s no such thing as an overnight success. People will see you in your new career and think “wow”, but no one will ever know how hard you’ve worked to get there. Go for it.

• Sharmadean Reid is the founder of WAH Nails and beautystack.co