Ventura, CA — January 6, 2011 — Chuck Trunks' Precision Abstracts is featured in 805 Living Magazine. Story by Cynthia House Nooney. Photographs by Gary Moss.
A CHANGE FOR THE BETTER: FOR SOME WORKING PROFESSIONALS, THE CAREER PATH HAS MANY TURNS TO CONSIDER
A new year often inspires new beginnings, but when it comes to changing careers, several factors should be considered before jumping ship, says Dr. Christine Cicone, a clinical psychologist in Westlake Village, CA who's helped guide numerous clients through the process. Naturally, financial risk needs to be taken into account, including the cost (and time) for additional training or education, if required. Awareness that daily routines will change is another consideration; and to prevent future disillusionment or burnout, Cicone advises that "a career change should be about what you enjoy doing rather than just what you're good at."
It's also helpful to reframe negative thoughts: "Making a switch can be tough at first because you're basically starting over. But you're not going backward, you're going on a different path," Cicone says. Even positive change is change, she cautions: "Many feel a loss of the familiar and wonder why they aren't immediately happy. It's normal to feel that way, but focus on the new opportunities. Remind yourself that you're in a better place."
Switching careers midstream didn't necessarily come easy for any of the following people, but the risks they took and the obstacles they overcame have brought them to places they once only dreamed about.
FROM SCIENCE TO SURFBOARD SKINS
During his Irish Catholic upbringing in Philadelphia, Chuck Trunks' career expectations were made perfectly clear to him by his parents: "It was math or science - pick one." And so, even though he was known as an "art guy" in high school, Trunks went on to study molecular biology and wound up at Amgen as a genetic engineer and later, due to his skills in explaining complexities, he became a business analyst with the company. "I made flow charts, business models, even storyboards to break things down in an understandable manner."
After placing art on the back burner for 20 years, Trunks, now of Camarillo, finally decided it deserved priority and became a full-time artist in 2006. When he was dismissed by a number of galleries during attempts to present his portfolio, Trunks sought out companies that use art on products. Soon he landed gigs designing skins for surfboards and cell phones. He also entered a tequila bottle-label contest that helped put his name on the map. "I quickly discovered you have to be willing to reinvent yourself when starting over."
Today, as the creator of colorful abstracts representing positive images, Trunks says he hasn't been able to get rid of his analytical side. "I'm compelled to build messages into my art about the fundamental truths, like the difficulty of rebuilding relationships, careers, or life in general. Not everyone will notice the messages, but they're there."
To see more of my work, please visit my website at www.chucktrunks.com.
“Dude, get off your ass and GO somewhere - anywhere. Sitting around here won’t help. Life doesn’t come knocking on your door!”
