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Starting over at 40 – How a career as a slasher can change your professional life

"It is never too late to be what you might have been."

George Eliot


In this article you will learn:


  1. What a slash career is and how it differs from a portfolio career – including clear definitions and illustrative examples.

  2. How a slash career can bring benefits for working mothers in their 40s – such as more self-determination, flexibility, and the opportunity to combine multiple skills and passions.

  3. How to launch a slash career step by step – from assessing your current situation and developing mental strength to implementation, including tips for avoiding typical pitfalls like overwork.


The children are older, everyday life is settled – and suddenly the thought arises: "And me? Where do I want to go professionally?" For many women between 40 and 50, this is the perfect moment to set a new course for themselves. One option that is gaining increasing importance is the slash career: a flexible, versatile career model that can be ideally combined with family and personal goals.



A Scrabble board with the word "Teamwork"
Professional woman who lives life to the fullest - image is AI-generated

The moment for change

A little over two years ago (in July 2023), my big day happened: My older child was at the end of 8th grade and had decided on a career path, my youngest was 10 years old and at the end of 4th grade. We had moved the year before, the children had made new friends, and our daily routine was stable again.


This gave me room to ask questions like:

  • What do my children (still) need from me as a mother?

  • What do I need to feel fulfilled and alive?

  • What does our family need in the long term – including financially, with four children potentially attending university and a solid retirement plan in mind?


This assessment was the starting point for consciously developing my professional path – and redesigning my slash career .

A father with a toddler in his arms talking on the phone and looking at a laptop
Where is your path leading you?

What is a slash career?

The term "slash career" refers to multiple professional roles simultaneously, such as lecturer/coach/change manager. The slash connects various activities and symbolizes diversity, flexibility, and the opportunity to pursue multiple passions.

A slash career can include jobs in a similar field for which one has qualified and specialized, or it can include completely different things, such as IT specialist/yoga teacher, marketing manager/photographer, doctor/musician, author/keynote speaker/coach. However, all of these activities are fully-fledged roles that someone pursues more than just as a hobby (for example, the singer also wants to be booked and paid and has completed appropriate training).


Terms explained: Slash career vs. portfolio career

Term

Definition & Focus

Slash-Career


( Slash career )

Combining multiple professional roles simultaneously – expressing a multifaceted identity. Example: Lecturer/Coach/Change Manager.

Portfolio career


( Portfolio Career )

Strategically designed mix of income sources (e.g., permanent employment, mandates, and self-employment). Focus: diversification and financial stability.

In short:

  • Slash-Career = "Who are you?" – Identity from multiple roles for professional fulfillment in multiple areas.

  • Portfolio career = "How do you earn?" – strategic income mix for financial security across multiple areas.



A person opens the shutters and you see a beautiful mountain valley with the Matterhorn
New perspectives open up

My own slash career is also a portfolio story to increase employability

I have been practicing this form of flexible working for many years:

  • Phase 1: I worked for over 10 years as a team leader at an international company. Later, as a single parent, I worked part-time as a senior project manager. I was also co-president of the parent council and responsible for the website and copywriting. One job was paid and very varied, while the other was a volunteer job I truly enjoyed.

  • Phase 2: In 2019, I quit my "secure" job and founded 3C Keller to be able to work more independently, try out my own ideas, and develop myself further. My roles were a combination of lecturer, coach, and workshop leader with the flexibility to support the children in a way that suited me better for this phase of their lives. I also continued to volunteer as a mentor for project managers for PMI (a project management association).

  • Since September 2023, I've been combining all my skills at a new level: As a Change Manager in the Change & Enablement team of a large company, I'm learning a great deal and can also contribute a lot, whether as a training designer, workshop leader, coach, or project manager. I continue to work as a self-employed coach and workshop leader for 3C Keller and am happy to have found an employer that allows this. I volunteer as an ambassador for We-Share1, a company that advocates for more job-sharing and top-sharing positions in the workplace.


This versatility has fulfilled me professionally, given me financial security, and at the same time enabled me to optimally support my family through different phases of life. And it was and remains ideal for increasing my employability, as I'm continually continuing my education.


Two people in a field planting a tree.
Believe in yourself and what you sow will grow.

Who is this path suitable for?

A slash career is particularly exciting for working mothers around 40 who:

  • start a new phase of life because the children become more independent

  • want to expand or redefine their professional roles

  • Want to combine security and flexibility

  • want to combine several interests in one career

  • do not want to be tied to a single job description


Advantages of a slash career

Combining skills and passions : You can use different talents simultaneously – professionally, creatively and perhaps also in volunteer work.

  • Self-determination: You make many decisions on your own, without lengthy rounds of coordination. This is a refreshing contrast to the often-waiting approval process in a large corporation.

  • Fast implementation: Ideas can be tried out immediately – you test and learn directly from practice.

  • Flexibility: You can combine your roles to suit your family situation and life stage.


Woman in meeting room discussing with team
Create your own path

Possible disadvantages – and how to deal with them

Not everyone thrives in a slash career. Those who struggle to set boundaries run the risk of constantly being on call for multiple jobs at once. This can quickly lead to exhaustion or even depression.


My tips:

  • Set clear time frames for each activity.

  • Communicate expectations openly with everyone involved.

  • Pay conscious attention to your recovery times and allow yourself breaks .


With a good structure, a slash career can be very fulfilling and sustainable.


How do you get started?

1. Assess your professional situation

Clarify what is important to you in your career and in life:

What values should guide you?

How much time do you want (and can you) invest in which roles?

What financial goals do you have for the next few years?

See also my blog on work-life balance.

2. Build mental strength

The PQ program from Positive Intelligence has been a decisive support for me: more inner clarity, less self-doubt, more focus on what matters.

See also my blog on mental fitness.

3. Accept support

Coaching has helped me sharpen my vision, sort through options and take bold steps. It also helps me continually recognize my (inner) limits.

See also my blog on setting boundaries.

4. Take action step by step

Try out new activities, expand your network and combine projects. This way, a stable, fulfilling career combination emerges, step by step.

See also my blog on the Circle of influence.


On a piece of paper it says "I can't do it" and a pair of scissors that cut off a part so that it then says: "I can do it"
You can.

My conclusion

A slash career isn't a compromise. It is a powerful way to balance work and life. Around 40, we have the best mix of experience, clarity and courage.

If you are currently wondering how your career path should continue: Take time to assess your current situation, strengthen your mental foundation, get support – and take the first step.


In a nutshell:

Advantages & disadvantages of a slash career at a glance


💡 Advantages of a slash career

  • Combining skills and passions – also combinable with volunteer work or creative projects

  • Self-determination: You make many decisions alone

  • Fast implementation: Ideas can be tried out immediately

  • Flexibility in the design of roles and working hours

  • Variety instead of professional monotony


⚠️ Possible disadvantages – and how to deal with them

  • Danger of overload if no clear boundaries are set

  • Constant availability for several jobs at the same time can lead to exhaustion

  • Some people find it difficult to set boundaries – roles become blurred

  • Solution:

    • Clear time windows for each activity

    • Open communication about availability and expectations

    • Plan conscious recovery times


Your next step

As a certified Mental Fitness Coach with Positive Intelligence, I support women in precisely this phase of life to find clarity and take the first step toward a new career path. Whether you want to launch your own slash career or redesign your existing one, together we will develop a path that suits you, your family and your goals.


📩 Feel free to contact me for a no-obligation discussion – and discover what your next professional chapter could look like.





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