Starting over in your early 40s
Lawyer quits and becomes an artist: “I didn’t want to stay there”
© Pixeltheater / Adobe Stock
Giving up a civil service position for life, then quitting a top job without having anything new: Annika Juds, 43, has done both – and today finds her security somewhere else entirely.
For many friends and colleagues, what I did was unusual and brave. Because in the legal bubble that I was in four years ago, you actually only quit if you already have a new and better paid position. You don’t just give up on a career in a major international law firm.
Something had to change
But I didn’t want to stay there. And at the same time I had no idea what would happen next. That’s why I wanted to give myself a break and think: Do I want to continue working in a large law firm or would I rather work in a smaller law firm? In the legal department of a company or a NGOs? But then everything turned out differently.
I’ve always loved painting, but didn’t have the time for it. I didn’t rediscover the joy of painting until I was in my mid-30s in a rental studio. I received a voucher as a gift from my colleagues at the time. Maybe because they knew that sometimes an impulse from outside is needed.
Full throttle towards art
By chance, I also sold my first work in the studio. I remember how surprised I was that someone was interested in my art. Shortly before I quit, a friend asked me if I wanted to exhibit some works of art in a bar. The feedback was great and the first orders and sales followed. I painted more and more – even when I had time off.
Then suddenly this thought came to me: “What if I did that at full speed? What actually speaks against it, other than my old stereotyped thinking that art is worthless?”
After graduating from high school, I studied administrative sciences and was employed as a civil servant from day one. I was ambitious and wanted to get into higher service. That’s why I studied law part-time – and learned to think more freely. I realized that the rigid administration was too narrow for me. So I gave up my civil service job in mid-2009. That had never happened there before. My colleagues found me careless. I didn’t care, I wanted more out of life.
Painting for more courage
And now, during my time out, this thought suddenly returned. I created a business plan, looked for my own studio and took courses for female founders. Luckily I didn’t have to worry financially at first, I had saved a lot. “Can you make a living from this?” many people ask me today. Yes, actually very good now!
I paint strong women for strong women – I call it “Female Empowerment Art”. II always meet women who would like to be braver and admire me for my steps. But I’m sure they can do it too!
This thought helped me:
Don’t wait for THAT ONE MOMENT. Get a little stone rolling and see what beautiful things can and will happen from it.