Is 2026 the Year You Change Careers, Step Up, or Start Your Own Business?

There’s something about a new year that brings everything into focus.
You come back with a clearer mind, a refreshed outlook, and a more profound sense of what you want your work and your life to feel like.

And maybe, as you’ve settled back in, a quiet thought has risen…

“I want something more than this.”

If that feeling has been following you, it may be telling you something important.

Right now, people are rethinking what they want their working lives to look like in 2026. Some are preparing for a career change, some are stepping into leadership for the first time, and others are finally giving themselves permission to start their own business, especially in the personal development, coaching, mental health and therapeutic spaces.

This isn’t just a trend.
It’s a shift in values, toward purpose, autonomy, growth and meaningful impact.

If you’ve been wondering whether now is the right time for a new direction, a promotion, or launching your own practice, here’s how to recognise the signs and what steps to take next.

Burnout, Boredom or a Calling? What People Are Feeling Right Now

Research shows a clear movement:

• 1 in 4 Australians have changed careers in the past five years
• The demand for soft skills, coaching capability and leadership skills is at an all-time high
• More people are choosing self-employment, especially in therapeutic and personal development fields
• Flexible work has increased expectations for self-management and people-management capabilities

Australians are choosing work that aligns with their values, not just their job title.

Why So Many Australians Are Preparing for a Career Change, Promotion or Their Own Business in 2026

People often discover:

1. They want work that feels meaningful

   Not just productive, but purposeful and human.

2. They’re ready for bigger responsibility or impact

   They feel capable of more but need the skills, structure or confidence to get there.

3. Flexibility matters more than it ever has

   Whether it’s moving into leadership or running your own business, people want autonomy and balance.

4. Their skills need refreshing for the modern workforce

   Leadership, coaching, mentoring, communication, emotional intelligence and strategic thinking are now essential.

5. They want ownership of their career path

   This is particularly true for those starting their own business or practice, counsellors, NLP practitioners, coaches, hypnotherapists, wellness professionals and service-based entrepreneurs.

6. They want to feel like themselves again

   More aligned, more confident, more fulfilled.

How to Know If You’re Ready for a Career Change, Promotion or Your Own Business in 2026

Here’s a Career & Capability Readiness Checklist to help you get clarity:

Do these sound familiar?

• You feel bored, drained or disengaged more often than energised
• You’re craving growth, change or a challenge
• You’re imagining a different role, industry, lifestyle or your own business
• You want more freedom, flexibility or control over your work
• Others look to you for guidance or emotional support
• You feel under-utilised and know you’re capable of more
• You’re ready to lead, influence or support others more deeply
• You’ve been exploring courses, qualifications, or business ideas
• You feel like you’re waiting for the “right moment” and 2026 keeps coming to mind
  

If you relate to four or more, you may already be standing at the edge of your next chapter.

So What’s the First Step? Build the Skills Your Future Needs

Whether you want to move up, move across, or build something of your own, capability-building is the fastest way to create momentum.

Here are the areas Australians are prioritising for 2026:

1. Leadership & Management Skills

   For stepping into supervisor, coordinator, team leader or management roles.

2. Business & Entrepreneurship Capability

   Ideal for those wanting to run projects, start a side business, become self-employed or launch a therapy practice.

3. Coaching & Mentoring Skills

   Coaching & Mentoring SkillsEssential for leaders, managers, business owners and anyone supporting human performance.

4. Communication & Emotional Intelligence

   A top predictor of success in every industry.

5. NLP, Personal Development & Behavioural Insight

   Valuable for professionals who want deeper understanding of human behaviour — and essential for therapists, coaches, and practitioners building their own practice.

Your skills are the bridge between where you are now and where you want to go.

You’re Not Starting Over — You’re Levelling Up

If you’ve been feeling restless, unfulfilled or ready for a new challenge, that isn’t a sign of failure.
It’s a sign of readiness.

You’re growing beyond who you were and into who you’re becoming.

Whether your 2026 vision includes a promotion, a new industry, a leadership role, or starting your own business as a therapist or coach, your next step doesn’t have to be dramatic.

It just has to be deliberate.

And it begins with building the skills your future self will thank you for.

If you’d like support choosing the right qualification or pathway for your 2026 goals, you can click here or call 1300 915 497 to talk with our team. Your next chapter might be closer than you think.