Career Change to Work From Home: Why a Risk-Trained Banker Chose an Online Business
- 1 day ago
- 6 min read
Updated: 7 hours ago
There’s a very specific moment many professionals reach.
Nothing is technically wrong.
The job is stable.
The income is predictable.
On paper, life looks responsible.
And yet something quietly stops adding up.
I’ve spoken to thousands of people over the years and the thought is almost always the same:
“I can keep doing this… but I don’t actually want my life to look like this five years from now.”
A career change to work from home rarely begins with ambition.It usually begins with practicality.
That was exactly the position Brooke Davies found herself in.
🎥 If you’d like to hear Brooke explain her decision process and what her day-to-day actually looks like, you can watch the full interview here.
Table of Contents
If you prefer to watch the full conversation with Brooke, you can do so here:
When Stability Stops Feeling Secure
Brooke spent years in corporate banking. It was structured, predictable and built around careful risk management. She was good at it. She had progressed because she delivered for clients and took responsibility seriously.
At the same time, she was raising two boys as a solo mum.
Her days looked familiar to many parents. School drop-offs, a full day in the office, pick-ups, dinner, bedtime routines… and then more work late into the night.
Business owners needed funding approvals, deadlines didn’t wait, and she often stayed up until two in the morning just to give her clients the service she felt they deserved.
The problem wasn’t competence.
The problem was sustainability.
Her values were at home with the boys, but her time was not. Long term, the corporate formula simply didn’t match the life she wanted to build.
Why a Career Change to Work From Home Started Making Sense
Coming from banking, Brooke didn’t romanticize business. She evaluated it.
She had seen many traditional businesses and franchises take years to turn a profit. Often three to ten years. High start-up costs. High risk. No guarantee of freedom.
An online business presented a different equation:
• significantly lower upfront cost
• faster turnaround
• the possibility of working from home
• scalable income
From a risk perspective, it actually made practical sense.
Still, she was cautious. Her youngest was only three months old. Financial stability mattered more than ever. She even sold household items to fund her start because she was determined not to jeopardize her children’s security.
What changed was not desperation.
It was clarity.
She could see the outcomes other people were producing, and for the first time a non-traditional income path felt measurable rather than speculative.
What the Early Transition Really Looked Like
This is where many people imagine a dramatic leap.
That is not what happened.
Her early months were busy and imperfect. She was studying at university, caring for a newborn and a toddler, and still operating from the habits of her previous career.
The challenges were real:
• finding time around babies and naps
• learning unfamiliar skills like digital marketing and communication
• managing the mental friction of changing direction
Instead of trying to master everything, she focused on simple repeatable actions.
Her first advertisement created traction.
That small result reduced fear.
Confidence followed evidence.
Progress came from consistency, not brilliance.
The Systems and Habits That Accelerated Results
Two things made a noticeable difference.
First was following a structured system and community support. Having a proven process removed guesswork and prevented overthinking, which is often the biggest obstacle for professionals moving into an online business.
Second was using technology efficiently. Brooke now uses tools like AI to assist with marketing and copywriting. Tasks that once felt overwhelming now take a fraction of the time.
Her schedule is simple. Family comes first, and business fits around it. Most days she works four to five focused hours spread throughout the day.
For many professionals considering a career change to work from home, this flexibility is actually more important than income at the beginning.
Replacing Corporate Income
The financial results followed gradually.
Within the first month she saw real traction.
Within four months she was producing meaningful profit.
Within roughly a year to eighteen months she had replaced her corporate income.
Recently she recorded her largest month in business.
Interestingly, she describes the money as secondary.
The primary change was control over her time.
Some people initially search how to make 50k per month online, but income milestones are rarely the starting motivation. For Brooke, replacing her corporate salary was about time freedom first and numbers second.
What Actually Changed for Her Family
Her boys grew up watching their mother build something.
They saw goal setting.
They saw effort.
They saw delayed gratification.
Work from home became normal life. School runs, events and family time no longer competed with a rigid schedule. Calls could fit into the day rather than dictate it.
They began setting family goals together. Travel. Experiences. Shared outcomes they worked toward as a unit.
In many ways, the business became less about income and more about presence.
Practical Lessons for Anyone Considering a Career Change
If you are thinking about a career change to work from home, Brooke’s experience highlights several grounded takeaways:
✓ Be honest about what is not working.
A reliable paycheck can hide long-term misalignment with your values.
✓ Start small
Low upfront cost allows you to test without destabilizing your life.
✓ Follow a system
Early structure prevents overwhelm and builds confidence faster.
✓ Be teachable
Professionals often struggle not because they cannot learn, but because they expect immediate competence.
✓ Design work around life
A work from home business should support your priorities, not replace one rigid structure with another.
✓ Use available tools
Technology shortens the learning curve dramatically.
✓ Find support
Community keeps momentum when motivation fades.
For professionals exploring options, learning how to get into high ticket sales is one of the more scalable pathways because it rewards communication skills many corporate employees already have.
Is This Path Realistic?
This is not about abandoning stability for uncertainty.
It is about aligning risk with purpose.
For a risk-trained banker and solo parent, the decision made logical sense. Lower overhead, measurable results, flexible hours, and the ability to build a life around family instead of fitting family around work.
Many people researching the most lucrative online businesses or wondering how to make 50k per month are actually asking a deeper question:
“Is there a practical alternative to the path I am on?”
Stories like Brooke’s matter because they show a transition, not a fantasy.
Many people start by researching the most lucrative online businesses, hoping to find the perfect model. The truth is, profitability matters, but alignment and sustainability matter more over time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a career change to work from home realistic?
Yes, but it usually happens gradually. Many people begin part time while maintaining their current job, allowing them to test skills and income potential before fully transitioning.
How long does it take to replace a corporate income online?
It varies by effort and consistency. Some people see early results within months, but most transitions occur over 6 to 18 months as skills, confidence, and systems develop.
What jobs can professionals do from home instead of corporate work?
Common paths include online marketing, consulting, high ticket sales, coaching, digital services, and scalable online businesses that do not require a physical location.
Is online business risky compared to a corporate job?
Corporate roles feel secure but depend on one employer. Many online businesses have lower upfront costs and allow you to start part time, which reduces financial risk while you learn.
Do you need technical skills to start an online business?
No. Most people learn step by step. Modern tools and structured training allow beginners to develop marketing, communication, and business skills without a technical background.
For Australian readers specifically, there are practical home based business ideas in Australia that allow you to test a work from home path without abandoning financial responsibility.
Final Thought
A career change rarely begins with courage.
It begins with honesty.
You recognize that continuing the same path guarantees the same future. Then you test a different one, carefully and responsibly.
If you are weighing a similar decision, start small. Map your runway. Learn before you leap. One step taken with intention will always teach you more than years of waiting for perfect timing.
If you would like to understand what Brooke does day-to-day and ask practical questions, you are welcome to schedule a conversation with our leadership team and explore whether it could fit your situation.
Warmly,
Rachel Krider