At age 30, standing in the jungle at the source of the Nile River in 2013, I felt the familiar blend of excitement and fear in the pit of my stomach.
I had left my family and friends and was about to spend nine months attempting to be the first person to walk the entire length of this iconic river. “What the hell are you thinking?!” said the little voice in my head. It wasn’t the first time I had felt like this.
It was a moment that mirrored another significant transition in my life — leaving the British Army’s Parachute Regiment aged 27. Three quarters of veterans find the transition to civilian life challenging, and I had seen countless friends and colleagues face the daunting question: “What’s next?” At the time, I had no idea. For me, it was an experience that taught me what I believe is the most important lesson of my life.
I had been serving with the Parachute Regiment for five years. Although I was ready to leave, I suddenly found myself daunted to be in uncharted territory. As I handed in my notice to my Commanding Officer, he looked me in the eyes: “Are you sure about this? We’re in the middle of a recession and there are not many opportunities out there.” His words added to my fear but only fuelled my determination to make a go of it.
A decade after my journey along the Nile, now in my forties and yet again embarking on a new career, this time in moviemaking, directing my first narrative film, I find myself confronting familiar emotions. Career changes in mid-life can be daunting, but they also offer some of the most rewarding experiences.
Transitioning to civilian work after the army wasn’t easy. I found myself totally broke and sleeping on various friends’ couches for over three years while I set up my first business, Secret Compass, running expeditions to remote places. The gaps in my skill set were glaring, and I feared being exposed. Recalling an old military saying, “Prior planning prevents piss poor performance”, I realised this applies to career transitions as well.
So, I created a five-year plan, outlining the training and experiences I needed in order to build momentum and succeed in my new company and my goals and ambitions beyond. Who did I want to be?
We pioneered world-first expeditions, starting with a horse-riding trek across Afghanistan’s most remote valley, followed by mountain climbing on the Iraq-Iran border. In less than three years, Secret Compass became a global market leader. Fighting the fear of failure paid off and I made the decision there and then to define my life by stepping out of my comfort zone and trust the universe. To me, I had discovered the secret to success. Since then, my career journey has been anything but conventional. It has been a series of grand adventures, each with its own set of challenges and rewards.
That’s not to say I’ve lost my fear of the unknown. Quite the opposite, in fact. Changing careers has only become harder with age. The further you get along one path, the harder it can be to switch tracks. Making documentaries and writing books for the past 10 years has become familiar, though each new project is an uncharted endeavour in itself.
But life becomes far more interesting when you defy expectations. According to a 2021 survey by TotalJobs, over 54 per cent of UK workers considered changing careers, but many were held back by job security concerns and a fear of starting from the bottom.
So here I am again, trying something new. Taking myself totally out of my skill set and embarking on a journey into the unknown.
“I am going to direct a movie,” I announced over breakfast with Dave Luke, my business partner. “Okay,” said Dave in a thick Irish accent, toast in hand, without looking up from his paper. I had expected some sort of reaction, or at least a question or two. But having worked with me for the past 10 years and as co-founder of my documentary production company, Dave has come to expect the weird, wacky and ambitious projects I’ve proposed. From walking Central America and traversing the Arabian Peninsula to make a documentary series, he too has had to learn how to embrace a certain uncertainty that comes with planning expeditions for a living.
In my travels, I’ve often found that the most meaningful journeys begin with a single, often uncertain, yet manageable step. Gaining new skills and experiences without fully committing at first can help. Building a supportive network is crucial – seek out mentors who offer guidance.
For me, this has meant telling a story close to my heart. The film I have written and am directing follows a soldier’s journey of redemption after returning from war, navigating the rocky path back to “normal” life. This narrative mirrors the fear that comes with changing careers – losing your purpose and starting afresh.
Narrative filmmaking has reignited my passion for storytelling. It’s a different medium but one that still allows me to tell stories of resilience and redemption that have been prevalent in each of my journeys and documentaries – it’s not such a big change after all. I’ve learned that every skill is transferable.
Who knows if it will be a success, but a story about a veteran transitioning to civilian life is an important one to tell. This project will bring together the whole community from my adventures.
For anyone contemplating a mid-life career change, remember: it’s never too late to start a new journey. Embrace the unknown, and you might find that the most fulfilling adventures lie ahead.
This week I have been…
Paramotoring… I spent a few days in Southern Spain with my friends at SkySchool doing my favourite hobby – flying! If you haven’t heard of paramotoring, it’s basically strapping a giant motorised fan to your back and taking to the skies. I promise it’s a lot of fun, and much less scary than it sounds! There’s nothing quite like the thrill of soaring above the landscape, with the wind in your face and the world spread out below. It’s a perfect blend of adventure and serenity. For me, paramotoring is a way to clear my mind and gain a fresh perspective.
Connecting… in meaningful discussions with veterans, gaining insights into their post-war experiences. I’m an ambassador for numerous veterans’ charities and it’s something I passionately care about. Their stories are the inspiration for my movie, The Burn.
Exploring… Scotland doing a recce for filming locations. The Scottish Highlands never fail to take my breath away. I’ve been incredibly lucky to travel all over the world, but it’s easy to forget that we have some incredible travel destinations right here on our doorstep in the UK. It was a nice reminder that we don’t need to go far to have an adventure – or to enjoy a nice whisky in a cosy Scottish pub!
Levison Wood is a British Army Officer, explorer, writer & photographer. To find out more about his upcoming film and support the project click here.