Don’t take our word for it: three escapes, one simple pattern that works.
The 8-week playbook behind 2,496 real career changes.
We’ve helped 2,496 people change careers. Here’s the pattern that works.
If your career looks fine on paper but feels off in your bones, you’re not alone. Over 14 years, 2,496 people have joined Escape the City’s Career Change Accelerator. Different industries. Different life stages. Yet the same three moves keep turning ‘something needs to change’ into ‘I’m actually doing it.’
Values ➡️ Experiments ➡️ Community.
That’s the pattern. Not a grand leap. Not a perfect five-year plan. Just a way of moving that builds momentum fast.
Don’t take our word for it. Here’s how three people from a recent cohort put it to work.
Laura “I didn’t need to burn it down. I needed to reshape it.”
Years in high-pressure leadership left Laura's health waving a red flag. The turning point wasn’t a dramatic quit; it was putting values first and noticing what didn’t match.
“I looked at every area of my life through my values – even how I spend a week. Suddenly the misalignments were obvious.”
The surprise? She didn’t have to leave finance behind. With a clearer view of strengths, she’s pivoting into fractional finance while training in wellbeing and psychology – a mix that feels like her.
Phil “Action beats overthinking.”
Two decades in global sports PR. Big arenas, bigger hours. Phil had read the books and had the late-night chats; change didn’t stick until he moved.
“I’d done all the learning. It was only when I took action that my mindset shifted.”
He designed a portfolio career: part PR consultancy, part mental fitness coaching. Clients signed. Courses booked. Morning routine locked in.
“Once the shackles came off, I started waking up with a spring in my step.”
Eslam “Tiny tests created momentum.”
After 15 years in IT, Eslam could see possible doors – coaching, writing, wellbeing ventures – but the ‘fear zone’ kept him waiting for clarity. The Accelerator normalised vulnerability and made experiments mandatory (in a good way).
“I stopped dwelling on problems and started seeking solutions – running small tests, talking to people, letting the next step appear.”
He’s now on a 9-month coaching programme, building a blog, and scoping a tech-enabled mental health idea – moving with courage and a plan.
The simple playbook (that scales to complex lives)
1) Start with values.
Titles impress. Values energise. When you anchor decisions to what matters, direction stops being theoretical and becomes practical.
2) Run tiny experiments.
Don’t redesign your life in a Google Doc. Email one person. Shadow one hour. Ship one small thing. Data beats doubt.
3) Do it together.
Change is heavy solo. A cohort, a buddy, open mics and generous alumni make it lighter – and make you braver.
That’s what the Career Change Accelerator is: eight weeks that prioritise action over overthinking. You’ll get clarity on your non-negotiables, practical tools you’ll actually use, and a community that keeps you moving.
Don’t just take our word for it
Laura, Phil and Eslam are three of thousands. Same pattern, different paths. Not a reinvention fantasy – a repeatable way forward.
If you’re curious rather than certain, you’re ready enough.
Find out more about the Career Change Accelerator:>