Hi, Amy:)

I love this post for a very specific reason ...

Without ever saying it directly, you have outlined a career change strategy that works for those entering the work force, those who are decades in,  and (most importantly to my point), those who used to be thought of as "retired" or "close to leaving the workforce".

With the increasing number of folks remaining employed to a full or partial degree at a point in their career when they hoped and expected to be not working, this is valuable guidance indeed.

While the responses may differ for those of us at the later stages of work life, the questions remain pretty much the same.

You asked about a critical skill for all this.   With regard to my particular slant on career change at a later time in life, my choice would be "Resilience".

Important at any age, but particularly applicable to what may turn out to be far from a traditional transition to a new career.  As someone has said roughly "Growing old ain't for sissies:)" and this applies to work life as much as any other aspect of aging.

Thanks for a useful and well-phrased post:)

John