We've all dreamt of ditching the nine-to-five to follow our dreams but if your days are spent staring longingly out of the window, now might be the time to make your escape.

It's easy to feel like you're being swept along in life, doing what's expected of you. One of the great things about getting older is taking control of your life. After years of hard work, you know what you like, what you're good at, and how to trust your instincts. Two women took very different paths but arrived at the same destination: more satisfied, contented lives.

Caroline Pitt, 36 tells her story
'I went into sales because I needed a job and it was something to do. I worked hard and was promoted to a high-powered job as client advertising executive for a TV company.

It was work-hard play-hard and I was often exhausted. I loved keeping fit, but boozy lunches and client nights out began to take their toll and I felt unhealthy and sluggish. By the time I got home I was too tired to do anything and I began to dread the daily grind.

I felt like I was on autopilot and half-way through a big presentation one day, I thought, 'I don't care.' I needed something else. I wanted a family but the women at work who had babies were always shattered. 'That's not the life for me,' I thought, 'I want to have my cake and eat it too – why can't I have a child, career and make money?'

My colleagues were always asking for advice on fitness, and how many calories were in this or that. 'I should charge for this,' I joked, and then it came to me. I did some research, talked with my fiancé Jonathan, and decided to resign. I set up my own fitness franchise. It was a big step, I remortgaged the house and started teaching exercise classes.

It was tough at first with no money coming in for six months. We couldn't afford holidays, new clothes, or even a bottle of wine. But then I began getting busy. Taking a packed class in a church hall one rainy Thursday I thought, 'this is great: I'm getting paid to do something I enjoy.'

When I became pregnant I trained a regular at my class to cover my maternity leave, and when I came back I brought my son Oliver with me. I'm now earning more than I was before, I've created the life I want, and I can watch my son grow up – being my own boss is a real buzz.'

After years of work and bringing up two children, Jane Barras, 47, decided it was time for something new.
'I'd worked in teaching for years as head of music for a further education college. I took work home with me most evenings and often worked a 96 hour week. My teenage children were growing up but I felt like I was missing out. By the time I'd finished working I was too shattered to hold a conversation, and my husband Willie became someone I only saw over a hasty bowl of cereal before heading out of the door in the mornings. I felt as though I had permanent indigestion.

I became stressed and ill. I couldn't sleep at night and felt as though I was on a treadmill during the day. One afternoon I stood in the staff room looking round and thought, 'what am I doing here?' I made a decision and resigned.

I was nervous about telling Willie. It would be great to spend more time with him, but he'd just taken voluntary redundancy – what would we do? I got work as a secretary. It was nice not to have any responsibility, and I realised that there was a gap in the market for good clerical training.

We found out about setting up our own training centre, to provide secretarial, clerical, IT training. Starting your own business is a risk but we took the plunge and went for a change. We'd always loved Cornwall and thought, 'why not set up there?' We set up our own Pitman Training centre and now sit opposite each other at work. We have lots of laughs and at 5.30pm we get the ferry along the river and around the coast to our beautiful cottage by the sea. It's been the best thing for us. I'm now much more positive about my skills and self esteem, and even my children say how pleased they are to see me happy again.'

Your next step:

Be passionate about what you decide – make sure it's something that will get you up in the morning

Be prepared to give it 150%, all hours of the day for the first six months

Think through every scenario

Trust your instincts

Believe that you can do it

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