mid career checkup

[bb]

Just wondered what sort introspection people have done at mid-career.
Any opinions on when it makes sense to change companies at mid-career.
Seems like mid-career is a point where idealism and reality may have
clearly diverged. When does it make sense to change idealism and
when does it make sense to change jogbs?

[ResNullius]

When you already have enough money to enjoy being able to seriously consider giving up a good paying job in order to meditate about the meaning of life.

[tibbitts]

Most introspection seems to occur when people suddenly realize that what they thought was mid-career is actually end-career.

Paul

[cheese_breath]

Realism kicks in when you realize you've reached the age when you're no longer marketable outside your company. You can either decide to suck it up and make the best of it no matter how bad it is (realism) or bitch & complain because nobody else recognizes your true value (delusion).

edit: If your company has a defined benefit pension plan you may face with a golden handcuffs situation in your later years which deter you from leaving your current employer.

[bb]

Maybe I should rephrase the question - anyone left a job mid-career
for reasons other than money. What were the reasons and did
it work out?