Sometimes it just requires an adjustment of how you define your role, rather than leaving your “1st act career” entirely. A change of scenery, industry/vertical, company, and role can make a huge difference.

I did this a few times during my 20-year Tech career, moving between big corporations to startups, back to corporations and then back to startups (and solopreneur efforts). After being in a big company, I found that I really enjoyed the energy, passion, and lack of politics in really small companies.

But, I also made a big change last year and essentially left Tech after investing 20+ years of my life in it. My “2nd act career” does leverage a great deal of what I learned over the past few decades as a manager and leader, but it’s certainly been a big change.

I wish you the best with your assessment of the situation. A course correction might be enough to get things back on track. Or, you may discover that you’re ready for a bigger shift.