I quit my job at 41 to go back to school. 3 things helped me succeed in my new career.

I quit my job at 41 to go back to school. 3 things helped me succeed in my new career.

Kate Portillo went back to school in her forties.Courtesy of Kate PortilloKate Portillo ended her 13-year career in retail to go to school.She retrained as an urban planner, but found it challenging to establish credibility in a new field.Portillo's advice for anyone making a midlife career pivot include finding a mentor.This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Kate Portillo, 51, an urban planner who lives in Chicago. Her employment…