Ever feel like starting over in a brand new career? Do you feel like it’s time to do something and switch gears instead of dreaming about what it’s like to do what you love to do? Changing jobs could be the best thing that you could ever do for yourself and your family, but before doing so, it is important to be aware of the things that you should do before starting a new career.

The first thing to do is to talk to someone who has recently switched careers and find out what it’s like to take on that kind of challenge. According to Business Insider, former Goldman Sachs financial analyst Becca Brown knows what it’s all about, as she left her job in Wall Street to start a shoe care product business with her friend and classmate, Monica Ferguson.

When asked about her advice for anyone thinking about changing careers, Brown said that people should follow their passion, but they should also think about their choices beforehand.

“Use your head,” said Brown. “Have a plan, get your ducks in a row, and make sure you’re ready.”

The Harvard graduate also said that it wouldn’t hurt to ask for advice and to gather as much feedback as possible. Brown added that it would be advisable to seek advice from different people, so get some opinions from peers, seniors, and even those who are younger as one can only benefit from hearing a variety of perspectives before making a major decision.

Brown said that one should always focus on what’s in front of them and that it won’t do to dwell in the past or worry about the future.

“You just have to focus on what’s right here and now, and make the best decision you can right now,” she said.

In addition, people who are contemplating a career change should also take a good, hard look at their skills and see if having these skills and abilities would enable one to be successful in another job or business. For instance, before opening a bakery, decide if baking is truly a passion, and if you have the skills for it, then by all means, work out the cost to open a shop and make the necessary research before switching careers.

For more, check out Jobs & Hire’s report on the three skills that will make you successful in the future job market according to Bill Gates.