'How I Survived My Career Reinvention'

You wouldn't guess it from that outrageous photo, but Kendra Cunningham spent a decade in the Boston investing scene. She began at Boston Financial Data Services, a customer service firm for Fidelity Investments, and moved to Smith Barney and eventually Leerink Swann.

"I ended up having some high managerial roles in terms of trading and compliance. But it was never something I was passionate about. It was just a way to make money," Cunningham says.

She moved to New York "on a whim" and fell into more of the same, temping at Goldman Sachs at one point.

At last, she took a class in comedic writing and discovered her creative side. Cunningham started a humor blog, Blonde Logic, and found standup gigs. But she didn't feel secure with her pursuits until a short film that she wrote and starred in won best film at the Boston Comedy Festival last year.

Comedic success has been hard won, and she has fought many hesitations. "There's a lot of time spent doing shows you don't even get paid for. My other issue was fear that I wouldn't be able to do it."

But she is doing it; bartending on the side helps.

"This is not as lucrative as being a trader was, by any means," she admits. "Then again, I'm probably the happiest I've ever been in my life. Besides college."By Daniel Roberts, reporterNEXT: Mark Lewis, 48 Email Print RSS var shared_object = SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: storyinfo.title, url: storyinfo.earl, summary: storyinfo.summary, icon: storyinfo.icon }); shared_object.attachChicklet("email", document.getElementById("emailIcon")); Last updated February 07 2011: 11:29 AM ET cnnad_createAd("972442","http://ads.cnn.com/html.ng/site=cnn_money&cnn_money_position=628x215_bot&cnn_money_rollup=business_news&cnn_money_section=jobs_and_economy&cnn_money_subsection=quigo_gallery¶ms.styles=fs","215","628"); var fbcUnique = false;More The queen of reinvention When Pamela Mitchell got laid off in 2002, she realized it wasn't time for a new job - it was time for a whole new perspective. More Does your boss know you're job hunting?Using social media options like LinkedIn can be a great way to network your way to a new job. But if you're already working, it's smart to keep a low profile. Here's how. More The best networking email you'll get all year Experts and coaches remind us daily about the importance of keeping in touch with your network. If you're like me, LinkedIn just handed you the perfect alibi on a silver platter. More cnnad_createAd("289630","http://ads.cnn.com/html.ng/site=cnn_money&cnn_money_brand=fortune&cnn_money_position=336x280_rgt&cnn_money_rollup=business_news&cnn_money_section=jobs_and_economy&cnn_money_subsection=careers¶ms.styles=fs","280","336"); Job SearchSee 134,601 new jobs added today Accounting jobs Engineering jobs Finance jobs Management jobs Marketing jobs Sales jobs

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