Changing careers at 7 years into a job, is it realistic? - what worked for you?

After 7 years as a sales associate I am thinking about moving into a different field. This is my first time dealing with any of this. My family is supportive but nervous. How did you start?

I began with informational chats, then a short online course, then a related entry-level role. It took about 10 months.

Try a small project in the new field before committing. It told me a lot about whether I would enjoy it.