Pivoting from teaching assistant to something new - what worked for you?

After 18 years as a teaching assistant I am thinking about moving into a different field. This is my first time dealing with any of this. I have a little time and a small budget for training. Has anyone made a similar move?

I took a small pay cut for a year, and it was worth it for the growth afterwards.

I began with informational chats, then a short online course, then a related entry-level role. It took about 6 months.