This person wants to skip steps it takes to get in touch with herself, to hear her true voice. Her perceived need to earn as much money as she currently does, and her reluctance to do grunge work that is necessary to explore career options, is block that keeps her from moving forward. It becomes an either/or, black or white philosophy, this idea of all or nothing, like there are no other alternatives to being inspired and fulfilled in her work and still have material comforts she requires.

Frequently people get messages from family and friends that doing creative work does not pay. But developing creativity and resourcefulness in your career and in how you manage your career can pay off in dollar rewards as well as in personal fulfillment.

Take Action

If you feel blocked in developing your career, think about ways that you have solved other problems successfully in past. When were you most resourceful and creative in problem solving? What was process that you went through?

Visualize and meditate on life and career you want. How do you want to express yourself? What are best ways for you to do this? Suspend all judgement. Then start to take small steps in those directions. Talk to people who are doing what you think you might want to do. Start experimenting in low risk ways. Whatever it is that you want to do, start doing it. If you want to write, start writing. If you want to start your own business, start conducting research and creating business plan.

Currently I am working with a lawyer who has always sought creative outlets that he has not gotten through his work. He took two years off to dance and do choreography. After going through assessment process with me, he determined that he wants to turn sculpture, a longtime hobby, into a full-time career. He has made trips to Western part of US to visit people who are doing what he wants to do. He now sees that it is an achievable goal. He has created a space in his home for a studio dedicated to creating sculpture. I have no doubt that with his talent and determination he will make it happen.

Another younger attorney was unhappy working with a large law firm practicing environmental law. He worked long hours, and despite his interest in environment, was not happy practicing law in this area. He was able to take a job teaching at a law school. For next two years he focused on getting his life in balance. He became more involved in environmental activities---his passion. He got married. He and his wife identified a city where they would like to live. Not long after visiting that city, he received an offer with a land trust. It seems that often when we take small steps in direction we want to go, universe also takes steps to meet us.

Unlike earlier example, this person was willing to take a cut in salary to be able to scale back, get his life in balance and plan for future. Since he lived under his means, he could support himself on teaching salary. This kind of flexibility is sometimes what is required when we make changes. It is important to have a vision for your life, but it is also helpful to refrain from being rigidly attached to way you think it should unfold.

Debbie Brown, MSM, MSW D & B Consulting 3475 Lenox Road, NE Suite 400 Atlanta, GA 30326 404-240-8063 FAX: 678- 530-0661 www.DandBconsulting.com Debbie@DandBconsulting.com

Deborah Brown (Debbie) is an international career and human resource consultant and coach. Debbie earned a BA and an MSW from the University of Illinois, and an MBA from Georgia Tech She specializes in career coaching for professionals, entrepreneurs and attorneys. She can be reached at:

D & B Consulting, Voice: 404-240-8063 Email: Debbie@DandBconsulting.com Web Site: www.DandBconsulting.com

Another client has been a successful consultant. But he plays only a peripheral role in development of organization. He would like to be more intricately involved in a company, so that he can influence direction and contribute more fully. Someday, he would love to own several small gift shops and be able to leave large metropolitan area where he now resides.

An accomplished attorney in a small southern town realizes he is out of place in this conservative environment and wants to relocate to a larger metropolitan area. Although he understands that he initially may have to take a job in legal field, he looks forward to time when he can explore work that more completely draws on his strengths and is more fulfilling.

Recently I got a call from a person who works for a large financial consulting firm. She stated that she is no longer willing to work for a company that asks her to compromise her values. She continues to be committed to her colleagues, but is no longer committed to company.

An unemployed former CFO in his mid fifties realizes that his goal is not to find "perceived" security with a firm that will provide a salary and benefits. Instead of continuing to look for a company to hire him, he now intends to rely on his own resourcefulness. He plans to open his own public accounting office in a small town where his services are needed.

These people have several things in common. It isn't that they don't want to work hard anymore. They do. All of these individuals desire a change in lifestyle that would allow them to work hard to achieve their own goals in environments that value integrity. They want more control over their lives and their work.

Defining Success

How do we go about defining what is important to us at this time? How do we define success for us at this time in our lives?

There are many ways to start exploring this process. My clients rank in importance a list of 18 values (priorities). I also provide them with a balance worksheet to help them identify areas of imbalance and to develop a plan of action steps to achieve more balance, satisfaction and happiness in their lives.

I offer my clients an exercise by Coachville.com that recommends completing following statement in three different ways: "I know how successful I am by how....."

Another exercise is to identify time in your life when you felt most successful and happiest. Describe what you did during these times and common themes that recur throughout best times in your life.

Sometimes we reach a point of no return, a point where we are just not going to settle for work and a life that leave us feeling stressed, unappreciated and unfulfilled. When that time comes there is no turning back, and we must find courage and determination to move ahead. Like Dr. Zhivago, we need to commit ourselves to something absolute, something that we feel in core of our being - something that will not change with latest business fad or decline in stock market. Then we can define what we need to feel successful and happy, and develop an action plan to get there.

Deborah R. Brown, MBA, MSW D & B Consulting 3475 Lenox Road, Suite 400 Atlanta, GA 30326 Voice: 404-240-8063 Email: Debbie@DandBconsulting.com Fax: 678-530-0661 Web Site: http://www.DandBconsulting.com

Debbie Brown is a career and human resource consultant and coach. Debbie earned a BA and an MSW from the University of Illinois, and an MBA from Georgia Tech. She specializes in career coaching for professionals, entrepreneurs and attorneys. She can be reached at:

D & B Consulting,

Voice: 404-240-8063 Email: Debbie@DandBconsulting.com Web Site: www.DandBconsulting.com