Dear Girlfriends, 

At the intersection of Prestige and Fulfillment, you'll often find an accident caused by a professional woman who either sat at the light too long or turned before the light changed green. When your financial livelihood and your emotional well-being are at stake, making a successful turn onto Fulfillment is all about timing. I have two very important women in my life who, along with me, left highly prestigious positions in Corporate America (think Rodeo Drive) for the scary, bumpy road of "something more" (which, from a distance, sometimes looks like Freddy Krueger Drive).

My friend Terry was truly at the top of her game, serving as the Sr. VP of Sales and Technical services for a Fortune 100 company. Her position personified the three P's of corporate success: Prestige. Power. And private jets. But the aggravations that accompany the corporate arena finally began to take their toll and at 57 years old, Terry bailed. Terry said she never looked back or missed the glamorous side of her work; "To be self-directed is the most fulfilling thing I've ever done. I am living, rather than just working." And she began living just in the nick of time. Three years into retirement, Terry took on a battle with breast cancer that would have exhausted the most bullish CEO. Having the fortitude to deal with it appropriately, Terry elected for an aggressive form of treatment in order to "get on with life". Today, Terry is a successful career and life coach, guiding other women on how to rewire their life (www.thenewhorizonsgroup.com). Her timing was perfect.

Debbie was the Vice President of Merchandising for a major retailer and a visionary in the computer retailing industry; her influence and reputation commanded respect and delivered some pretty cool perks. But twelve years ago, Debbie took a huge risk to join an unknown, start-up consulting group (allow me to disclose that the "group" was me, myself and I - Debbie works with me at my marketing company) in order to attempt to find balance. Traveling all over the world while raising teen-agers, Debbie had no flexibility, no time to invest in her physical well-being, and no time to pursue her own personal interests. Today, she works when she wants, how much she wants, and from where she wants. Debbie shared with me, "Having the space to pursue my interests, while enjoying a rewarding career, has made me a much more balanced person." Her timing was perfect.

My story is similar to Terry's and Debbie's. Of the three of us, I was the first to walk out of my corner office, across a dark parking garage, arms loaded with boxes - scared out of my mind. But like Debbie and Terry, I knew in my heart that if I didn't trade the prestige and security of my position for a more sane workload, eventually I would forfeit my mind and body (and some days, I swear, they were after my soul). Arriving at this crossroads and timing the decision to open my own marketing company, I count amongst the five best decisions I have made in my life. My timing was perfect.

If you're on the way up the corporate ladder, my suggestion is for you to enjoy the climb. But when you arrive, if the view is not all it was cracked up to be - before you shimmy back down, let me share this with you:

Even though our stories are tales of success, there are many women who have regretted leaving their security for a new adventure. When speaking to professional women, the topic of this crossroads often surfaces and women ask for counsel. Here are the first five questions I tell them they need to answer before turning onto Fulfillment:

1.                   Do you have savings or another source of income to float you for twelve months? (It's harder, and usually takes longer than you ever forecast, to spin up a new business venture.)

2.                   Do you have a large network in which you are highly regarded? (The bigger and stronger the network, the better your chances for success.)

3.                   Are you leaving at the top of your game? (Here's where timing is critical. If you plan to continue working in your same industry, you must leave your current employer on an extremely high note.)

4.                   Are you determined you will not fail? (This probably doesn't need explanation, but determination and grit are keys to success.)

5.                   Will you be content if your earning potential is less than you earn today? (Not always, but sometimes, fulfillment comes with a price tag.)

 
An answer of 'yes' to all five indicates that the lights might be timed about right; only then, with a sound business plan in hand, should you proceed to Fulfillment with caution.

Fulfilled,
Ellen

Posted by Ellen on April 22, 2008 10:47 AM  |  Category: Crossroads