From an early age, it was drilled into my head that life without purpose was not the way to go. I was a leader at school and my motto was, “Do it well or don’t do it at all!” As I learned later in life, that’s a belief that can turn against you if you’re not vigilant. 

My upbringing fit perfectly with my job in the corporate world. I was an account executive for Clinique, a division of the Estee Lauder Corporation. I found myself working with a multi-million dollar budget, coordinating a sales force of 120 sales consultants. It was fun, exhilarating, and eye opening. 

I was competitive and I loved to win. My top goal was to make Clinique the number one company in my territory. And I did! To achieve this goal I had to put together a dynamic team. There was the interviewing process, product and sales training, and constant coaching to make sure that the level of commitment, skill, and enthusiasm remained high. There were constant ups and downs. Right when I thought I got it right something would happen. Nevertheless, the show went on. 

I didn’t mind the long hours and endless crises. I didn’t mind the countless voice mails and emails a day, the deadline rush, the feeling that my job was never finished. I had even convinced myself that fending off the unrealistic expectations all kinds of people had of me was normal. This was corporate after all. The fast track. I had worked hard to get there. I lived on adrenaline. 

I expected my husband and my friends to understand. I worked through the weekend and picked up messages during vacation. Occasionally I had to handle crises while I was out to dinner with my husband. Along the way, there were people who shared their wisdom. I will forever be grateful to my marketing director. She said: “Remember, this is your job, not your life. Take good care of your life–we don’t get too many second chances.” 

I also met people who lived by this kind of nonsense: “Leave your problems at home.” That was my favorite. How can that ever be possible? To all of you mothers and fathers who are reading this, can you truly stop thinking about your sick child or the argument you had with your partner before you left home? There was actually a high ranking executive who kept confessing to the rest of us that she never experienced stress. Do I hear laughter?

It wasn’t long before the pace started wearing me down. I still remember the vacation I took at Martha’s Vineyard where I spent the first four days of my week-long vacation in bed, sick. I think that was a turning point for me. My body obviously could not wait for some down time to give up. How did I let this happen?

Life on the fast track was exhilarating, but something was missing. A couple of years later my twin girls were born. Life was about to change. After two months of maternity leave, I returned to work. I really believed I could make it work. So, I kept going. It wasn’t long before I began to walk the fine line between happiness and confusion. Corporate hadn’t changed, my ability to do my work hadn’t changed but my priorities had changed and I was miserable. I was working harder than ever. I wanted to prove that I could do it and do it perfectly! And my heart kept tugging at me all along.

Finding balance is tricky. What works one day may not work the next. Living in balance and harmony with who we are feels like a dance. One step forward, two steps backwards. It took me two years to realize I had to leave corporate. I left and never looked back.

Although my path took me out of corporate, it doesn’t have to be that way for everyone. Some people can find their way within the corporate culture. Others can’t. You have to do your inner work to find out which kind of person you are.

For me, life coaching is the right fit. Coaching gives me the means to bring together all of my life experiences to help others who are struggling to build successful lives.

I completed The Coach Training Program at Coach U and became a Seasons of Change certified coach. For the past nine years I have had the opportunity to work with many amazing people and make a difference in their lives.

For now, it has all come together. I feel fortunate and grateful. The balance may shift down the road but this time I know better. Change is not easy but it’s necessary. It keeps us flexible and it comes when we need it the most.