As a High Achieving Woman, you may often find yourself dissatisfied with your job, or even your life. It’s as if you’re searching for something more, but you can’t articulate what that might be. You know you are destined for greatness, but you’re not sure how to get there. You want to make a difference in this world, but you aren’t sure how to do that, nor can you define the difference you want to make. Being a High-Achieving Woman, Elizabeth is wrestling with the same challenge…

Elizabeth sat with her friend Emily one moonlit evening, sipping wine on the terrace of a neighborhood restaurant. They’d enjoyed the meal, and had moved into a more philosophical frame of mind.

“It sounds like you’re doing well in your new job, Elizabeth,” Emily said, “Do you think you’ll settle down with this one and stay a while?”

Elizabeth sighed. “Well, I’m enjoying the work for now, and I’ve figured out how to make a name for myself and get noticed by the upper management team. I’ve made good allies among my peers, and it seems like my staff is motivated and doing well….”

“You don’t sound very excited…”

“It’s not that I’m not excited, I love what I’m doing,” replied Elizabeth. “It just seems like there is something missing; like there has to be more to life than just being successful at whatever I’m doing.”

“I know what you mean,” said Emily, “I felt that way too.”

“Felt? Does that mean you don’t feel that way now? What did you do?” asked Elizabeth eagerly.

“Well, I was getting ready to leave my old job, mostly because I was bored with it, when my boss signed me up for coaching at my company.” Said Emily.

“I remember that! And I remember that you stayed with that job. What happened?”

Emily sat back and smiled. “It started when I learned more about myself than I ever realized I had to learn!”

Emily told Elizabeth how she started by discovering her life purpose, “Why I’m here. My Life Purpose is to be the ‘happy activator’, enjoying being the catalyst for people around me to get things done.”

“Wow – that does sound like you!” said Elizabeth, impressed. “But what difference did it make to know that?”

“Well, knowing my purpose helped me look at my job in a whole new way. I realized that I was bored because I was doing everything myself. Once I started empowering others to get things done, my job became more of an adventure. It also opened up time and opportunity for me to take on new projects. And since one of my motivators is ‘Pioneering the New and Unusual’, I started looking for totally new concepts that would help our department. I’ve had more fun in the last six months than in my whole previous career!”

Elizabeth sat in impressed silence. Fun in your job? What a concept! “So, because you learned your purpose and what motivates you, you now love your job? It can’t be that simple!”

Emily smiled. “No, of course not. I still have obstacles to overcome, just like anyone else. But now I know better how to get around them! I no longer get frustrated when things don’t go as I planned. Instead, I can take a step back and look at the obstacle from a different perspective, to determine if it’s really a barrier, or simply a smoke screen!”

Elizabeth thought about this. “So, how does this all give you meaning?” she asked. Emily answered thoughtfully, “Well, being a catalyst for people to get things done makes me feel that I’m making a difference, not only by being productive for the company, and helping our customers, but by helping those around me to be their best. They get more enjoyment out of being more productive, and that enjoyment has to be felt by their own families and friends. I get such a kick out of seeing their success that I just want to smile all the time! I have never felt so fulfilled in my life as I do now. I actually love getting out of bed on Monday morning, I have so much to look forward to! It even affected my personal life. At home I’ve started enlisting my husband and kids in keeping up the house, instead of being a martyr and doing it all myself. They feel better that they can help, and I feel better that I’m teaching the kids how to be self-sufficient.”

Elizabeth reflected on how Emily had indeed changed in the last few months. She seemed more at ease, and definitely happier. “Can I find out all that stuff on my own?” she asked.

“I would think so,” answered Elizabeth. “Anyone could, given time and the ability to take a good hard look at yourself. You can talk with your friends about it, or someone who knows you well. I can even give you some books to read that will help,” she added, “… but it certainly was easier with a coach!”

As she drove home that night, Elizabeth had a lot to think about. It was a tantalizing concept, loving what you do. She imagined hopping out of bed in the morning, looking forward to going to work. She thought about feeling fulfilled by her work, of being satisfied that she was where she should be, doing what she should be doing.

Finally, as she pulled into her driveway, Elizabeth decided that the next morning she would start her own ‘Odyssey into Her Self”. She would start researching the best way to find her own unique meaning. Who knows, maybe she would hire Emily’s coach. As she walked into her house, she smiled at the realization that she could, indeed, have it all!

Kathy Harman, CSC, PCC is a Certified Success Coach and co-founder of Real Results, Inc., who helps High-Achieving Women do what they love and love what they do. She is the author of The ABC’s of Living Well, and offers a Group Coaching Program tailored to High-Achieving Women. Find out more at www.realresults.us.com.