How Did I Get Here?

What Drives Me to Work from the Inside Out?

As a young child, I was asked, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” My answer: “I want to be a teacher of the blind and deaf.” I was in awe of Helen Keller. Or, I would declare, “I’m going to be the first Jewish lady president!” While I became neither, I felt deeply determined to make a positive difference in people’s lives. I already sought to work from the inside out at that early age, and that intention has been central to every one of my career moves. Some might describe it as having a calling, a passion, or working in alignment with my values.

While this concept of inside out might seem abstract, it is connected to something we all possess: instincts. Many of us have wished we had listened to our instincts or followed our intuition when solving a problem or making an important decision. Instead, we allowed our logical mind or others’ opinions to persuade us toward a different choice, usually less aligned with our values or preferences.

Before becoming a career and executive coach, I worked in several different professions, sectors, and industries, always aiming to make a positive difference in people’s lives. I started in the mental health field, and my interests evolved over time into public policy, program development, fundraising, and higher education administration—all of which started out positively. More than once, however, I became deeply unhappy in situations that were misaligned with my values or goals. Sometimes, I remained in a role too long. I felt stuck and unsure what I wanted or how to make the next move. The longer I stayed, the more unclear I felt, making an inside-out decision even more elusive. 

When we listen to our “gut,” that intuitive voice within, we make better choices and follow through on decisions that feel solid, even when the outcome may be different than what we expected.