1) What are you currently doing with your life?

In addition to my responsibilities at home, church and with family and friends I work with 3 different organisations: Crossroads Retreats - which provides time and space to help people move through crossroads points in their lives; Tunbridge Wells Street Pastors - who provide help, care and listen to people (especially those who are vulnerable) out on the streets on Friday/Saturday nights from 10pm-4am;  and etc4CA - a social enterprise which equips people in Central Asia to do business better through delivering training/education, providing business consultancy and implementing projects which enable business.

2) What did you do before this?

I worked for 12 years in Unilever in Finance, Manufacturing and Supply Chain in a variety of roles as an accountant, buyer, project manager. I then moved to JPMorgan to work as a development manager on the graduate programme.

I was promoted out of my core area of interest - as a coach/trainer helping people to realise their potential - to manage the programme and then into an HR business partner role at a time where the focus was on managing out poor performers more than developing the talent.

This change caused increased stress and ultimately ill-health. Following a short break I decided to get out of the environment where I could no longer survive, let alone thrive, have a break and explore alternative places where I could use my skills.

3) What was your moment of truth?

The big moment of truth was when I realised what it was I loved to do and was good at and I didn't have to keep on pleasing others, doing things I didn't enjoy. It gave me the freedom to start saying "no" to things that were not me. I attended a Crossroads Retreat where one of the things we explored was "core process" - the thing we do naturally without even thinking, the thing people come to us for, the thing we spend doing during our free time.

My core process is about helping people and projects realise their potential - but only when I really believe in them. The times when I'd been happiest at work were when I was working on process improvements, implementing projects, coaching/training people. Now I just take on roles which play to my strengths and my core process - guiding on retreats, implementing the street pastors' initiative in my town and equipping people in Central Asia to do business better! 

4) How did you plan for it?

I had always been a saver and careful with my money. I also timed my escape from the city to fit with the annual bonus payout. I paid off my mortgage and tried to keep my outgoings to a minimum. 

5) What have been the best and worst things about making this happen?

The best bits are having so much more time with my husband, family and friends. I was a workaholic who spend most of my time working, thinking about work and talking about work. I now love all the work I do and make better choices about what I get involved in and what I don't.

Financially things are more difficult but we still have everything we need and now go on less expensive holidays than we used to. I have had doubts - especially about my self-worth - now I'm not doing what people might consider a "proper" job, and some of my family definitely questioned my decision, giving up a well-paid job in the city! 

6) What was the best advice you have received

Go for it. "Be strong and courageous... I am with you" (the Bible)

7) What resources or information have you found really helpful?

Crossroads Retreat: www.crossroadsretreats.co.uk

"Half Time" by Bob Buford - the second half of your life being more about the search for significance than success