There are a variety of dynamic forces acting upon us as we evolve in our careers, and these forces are generated from both the inner and outer worlds. A major change in either realm upsets equilibrium and initiates a drive to regain a "personal comfort zone." This process works much like a thermostat regulating room temperature. We all possess such a regulating mechanism to keep our systems at a self-determined, albeit unconscious, comfort zone. When anything upsets this setting, our system reacts by attempting to return things to normal.

For example, a great many of those who lost tenured track positions-- such as middle managers with General Motors, aeronautical engineers with Lockheed, and blue collar workers with Bethlehem Steel, suffered serious psychic consequences. Emotional trauma is experienced not only from the actual loss of salary and benefits but even more so from the perceived loss of self-worth. Concentrating one's problem-solving and decision-making efforts solely on

getting another job won't necessarily reestablish homeostasis. That would make no more sense than repairing the body of car damaged in a head-on collision without attending to the engine. An important aspect of change must address the human engine -- the self.

 A major change within the inner realm of the self (mental, emotional, and spiritual) may also upset equilibrium and produce career ramifications. Dramatic and unforeseen changes, such as the loss of a dearly loved one or a traumatic deterioration in one's own health, are sure to disrupt a sense of personal order. But there are other less-apparent dynamics that can generate perplexities from the inner-world-- confrontations with one's aging, emotional burn-out, personal values shift, existential angst, spiritual awakening, and personal meaning crises such as that experienced by Jeanne, the disillusioned nurse who turned massage therapist.

The real-life experiences of Sam and Jeanne help to show how the career transition process might proceed in these paradigm-changing times. In both cases, exterior forces over which they had no control had undermined their traditional twentieth century careers. Until pushed into the realization that it was time to change, they had been preoccupied with the outer-world dynamics of their careers. Now both had to reassess.

In terms of the above depicted career-development model (Chart C), Sam and Jeanne were catapulted from the Action quadrant into the Self-understanding quadrant. Both realized they could not stay where they were. In Sam's case the kinds of jobs he had held were melting like old snow in warm spring showers. With Jeanne, the old satisfactions had just faded away. But after so long in one career mode they felt unprepared to deal with their major predicament,

Sam, the ex-corporate manager, had the advantage of a healthy severance check and company sponsored outplacement services, which included psychological assessments and numerous sessions with a career counselor. Jeanne, a disillusioned nurse, decided to engage the services of a professional counselor to obtain deeper self-awareness and to help clarify her personal interests and career possibilities. Sam and Jeanne's self-inquiry focused around questions such as:

• Who am I now?
• What do I truly value?
• What are my core personal assets?
• What do I really want to do?
• What new possibilities are available or could I create?

With new insights from asking themselves these kinds of questions, Sam and Jeanne moved to the Possibilities quadrant of the model by generating a lengthy list of interesting ideas. The most important thing here is to tap creative ideas, particularly those that connect with personal potentials and passions. Even though Sam and Jeanne were initially able to identify a few interesting possibilities, their counselors pushed them for more, emphasizing quantity rather than quality -- the rationale being that you can't get to real quality without first tapping a number of ideas with power.

Currently, Sam divides his time between a new business venture and meaningful volunteer activities. With two other associates he is in the process of creating a high-tech toy combined with an innovative game concept. The new game--which involves physically manipulating a rapidly spinning gyro mechanism thorough a field of obstacles--has been market tested and patented in Japan. As Sam sees it, this is a risky venture, but one that is so much fun and offers so much opportunity that he has found it irresistible.

Through all of this, Sam has paid attention to the kinds of lifestyle activities that energize him, allocating a portion of his time to Habitat for Humanity and The United Black Fund. He puts his corporate management skills to good use in helping to coordinate new volunteers and committee work for fund-raising efforts with organizations he knows well -- Fortune 500's.