Read the Table of Contents

Introduction xiii

Part One: Becoming Inwardly Mobile

Chapter One: You Have a Calling: Are You Listening?
Seeing Burnout as a Gift 4
The Four Myths That Lead to Burnout 7
The Inwardly Mobile Woman Listens to Her Calling 19
Journaling Exercise 25
Make Sure Your Ladder Is Against the Right Wall 26
Quiz: Are You Inwardly Mobile or Burned Out? 29
Journaling Exercise 31

Part Two: Four Types of Burnout

Chapter Two: Type One: Passionate Workaholics—Stop Driving Yourself Crazy and Go with the Flow 35

The Old Me: Driven and Confused 36

Following the Flow of Your Career Path Versus Being Fueled by Emotion 41

When the Adrenaline Runs Dry 42

First You Have to Find Your Flow 47

Detours the Flow Can Take 53

 Journaling Exercise 63

Chapter Three:
Type Two: Good Girls and Rebels—Are You Climbing Someone Else’s Ladder? 65
Whose Idea of Success Are You Striving For? 74
Journaling Exercise 79

Chapter Four: Type Three: The Toxic Workplace—Is Your Spark Being Extinguished at Work? 83
Employers from Hell: Rare but Dangerous 84
Is Your Spark Being Extinguished? 85
Journaling Exercise 100

Chapter Five: Type Four: Parenting Burnout 101
Working Mothers and Burnout 101
Stay-at-Home Moms Get Burned Out, Too 118
Other High-Risk Situations for Parenting Burnout 124

Part Three: Creating Your Synergy Plan

Chapter Six: Synergy Planning Begins with

Getting Focused 145

There Are Many Paths, but You Can Only Follow One at a Time 147

How to Enjoy Getting Focused 149

How Do I Make a Living While I’m Pursuing What I Love to Do? 151

It’s Risky Business Without a Plan 153

Your Mission Statement Gives You Roots in

What Is Meaningful to You 158

*Synergy PlanSM Worksheet: Mission Statement 161

Family & Personal Goals and Guideposts 164

* Synergy PlanSM Worksheet: Family & Personal Goals

and Guideposts 167

Career & Business Goals and Guideposts 169

* Synergy PlanSM Worksheet: Career & Business

Goals and Guideposts 173

Playing with an Idea to Test It Out 178

You’ve Got a Solid Foundation 185

Chapter Seven: Your Synergy Plan Allows You to Identify and Resolve Hidden Conflicts 187
Hidden Conflicts Undermine Your Most Cherished Goals 188
Is Your Vision in Touch with Reality? 189
Are Your Career & Business Goals Sabotaging
Your Family’s Needs? 190
Are Your Family’s Needs and Guidelines Sabotaging
Your Personal Needs? 191
* Synergy PlanSM Worksheet: Goal Conflicts & Resolutions 194
What’s Hiding Behind Your Blind Spots? 197
Not the Same as a New Year’s Resolution 199
Communicating Your Values to Others 200
Not Just Problem Solving 208
An Ongoing Job 209

Chapter Eight: The Path Is the Goal 221
The Dangers of Most Goal-Setting Methods 223
The Dangers of Not Planning: Ignorance Can Be Agony 226
The Inwardly Mobile Goal-Setting Method: The Path Is the Goal 228
* Synergy PlanSM Worksheet: The Path Is the Goal 237
How Supportive Is Your Support System? 243
* Synergy PlanSM Worksheet: Support Systems 247
Mentoring Can Help You Stay on Track 249

Part Four: Reach Higher

Chapter Nine: Beyond Balance to Meaning 257

Not an Intellectual Exercise: We Need to Experience an Internal Shift 258

There’s No Finish Line for This Work 260

Interviews with the Inwardly Mobile 264

• Margot Lester, Owner, The Word Factory 264

• David Allen, Owner, The David Allen Company 267

• Diana Moore, Realtor 269

• Robert Laper, Artist, Antique Dealer, Art and Antique Restoration 272

• Judith Fraser, Psychotherapist, Actress, Writer 274

Chapter Ten: Typical Questions (and Some Answers) 277

• Where Do I Start to Transition into a More Meaningful Career? 277
• What if I Can’t Afford to Work Less in Order to Spend More Time on Personal and Family Goals? 279
• How Do I Get My Partner’s Support to Make These Changes? 281
• How Can I Make Time for Myself When Every Minute Is Spent Either on My Work or with My Family? 283
• I Know I Need to Get Help From Experts, but How Can I Prevent Being Vulnerable to Bad Advice? 286

Appendix A: Depression Self-Test 289
Appendix B: Chapter Resources 291
About the Author 307