Brenda is an accomplished executive in her 50s who has spent her entire career working for Fortune 500 companies. Her husband is semi-retired and finds fulfilment in cycling, which often takes him out of the country on cycling tournaments. Brenda’s passion is in cooking and baking, and, unlike her husband, she is not looking to slow down.

Brenda has achieved everything she wanted in her career and enjoys a very comfortable life in a small community in Greater Toronto Area. Yet, she is not happy. Her passion for creating  authentic culinary experiences runs deep, and she’d love to expand her reach beyond merely delighting her family and friends.  She’s known for a long time that this would fulfil her but, for many reasons, her feet are not moving in that direction. Instead, she wakes up each morning with a nagging feeling that she has lost her joy in life.

I asked Brenda how long she’s been experiencing these symptoms. She said it’s been about 5 years. What’s worse, she added, she has little energy to go through the day despite a healthy lifestyle, regular exercise, and a large support network.

I probed for the reasons why Brenda hasn’t made a leap of faith and discovered that, despite a fulfilling career and an impeccable reputation in her industry, she is not comfortable starting over. Even more daunting for her is the thought of failure. What if she embraces her next chapter—her calling—and falls short? What if she can’t attract enough customers to appreciate her culinary creations? How would that affect her relationship with her husband and adult children? What repercussions would that have on her professional reputation?

I asked Brenda about her opinion on the quality of culinary experience at restaurants in the Greater Toronto Area. Her response didn’t surprise me—many establishments do not meet her high standards, and I wholeheartedly agree. The quality of ingredients and the cookware used result in a grim experience—you return home after a delicious meal and crash from the abundance of toxins. That was a good sign—she’s done her due diligence.

I asked Brenda if she had taken any courses or earned credentials in culinary arts.  She admitted she hadn’t but would love to enrol in some courses. This brought to mind my visit to Hudson Valley, NY last year, a region dotted with exceptional foodservice establishments of all sizes and various cuisines, thanks to the world’s premiere culinary college, the Culinary Institute of America, being located there. Graduates quickly put their learnings to practice by opening their own restaurants and specialty food stores. Every dish I enjoyed in this region was outstanding and made with clean ingredients.

I suggested that Brenda consider Hudson Valley for her next vacation. Being away from home in a vacation mindset could lead to many eye-opening experiences and meaningful connections that could help ease her fear of starting over and, especially, the fear of failure.

In addition, I recommended that she meticulously document her travels, capturing all significant encounters, insights, and inspiration. She could start a journal dedicated to her calling that would help her maintain focus and track her progress. And, given the important role her support network plays in her life, I encouraged her to share her experiences in the Hudson Valley with them to build support for her calling.

Another key question I asked during our Blueprint session had to do with the best way for Brenda to introduce her culinary delights to her ideal target market. Although she had explored several options, she wasn’t sure which path was best for her. I recommended research—both secondary and primary—in the types of foodservice operations and their pros and cons. She could also pose this question to her instructor once she enrols in a course.

I assured Brenda that the best options and the path forward would reveal themselves once she is armed with more facts. With specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time-bound goals for the next 30 days or so, she’ll feel empowered to conquer her fears and start following her calling. Drawing on her extensive work and life experience, she’ll find the confidence within to propel her towards the next chapter of her life—doing what she truly loves.