This month, I am reprinting my first ever Escape Stories interview - the January 2004 edition with Paul Smith. As escapes are never final, I thought it would be great to find out where he is on his journey, so I touched base with Paul earlier this month to find out how things are going two years on... See end of original interview for the few insights he shared with me earlier this month.

"I was happy with a small h, and I was happy in a way that people who are employed in jobs they do not really like, can be happy." These are the words Paul Smith, 39, uses to describe how he was feeling in his previous job as a chartered accountant in a UK- based software company.

But the need to get closer to his passions and to take charge of his fate, changed all that. A year ago, Paul left his previous life to pursue his real dream - to become a medical doctor. As a new med student a semester into his studies at St. George's Hospital Medical School, Paul says he is now a person who is "very very happy, who is enjoying every single day, who wakes up every morning and is delighted with what's on offer each day."

As a kid, Paul had wanted to be a scientist, a university lecturer, a Nobel-prize winning physicist, and a RAF (Royal Air Force) pilot. He can't remember putting too much thought into what working life would be like. He thought he would enjoy it and do what he wanted to do, work as a physicist.

So after finishing school he went on to study astrophysics, and after graduation thought of continuing with a PhD. However, mainly due to financial reasons, he felt he could not continue down this path, and set his sights towards the City (London business district).

He trained as a chartered accountant, and at the time, he felt that he was very successful with numerous promotions, a new car every year, a great salary and with no real material worries. His love of science never left him though, and he found himself talking to a colleague at work (another fellow scientist at heart) more about science than they talked about work. It was during this time that he also started looking at the work he was doing and realising: "wow, this is forever".

Meanwhile, a few big events occurred in his life that really got him thinking about what he was doing. In his spare time, Paul is a hang-glider. He went on an extended holiday to Mexico, where he encountered a guy who had a small operation letting people try hang- gliding. Here was a man who had relatively little income, who did what he loved, who did not have many material goods, who also contributed greatly to his community, and who was not just kind of happy, but happy with a capital H. That encounter stuck with him as he went back to London.

And then both his parents died, one after another. He did not feel as sad, as he did happy for the lives they had lead and the love they had shared. But it did make him realise that whatever you do, fate will change your life. There is no status quo. So he asked himself: "Why should I let everything that moves me on a new course or new emotion be done by external means? Why don't I make a big change myself? If things can change my life so much without me being involved, it cannot be any worse if I get involved and do it myself."

And then he headed off to Brazil on another hang- gliding holiday. Again he encountered people who were truly enjoying their lives with very little money. This time, he was also involved in a serious accident that could have killed him, but instead he was lucky and walked away from it. That was the final spark he needed. He came back to London knowing that he had to take over fate, and his work was what had to change.

But he was not quite sure what he wanted to do. Yes, he was interested in science, and he also knew he liked working with people. So he went to meet with a careers officer from his old university. The careers officer asked him what he liked and did not like, and very quickly distilled all the information he received to one question: have you thought of medicine? And it felt right.

So Paul started doing extensive research on his possibilities, and after a while found himself sitting through a gruelling exam with 1400 other people applying for 70 medical student places! Although he felt sure of what he was doing, whilst going through the application process, he had loads of doubts in his head: "I'm 37, most people my age are moving into their next house, starting or continuing a family, and I'm trying to change career - am I going out on a limb here? Is everybody else right - and I'm wrong? I want this, but maybe it is foolishness to want certain things, maybe I'm going too far down the selfish route, and I need to be acting more like a grown-up and accept that work isn't necessarily going to be fun. Maybe such things as a happy job don't exist and passions are things you have at weekends?"

Despite these voices in his head, he continued, because in his heart he felt it was the right thing to do, and this gave him the confidence to move on. Yes, the negative thoughts were constantly there. However, Paul soon realised that although at first it seemed like they would not disappear, as the reality of his dream started to emerge, the negative voices started to drop off.

He also thought a lot about the effect this would have on his friends and family. He perceived that they would be concerned and perhaps not supportive. But as he challenged his perceptions, this proved to be the contrary - they were all very delighted and happy for him, very positive and supportive to the change he was making.

His final concern was that failure could not be an option for him - he had to get through the exams the first time round. Although he achieved this goal, he no longer feels so strongly about failure. His biggest learning point has been that if you try do not succeed, you will still be closer to your goal and then you can just try something else.

His perseverance bore fruit, and in September 2003 he became a full-time medical student at St Georges Hospital Medical School in London. "I am a different person than I was, I am now that guy with that capital H happiness, I'm there." Yes, there is still a long journey and doubts of achieving the ultimate challenge he has set for himself, to become a senior doctor, but he is on the path, and the path feels right!

The advice he would give to anyone considering changing careers:
• Plan your move and be as comfortable as possible with what it might entail
• Face all the concerns and challenges you have, do not deny them
• Let other people inspire you. Let your friends and family get involved, they will be a lot more supportive than you would ever imagine them to be.
• "And I suppose the accountant in me has not gone forever": plan your finances!

His thoughts 2 years on:
I have now completed the pre-clinical stage of medicine and moved on to my clincal years. I am half way through my first of two years. In June I have my final written exams and the following year (June 2007) I sit my clinical finals.

ESCAPEE NIGHT

Thursday, May 4, 2006, 6.30 - 9 pm
Central London venue

Our following get-together is at the beginning of May.

Come and join fellow like-minded individuals and:
* Hear the story (and ask questions) of somebody who has made the leap and is on her escape journey
* Learn what other people are doing to get their escapes off the ground - what's worked, what's failed, what's being tried out!
* Gain access to a great support network who are in the same boat and are more than happy to help you!

Recent studies show that 40% of the working population in the UK is thinking of changing jobs. I don't know how many of these people actually know what they want to change into, but if you are one of the 40% and don't know, I can help!

I work with people who at some level are bored with their current work, and at another level fear changing because they don't know what to change into - or fear that they won't be as financially well off in their new career - so they stay stuck where they are daydreaming and wondering: maybe one day...

I work with people who aren't quite sure what happens next, but who want clarity, direction and a plan. Most of my clients have tried career-change books and spent hours thinking about it themselves but found this approach didn't get them very far, so they have decided they need external support to take them through the thinking process, and kickstart their career into action!

Contact me for a free consultation to find out how I work and how I could support you!

I found Satu’s coaching instrumental in bringing a sense of focus and direction to my career. With the coaching now finished I can see even more clearly what a worthwhile investment in time, effort and money it was. It has saved me years of career heartache, unhappiness and not fulfilling my potential. It is a commitment to do this – but I truly believe that it has been (and will continue to be) beneficial in helping me achieve what I desire from my working life.
- Ben Morris, Business Planning Manager

Our first workshop in 2006 was sold-out and a success to boot! Check out the workshop programme for the rest of the spring - is there something here that could help you put a spark into your escape?

WORKING IN...(evening series)

Do you have dreams of working in politics, the charity sector, international development and/or journalism? Or perhaps you’re just curious about one or more of these fields and want to know what people actually do?
These events have been designed to help you answer some of your burning questions. Find out about some of the jobs that exist, what they are really like and how people have got into them.

For more information on speakers for each workshop and/or to register – send an email to workshops@satukreula. com or call Satu on 0771 374 0926.

What's My Next Step?
Create a Plan for a Meaningful Career
Saturday - Sunday, April 1-2, 10 am to 4.30 pm
Whitehall, Central London

A whole weekend designed especially for those passionate about making a difference, but feeling stuck on how to really make an impact through their current work. Get to really know your unique passions and strengths, turn dreams into concrete, workable ideas and spend time with others who, like you, are passionate about making a difference.

For more information , email Satu

Make a Difference - and a Living - in CSR
Saturday, May 13, 2006 - 10 am to 4.30 pm
Central London

Are you one of the many people who are unsatisfied or unfulfilled in their current work – tired of contributing to something you don’t believe in – like your company’s profits?

Create an Interview-Winning CV

Is your CV standing in the way of you meeting your potential next employer over an interview? Is it portraying the best possible picture of the value you can contribute to them?

Get the support of a career development and recruitment professional to review how you are currently coming across through your CV – and giving you the feedback, advice and support you need to make sure that your CV projects the best of you – and gets you those interviews you want!

Contact me to find out more about my CV services.

Excel at Interviews

Feeling jittery and/or rusty about your interview skills? Get confidence, practice and loads of valuable advice on how to make sure you excel at your next interview.

Contact me for more information about interview coaching and mock interview sessions I offer.

You know how some successful professionals stay in jobs that don't fulfill them waiting for the perfect job to land on their lap, or to have enough money to leave and do what they 'really' want to do

Which means that they have some good days, but most days they aren't living or working to their potential, and start being more and more unhappy with their work, which then reflect on their lives

What I do is help these people create an escape plan doing what they want (not what they feel other people want)

Which means they have clarity about the type of work that would bring them the satisfaction they crave for - and a plan to get the work too!