January 2000 Dear Al, The Highlands Program is hands down one of the best investments I have ever made in myself. I would highly recommend it to anyone else who is interested in making an investment in themselves. In fact, I've already recommended it to several people. The way in which I learned about the Highlands Program is that I wanted to prevent a midlife crisis. I turned 38 this summer and called a friend of mine. I said to her, "I just turned 38 and I know that I have the kind of personality that would make me have full-blown, full-fledged and chaotic midlife crisis when I turn 40….and I want to nip that crisis in the bud! Do you know of any career counseling seminars?" My friend recommended a seminar in which she herself had participated a few years ago……The Highlands Program. I had originally enrolled in the program for the following reasons: As stated above, to prevent a midlife crisis. I didn't want to wake up and wonder why I was where I was and wonder where the heck I was going. I didn't want to just "float along" for the next ten years. To get different ideas of avenues to pursue from different types of people who had varied perspectives. I didn't want to limit my potential future exploration to only those jobs, careers and areas to which I'd already had the most exposure. I didn't want to get mired in any tunnel vision from which I might be suffering subconsciously. To receive and create a framework and structure within which to make rational decisions about my present and future life. To take a proactive approach to my life and making decisions, rather than a reactive one. The program far exceeded my high expectations. I liked the comprehensive approach the program took. It's not oriented exclusively to work, but also to other areas of your life. Various parts of the program that particularly struck me were: The group dynamics. The compassionate, human and helpful approach. There was a tremendous amount of support and encouragement (and humor!) within our group. I found it very helpful to be with people who were in different life stages and whose experience, skills and abilities were different from mine. Plus everyone was a lot of fun, which helped alleviate any angst, and insecurity I might have been experiencing while I was trying to sort things out. What I learned! That fact that I can now say very, very clearly what is important to me is empowering. That fact that it ends up that my job is so well suited for me based on my skills and abilities has made it easier for me to make decisions. I don't feel any tremendous need to rock the entire boat right now. Rather, it deepened my commitment to my current job. I don't have to have the "perfect" answer regarding my career right this minute. So, I could 1) buy the house, 2) start learning Italian, 3) look into volunteer work, 4) explore the option of adopting a child, and 5) admit that choosing to stay in the area so I could remain geographically close to my brother, his wife and her family was not only OK, but also very important to me. I came to Highlands to find career direction. What I got out of the program was that there are many things other than career that are far more important to me. I simply haven't focused enough on them in the past three years since I relocated from Chicago. However, Highlands definitely has assisted me professionally. I'm much more clear on what I need and want from jobs and a career than I was before. I'm much clearer on other careers that I could explore. The suggestions that the group gave to me in the brainstorming session were exhilarating! There were so many cool, fun and more "human" careers that they threw out to me, e.g. journalism, film documentary etc…(More human meaning focused on people rather than on "increasing profitability, contributing to the bottom line, being on the same page" etc….) Even if I don't pursue them as careers, I can certainly pursue them as hobbies. The fact that everyone in the group sounded dramatically more focused and self-confident in their direction - or potential direction - at the end of the program endorsed the program itself. The five of us started out with many question marks and insecurities hanging over our heads. The assertive and focused presentations that everyone did during the last session were testimony of the fact the program works. Highlands was a terrific and invigorating experience for me. It energized me and made me feel excited about and in control of the future. I'm delighted that I learned about it from my friend. And I no longer fear the dreaded midlife crisis! Bridget Sekera