July 2, 20—

Dr. Dan Hoffman
Canyon Ranch
8600 East Rockcliff Road
Tucson, Arizona 85750

Dear Dan,

I sent this earlier via e-mail. When I didn't hear back, I thought perhaps you were traveling or away from your computer, so I'm re-sending it by mail and adding a few thoughts.

I read your story, ENOUGH IS ENOUGH, with great interest. In our workaholic, voicemail-jail culture, it's hard to succeed and still keep a balance. Not hard--it's darn near impossible.

It's obvious from ENOUGH IS ENOUGH you're working miracles in people's lives, and that's tremendously gratifying. You must be very proud of your efforts and your results! This is one of the nicest articles I've read in years.

From the article, it sounds as if many of your clients' problems are career problems. I couldn't help thinking it might make sense for us to team up in some way.

Since 1978—for more than 20 years—I've been a career consultant to more than 200 US corporations. My clients are senior executives and professionals in the $100,000 to $5.0 million salary range, typically age 40+. They are bluntly terminated by their employers--thrown out-or they are suffering what I call "repetition burnout."  (Also called: "Is that all there is?" Syndrome.)

I help them reposition their careers and replace their incomes, usually in something more exciting, less stressful, often higher paying. A much better fit, along the lines of what you suggest.

For example: An IT Manager in a high-stress merger environment was earning $100,000 when he was unceremoniously fired. Five years later he earns $375,000 as a consultant, lives a slowed-down lifestyle, works when he wants, and has never been happier. That wasn't an overnight victory—but those are typical of the results I get.

I say, "You can be 2 or 3 degrees off course, and walk into a wall instead of through a doorway."  I'm pretty good at helping career changers figure out what the 2 or 3 degree change should look like. And I'm an expert at helping them market that solution in the so-called real world. It's one thing to think you'd have a more independent life as a consultant. It's quite another to replace your income with high-paying consulting assignments.

I don't see what you and I do as the slightest bit competitive. Our team is comprised of an employment attorney, a compensation consultant, venture capitalists, and executive recruiters—to name a few. Our company doesn't do physiological assessment, exercise, or similar interventions--our work is largely career-change implementation. And the change could be 2 or 3 degrees, not 180. So an attorney dreadfully unhappy in one firm might be blissful in a new firm with a different culture.

My current clients include:
 

1. A $600,000 senior partner in a law firm who wants a corporate job—but can't tell anyone.
2. An orthopedic surgeon with a booming 12-year-old practice (hasn't had a vacation in 5 years).
3. The President of a $6 million steel supply company who wants out at any cost (I'm recruiting a new CEO for him), and . . .
4. The Vice President of a communications giant who wants to secure $10 million in financing to spin off his own company.

A recovering workaholic—now downsized to "work enthusiast"—I try to practice what you preach—"balance in life"—and I'm getting better at it each day. But like you say, it's a "lifelong journey."

I can't help thinking we could really play off each other in some amazing ways. Give this some thought-take a look at our website-and let's talk briefly. If I haven't heard from you in a week or so, I'll contact you again.

To your success,

William S. Frank
President/CEO
wsfrank@careerlab.com