June 8th, 2010 | Kerry Hannon | Lifestyle

Read Published Article on THE CHRONICLE BOOKS BLOG

Imagine a job where you travel around the country meeting captivating people who love what they do.

Sounds like a dream, right? Well, that’s exactly what I did in the course of weaving together the stories and advice in my new book What’s Next? Follow Your Passion and Find Your Dream Job.

Each time I visited with one of the career switchers profiled in my book, I left smiling, excited, encouraged about the human spirit for reinvention, the importance of dreams and hard work, and the inner strength that comes from believing in yourself.

I traveled from Florida to Massachusetts to Washington State to interview people who followed their passion and dreams and are making a difference, not only in their own lives, but in those lives touched by their work.

I spent time in a homeless shelter in Rhode Island and discovered the heartfelt humanity of former corporate executive Anne Nolan, who is the executive director of Crossroads Rhode Island.

I savored divine chocolate truffles with Deborah Langsam, a retired Botany professor and ex-pediatrician Joal Fisher at Barking Dog Chocolatiers in Charlotte, NC.

I was mesmerized by the circus clowns and children’s laughter at a rollicking performance of the Big Apple Circus, sitting alongside company manager Donald Covington, a onetime Navy Captain, during a performance at Lincoln Center in New York City. (I even got to wear a bright red clown nose!)

And I felt the palpable enthusiasm television producer turned winemaker Steve Brooks brings to his work at Trust Cellars in Walla Walla, Washington.

Each time I said goodbye to one of my new friends, I left not only with hope, but with essential knowledge of the steps and moves that made their career switches successful.

And that was my mission with What’s Next?—to not only inspire readers with these journeys, but to pass along advice and reliable resources to help them get started on a new path, follow a passion, and finding meaning in this life.

As my Dad always told me, “You’ve got to dream to get there!”

Kerry Hannon
May 22, 2010

Tell us your dream job in the comments, we’ll send a copy of What’s Next? to one lucky commenter.