COLUMNIST 2003-2006 (24 issues) Professional Development (business development, career management, managing across differences) Picture this: A 30-something lawyer is walking to work one bright, sunny day when, out of the blue, a bolt of lightning shoots out of the sky and zaps her. She collapses, dead on the sidewalk. While dying, she sees the proverbial white light, and she walks toward it, finding herself at the Pearly Gates. "Why did you take me now, St. Peter?" she asks. "I'm only 35, I have my whole life ahead of me." "Thirty-five?!" says St. Peter, incredulously. "From your time sheets, I thought you were 75." Does this sound familiar? Does your life consist only of work? How is it working for you? If you are very satisfied with the balance in your life, great. Keep doing what you're doing. If you are not very satisfied, keep reading. Many of us identify with the lawyer above. It's ironic: We successfully create the lives we do not want, but we cannot figure out how to create the lives we do want.