These days with the benefit of hindsight, I can look back on a specific juncture earlier in my career, as the years that made me.

At the time, though, I just felt disillusioned and frustrated.

I had a broad perspective of experiences ranging from a minister of religion in Africa to senior executive in America, where I was living with my young family. Having advanced to a top executive role in a business that, as head of franchising, I had turned into one of the world’s fastest-growing franchised restaurant chains, my work life was rich in financial rewards. But not much else.

The growth model I had built was highly successful; however, I now missed challenge and felt I was running on autopilot. Added to this, a takeover of the business had resulted in an unhealthy workplace dynamic. But more than anything, I felt an underlying need for a greater sense of meaning in my work. Moreover, I was unable to see another role that interested me, even as CEO.

Deciding I was no longer prepared to pay the high price for feeling unfulfilled and having unsuccessfully sought help from various consultancies, I resigned, to devote full time to the search for clarity.

My troubles had barely begun, though. I continued to seek help but finally concluded there simply was no quality, strategic executive career support available.

I was wasting time, getting nowhere.

Finally, we sold our home and headed back to my home country, Australia. And at last, in a networking meeting, I recognized an undeniable fact I had overlooked – that my own frustrations were mirrored in the experiences of countless other executives, despite their outward successes. I now saw clearly the many extremely capable people around me who were only living grey lives, lacking the fulfilment that a career can provide.