Philidelphia, PA- Gary France knew there had to be more to this life than working. When the perfect opportunity presented a way for him to move to a more balanced life, he took it.

Below is an interview conducted by VIP's administrative partner, Angee Robertson, with Gary, who now has a balanced life and is stopping long enough to play to the beat of his own music.

Listen to the RealAudio version of Gary's interview, click here. (NOTE: In order to listen to the recordings, you will need Real Player installed on your computer. To download a free version of Real Player, click here)

A: How did you hear about VIP Coaching? Were you in search of a new job or a new career?

G: I actually heard about VIP Coaching through a friend of mine. I had not been happy with my previous job. I was a director of finance for a telecommunications company and it was just like every other typical large corporation. We kept down-sizing and down-sizing, and the people who were left had to take on more and more responsibility. I was miserable. I couldn't stand to go into the office anymore.

I started thinking this was just not working for me. I needed to find a way to get myself out of this situation. Whether it was a total career change or not, I just needed to get out of there.

I was very fortunate that my company came up with a voluntary separation package, which they expected maybe 3000 people to take. Well, 22,000 people took it. It just goes to show you how upset people were in this company. And I happen to be one of those people. It was an incredible opportunity that came at a great moment.

A: When you heard about a career coach, what made you decide to actually start working with one?

G: I couldn't figure out my career transition on my own. When I started to look at other opportunities, I found that I really didn't want to do those things. When I heard about VIP Coaching, I visited the web site and I read some of the information. It was really helpful to read what the program was and what they do. I really didn't look at any other coaches or opportunities because I really trusted my friend, who was already working with VIP Coaching. And I'd heard some experiences that my friend had with them as well. VIP Coaching also offered the opportunity to hold a free session with me at the beginning. I took advantage of that and I immediately felt really comfortable with her.

A: Did you gain value from your experience with a career coach and was it what you expected?

G: I was leery in the beginning because I thought it was expensive, but it has turned out to be so worth it.

I have a friend who actually lost her job from the same company. She and I were facing the same crossroads. She is still in dire straits now while I have moved on with my career.

She left the company with no direction or plan whatsoever. When I left I was totally prepared. I had an idea of specific things I wanted to do. That is because of VIP Coaching’s guidance, direction, and help. So it was definitely worth the expense. As well as my time.

A: Thinking back as you were going through the process, did you feel that you really had the answers within you and a career coach just helped you to formulate those and get a clear direction?

G: I think a lot of the time you kind of know some of these things about yourself. But you just need someone to bring it along, to help facilitate bringing it out of you.

When I took the Highlands Ability Test, I knew I had some musical ability and things like that. But the test really brought it to my attention– my scores were just incredible in that particular area. It is something I knew I had inside of me, but I just never did anything about it.

A: So, what is your life like now?

G: What I was doing before did not allow for work-life balance. I worked incredible hours. January through March I never had a day off-- ever. I worked everyday even Saturdays and Sundays. It was horrible. When I made the decision to leave, I decided I'd never go back to that kind of out-of-balance life.

When I began working with VIP Coaching, we started looking at what I really wanted to do. We looked at so many different career paths-- even opening a gourmet cheese store at one point!

I have learned so much about myself and have now transitioned in to running my own consulting company. It's in the finance and accounting area but it is project work on my own terms. What we found is that I prefer doing this type of work. I don't want to do the mundane operations of everyday corporate finance anymore.

I now have incredible flexibility. The client that I'm currently working with has asked me to only bill them for eight hours a day, if not less. It is perfect! And what a career coach helped me realize is that I didn’t need to make all that money that I was making before. In fact, controlling my time was more important to me. She focused me on my essential expenses, and I put a budget together that is extremely comfortable for me to live on and do all the things I like to do.

All this discovery led me to my consulting. Now I have a great attitude and I don't have to work eight hours a day. I have it set up so that I can work eight months and be off for four months.

I really wanted a more flexible schedule because I used to play instruments when I was a kid in high school and college, and I had stopped. Working with VIP Coaching, I came to realize how much I really missed it. I love classical music and I always wanted to play the French horn. I am now playing with an amatuer musical group in the Philadelphia area and it's wonderful. Now I have the time to practice, rehearse and play in concerts.

I didn't make a huge career change as far as consulting. I'm still doing accounting, I'm still doing finance – but I'm doing more of the end of it that I enjoy. And I don't feel like I'm sacrificing anything because I'm able to do my other outside activities. You have to make money. Absolutely. The profession that I'm in and doing consulting, you can make a decent living and not work all the time. That is what's so great about it.

A: Is there anything that you would like to add?

G: The only thing that I can add is that I was very skeptical in the beginning about hiring a career coach and I doubted whether VIP Coaching would really be able to help. I am so glad I decided to call her. It's been a great experience.

It's not just about a career. She helps with everything. I've had some problems with friends and other situations and she's helped me address them. She also helped me manage a very difficult situation at work with this woman I was working for. VIP Coaching can assist with so many different aspects of your life. It's been so useful.

I've had people say to me, "Gosh, Gary, you are so much more relaxed. You're just totally different now than that tense, uptight person, you used to be."

When I started doing my consulting business, VIP Coaching asked me if I thought we needed to continue the coaching relationship. And I hadn't even thought of that, and I said, "Well, yes! Of course I want you to be there."

At some point I know we'll end our coaching, but I'm not ready to give her up yet!

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To contact Gary France for financial consulting in the Philadelphia area email gf353@yahoo.com or for more information on Gary's career coach, VIP Coaching, email her at info@vip-coaching.com or 207-439-4280.