Read the empowering story of an Australian-born entrepreneur and mom whose next goal is an MBA program and doing creative and socially responsible consulting. Also included are the suggestions and resources from the Quintessential Careers team -- for this job-seeker and any other job-seeker facing a similar situation.

by Mish Morgenstern, as told to Katharine Hansen, Ph.D.

Mish Morgenstern

Australian-born Mish Morgenstern knows what she wants to do: "The work I want to do with my life has been clear to me for a long time -- working with people, using story and entertainment as a way to illustrate deeper meanings, advocating for the health of the oceans' ecosystems and coastal places." But despite packing a great deal into her 36 years of life, she has had difficulty "defining my own vision." She says, "I still haven't found the perfect match" -- a venue in which she can bring all her passions together -- "but am feeling more fulfilled and slowly realize I am getting somewhere through my photography and the opportunities I do take."

Morgenstern's difficulty in defining her vision may be related to her wish that she had believed in herself earlier in life. "I always figured I could do whatever I wanted to, given the right amount of hard work, questions, positive attitude, and sense of humor," she explains. "I think where I have been held back is not knowing what true skills I have to offer. This may actually be more a lack of self-knowledge ... not sure! I have learned through trial and error that I probably know more in some areas than I realize, and I don't know nearly enough in other areas! But perhaps life is really about being at peace with both realities!"

As a child, Morgenstern dreamed of becoming a marine biologist, entrepreneur, and an actress -- and she'd still like to be an actress if she could do anything she wanted. Morgensternå sailed across the Atlantic at 19, a feat she considers one of her proudest accomplishments, along with having run her own international adventure tour company and now being mother to "a beautiful 3-year-old boy who is active, healthy and loving."

Morgenstern, who now lives in Rockland, ME, is both sole proprietor of a photography business and a key employee of a film and photography school. She calls the captain of a sailing ship she sailed on at 16 the single biggest influence on career. "He was a charismatic, internationally recognized captain of square-rig sailing ships," Morgenstern explains. "He took me under his wing and gave me a feeling of self-worth, which despite my theater high-school background was clearly lacking. He was a strong father-like figure for me. He gave me opportunities to lead and teach at the age of 16 and showed me that he thought I was an extraordinary person worthy of opportunity. He also inspired me to work hard, ask questions, smile in the face of adversity, and have a sense of humor about it all."

Beyond the typical jobs that Morgenstern, like many young people, do -- waitressing and bar-tending -- Morgenstern's first real work experience was as a freelance instructor for outdoor recreation companies in Western Australia. "Next," Morgenstern says, "I took on a program-director role with a development training company, applying learnings from outdoor peak experiences to corporate, lifestyle and school environments). After two years in this role, I decided to broaden my horizons and see what other countries were doing with outdoor education."

She came to the US in 1999 to work as a teacher and trip leader at a nationally renowned environmental education organization. "Two years later I was their program director, a position I held for five years," Morgenstern recalls. "While working there, I concurrently ran my own international tour company for three years, focused on taking teenagers to Australia for a five-week long cultural and outdoor recreational experience. From a professional perspective, Morgenstern wonders if she should have kept traveling to the UK from her work in the US in 1999, but given that she met her husband, her musings about staying in the US have been fleeting. "Now I have a wonderful family and amazing opportunities that I would otherwise not have found," she says.

"Once I had my son," she says, "I wanted to redirect my vehicle for sharing my passion for the outdoors and the ocean." In fact having her son was a career turning point for her. "Having a child," Morgenstern explains, "gave me the opportunity to sit back from my previous career and redefine how I want to do the good work in my life." Morgenstern decided to use her background in photography, film-making, and storytelling to share her passion and redefine her vision. "I set up my own business, Mish Morgenstern Photography, to sell photographs of coastal locations around the world and inspire people to take care of our beautiful oceans," she says. "Concurrently, I have worked in the film industry -- made my own film that aired at the Maine International Film Festival, worked as a techy on local commercial and documentary films, and am creating blog-worthy video shorts for local businesswomen. I currently work as a locations and talent coordinator at the Maine Media Workshops, a reputable film and photography school in Rockport, ME, and do my own photography work as well."

A Personal Glimpse LATEST PROJECT Personal: Documenting my businesswomen friends with their work and providing a way for them to showcase their work on video (e.g., YouTube). Professional: Photographs of coastal Maine. FAVORiTE MOVIE Motorcycle Diaries LATEST BOOK READ Bridge of Sighs, by Richard Russo FAVORITE BOOK The Sea: Day by Day, by Alexandra Bonfante-Warren, Philip Plisson, and Laurel Hirsch INTERESTS/ HOBBIES Photography, kayaking, sailing, hiking, design, politics, friendships, playing guitar, movies, stories FAVORITE TV SHOWS Six Feet Under, Monarch of the Glen FAVORITE FOOD Fruit FAVORITE WEBSITE Mine -- MishMorgenstern.com FAVORITE MAGAZINES Sunset, Aperture, Cruising World BIGGEST THRILL Flying through the air -- and a hug from my boys PERSONAL PHILOSOPHY "A positive attitude will get you through most things. Love the life you live."

Consistent themes in her career have been a disdain for competition and a sense that she has not been adequately compensated for her work. "I don't relish competition in the workplace," she explains. "I am a collaborator at heart and have fond memories of professional situations where each person's role is defined and yet everyone is happy to share and brainstorm the big issues, as well as the smaller solutions. On the compensation issue, she says, "I have worked in just one role where I was compensated relatively appropriately for the amount of experience I had and the work required. I honestly can't tell you why this is, except that I feel I may have always lived in places with low pay scales, and I have worked in non-profits some of the time -- where you work because you believe in the place, and salaries are not published as openly."

Despite these issues, Morgenstern believes she's on the right track. "I have given myself the license to follow my heart and believe that I can do good work that is fun and rewarding and doesn't necessarily follow some kind of set path. My previous path was heading toward a career in administration of formalized education -- school- and institution-oriented -- which is not a fit for me. I am so much more inspired by creative work of all kinds, which is hard to truly create in an administrative school role! I also am very interested in businesses that are consciously making decisions that are socially responsible -- to workers, consumers, and the environment."

That interest in socially responsible ways of doing business is the driving force for what will likely become the next career phase for Morgenstern. "I'm looking for MBA programs for fall '09 to help with my vision of what work I want to do next. I embrace change. I thrive in warm climates, but I live in Maine, go figure. With the MBA in hand, Morgenstern would like to be a business consultant for socially responsible companies: "Clarifying their vision, [developing] successful strategies for marketing services and products that are sustainable and help to make the world a better place," she says. "My drive to get an MBA starting next year is a way to gain more business-relevant knowledge as well as up the perceived value I can provide my next workplace."

Morgenstern sets forth an equation -- luck = hard work + opportunity + courage -- yet she still credits luck for meeting and connecting with people, leading to new opportunities. She cites numerous times that her connections with people have opened doors. For example, she says, "recently, I have been a member of the Maine Women's Network. I got to know the then executive director, and we got along really well. She recommended me to the folks at Maine Media Workshops -- I had almost worked there three years ago but turned it down." This time, the executive director's recommendation was so strong that Morgenstern decided to "give it another shot" and says she is "so delighted" she did. "It is a wonderful organization, making regular changes in people lives and connecting me to some interesting and hopefully long-term contacts."

Similarly, Morgenstern attributes ending up in the US to meeting "a wonderful friend on a National Outdoor Leadership School course in 1998. This person and I got along so well, that he ended up recommending me to his organization, which led to me moving to the US, meeting my husband ... and the rest is history."

Morgenstern's own recipe for success -- "persistence, opportunity, following my heart" -- is not much different from the career advice she offers others: "Follow your passion. Be strategic. Set goals. Work hard. Look for a mentor."

Suggestions and Resources for Morgenstern and Others in Similar Situations

We suggest that Morgenstern:

• Continue developing self-knowledge about her skills. Since she says "not knowing what true skills I have to offer" has held her back, she may want to try some assessments to cultivate a greater understanding of her skills. She may want to consult our Career Assessment Tools & Tests.
• Find an MBA program that's a great fit. Morgenstern is unusual in that she is a creative type who seeks an MBA. She should take extra care to find an MBA program that celebrates and nurtures creative types. For example, Babson, not too far from Maine, offers an MBA program with a Creativity Stream. Morgenstern can review our MBA Degree Resources for Those Considering an MBA.
• Once in an MBA program, consider an internship to gain more targeted experience. Morgenstern may want to consider the relatively new concept of the MBA internship, which one survey has shown to be highly valued by employers. An internship would also give her the opportunity to try out an MBA-level job.
• Make the most of her creativity. A 2008 study that included employers indicated that creativity is increasingly important in U.S. workplaces. The study, conducted by The Conference Board and Americans for the Arts in partnership with the American Association of School Administrators found that 85 percent of employers concerned with hiring creative people say they can't find the applicants they seek. Morgenstern clearly can fill a niche with her creative insights, especially bolstered by a business education.
• Find outlets for acting. No need for Morgenstern to give up her long-held acting aspirations. She can act in community theater, and as she notes, "And now that I am working at this film school, I am sure there will be some opportunities."
• Research socially responsible companies. While she's attending graduate school, Morgenstern can be investigating socially responsible companies at which she might want to work or consult. She can use our Guide to Researching Companies, Industries, and Countries.