The Gorilla Lady

Since my California Learning Annex workshops, I've been getting dozens of emails asking to see the photos of Lisa and the gorillas, so I'm cramming it into the newsletter at the last minute. The story of Lisa is everyone's favorite. I tell it on my PBS pledge special called "Creating Your Second Life After 40" so you can hear the story and help public TV at the same time if you buy it. Just contact Rocky Mt. Public TV (1-800-851-4542) or ask for Diane Cerafici. Here's a quick synopsis.

Lisa was a career counseling client of mine about 10 years ago and her problem was that she had no idea what she wanted to do. In our session we had no luck finding anything, which is very unusual. We went over all sorts of career options without bringing up the slightest enthusiasm in Lisa. When I thought we would finally have to toss in the towel I noticed a book she had brought and asked what she was reading. Immediately the session changed totally -- and so did Lisa's life.

As soon as I asked what the book was about, her eyes lit up and she said "This is a book about Koko, the gorilla." She was glowing! She looked like someone talking about her own grandchildren. And right then I knew we had found it. That was "the look," a dead giveaway that we had found Lisa's calling. Lisa wasn't so easy to convince at first, but finally she admitted there was nothing besides gorillas that interested her.

Why hadn't she mentioned it earlier? Because actually working with gorillas seemed like a completely impossible dream, not worth taking seriously.

These photos are proof that Lisa was wrong about that. All I said was "Someone's doing it, Lisa. Get involved with people who work with gorillas," and she did exactly that. The rest is history. The moral of the story: if you love something, you invariably have a special gift for it. Pay the most careful attention to anything you love; treat it as a powerful clue to who you are, because desire is the banner of talent. You too can find your dream (and do a lot of good in the bargain) just as Lisa went on to do, and continues doing until today.

Enjoy these wonderful photos (taken by Lisa's husband, Charles) as I do every day -- and let's find out what makes your eyes light up, too.

Lisa kisses Koga