As a high-ranking IBM sales executive, Nancy Hayes had a skyrocketing salary, a hefty stock plan and the full support of senior management. People were impressed. She traded in her navy suits and corporate card to run the Starbright Foundation, a nonprofit organization chaired by Steven Spielberg and Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf that provides seriously ill children with technology-based entertainment.
Nonprofits often scare away job hunters with rumors of meager salaries for mountains of work.
Even Nancy, a single woman with some money in the bank, had her doubts. But she maintains that it was more important that she stayed true to her passion. And when I explored nonprofits, I found that the salaries were lower, but livable. It's really the fear of the unknown that holds people back from pursuing what they want. Despite having a reputation for playing it safe, Nancy pushed herself and actually left IBM three weeks before she received her final offer from Starbright.