From the Introduction by Alex Gill Before embarking on the A.I.M. program, I was just an ordinary guy with a problem that many, many others have had at some point in their careers. I was unhappy. I was becoming bitter. I complained about my job a lot. I knew I was in a rut and couldn't figure out what to do about it. I felt powerless, unfocused and alone. And I didn't see a way I could make things improve. That was my starting point before I began the A.I.M. process. Today, I run my own firm that helps dozens of nonprofits improve their community impact each year. I work on very interesting and socially relevant projects for an ever-growing roster of clients. I have flown around the world to talk about community building, environmentalism and social marketing. I also teach at an innovative downtown university where the students are a joy to teach and my fellow professors often remark on my enthusiasm for my work and life in general. My friends and family constantly note that I seem happier and more motivated as the years go by. This did not happen because of some exceptional piece of luck - nor because of some superhuman ability or intelligence on my part ... I was someone who happened upon a method - the A.I.M. method - that helped me determine who I was and what inspired me, and then put me on the path to achieving it. It happened because I put those principles into action with the help and guidance of a coach like Jim Carlisle. I hope as you read this book that you will appreciate how A.I.M. changed my life - and how it could help you change yours. Jim and I have taken the better part of a year to write this book because we believe in strongly in helping those who need a way out. Every day we see people who would benefit from taking charge of their lives and moving forward to achieve, inspire and make a difference. If you see a bit of yourself in my story - or in the dozens of stories we will share in this book read on. I hope your journey is even more productive and rewarding than my own.

From the Introduction by Alex GillBefore embarking on the A.I.M. program, I was just an ordinaryguy with a problem that many, many others have had at some point intheir careers. I was unhappy. I was becomingbitter. I complained about my job a lot. I knew I was in arut and couldn't figure out what to do about it. I feltpowerless, unfocused and alone. And I didn't see a way I could makethings improve. That was my starting point before I began theA.I.M. process.Today, I run my own firm that helps dozens of nonprofits improvetheir community impact each year. I work on very interesting andsocially relevant projects for an ever-growing roster of clients. Ihave flown around the world to talk about community buildingenvironmentalism and social marketing. I also teach at aninnovative downtown university where the students are a joy toteach and my fellow professors often remark on my enthusiasm for mywork and life in general. My friends and family constantly notethat I seem happier and more motivated as the years go by.This did not happen because of some exceptional piece of lucknor because of some superhuman ability or intelligence on my part... I was someone who happened upon a method - the A.I.M. methodthat helped me determine who I was and what inspired me, and thenput me on the path to achieving it. It happened because I put thoseprinciples into action with the help and guidance of a coach likeJim Carlisle.I hope as you read this book that you will appreciate how A.I.M.changed my life - and how it could help you change yours. Jim and Ihave taken the better part of a year to write this book because webelieve in strongly in helping those who need a way out. Every daywe see people who would benefit from taking charge of their livesand moving forward to achieve, inspire and make a difference.If you see a bit of yourself in my story - or in the dozens ofstories we will share in this book -- read on. I hopeyour journey is even more productive and rewarding than my own.

Acknowledgments.Preface How Coaching Changed My Life--and Can ChangeYours.Introduction What Is the A.I.M. Method All About?Part I: Why A.I.M. Matters.Chapter 1 Making the Choice.Chapter 2 What Makes People Happy, Really?Part II: The 10-Step Process.Chapter 3 (Un)willing and Able? Starting Your Journey throughthe A.I.M. Process.Chapter 4 Mapping the Four-Dimensional You.Chapter 5 Sketching Success.Chapter 6 Reviewing What's Important.Chapter 7 Cashing a Reality Check.Chapter 8 Asking the Hard Questions.Chapter 9 Road Mapping Your Options.Chapter 10 Filling Up Your Toolkit.Chapter 11 NET Growth: Networking, Exploring, Transforming.Chapter 12 A.I.M. in Constant Motion.Part III: Wrapping Up and Looking Forward.Epilogue A.I.M. in a Shifting Market.Appendix Further Reading Recommendations.About the Authors.Index.Index of Case Studies.