Microsoft Exec Wants More

Every once and a while there is successful executive who decides to chuck it all, including the hefty paychecks, in order to help others and find true happiness with more meaningful work. John Wood is one of these executives; he worked for Microsoft up until he was hiking amidst the Himalayas. There he saw incredibly poor educational facilities and that was enough to make him quit his job to pursue an alternative career.

Wood founded an organization called Room to Read, which would go on to build libraries, schools and educational facilities for those in the developing world. Now when he asked if he is happy, he responds, “Yes, very. Because I wake up every morning knowing that I am doing EXACTLY what I want to do.” He even wrote a book about his experience, called Leaving Microsoft to Change the World.

In terms of a “happiness role model,” Wood turns to the Dalai Lama and Jimmy Carter as sources of inspiration, but it’s the work itself that fulfills him day in, day out.

Do you ever consider a drastic career change like Wood did? Can you think of a “happiness role model” who you look to for inspiration? [AOL]