Second Career: From IT to Landscaping

Why would a high-achieving, heavy hitter leave the money and perks that go with a job at a brand-name IT firm to work two part-time jobs that offer a fraction of the money and almost none of the recognition? It comes down to work-life balance.

Encore careers–second careers that folks typically choose later in life–often don't pay as much as whatever preceded them. But they usually offer more happiness, less stress and a better quality of life, not to mention a level of satisfaction that can elude people in the careers they chose in their callow youth.

Kimberly Smith found just such an encore career; this is how she did it.