A Mike Donne - I started doing magic tricks for family and friends when I was about seven, and by sixteen I was performing at big public events [50]. I was also good academically, and studied law at university. Ten years after my degree, I was a busy lawyer with no time for magic, although I missed it. Then, out of the blue, a couple of old friends asked if I'd let them use some of my old material in a touring magic show they were setting up. I agreed but it bothered me that they were doing something I'd always loved, while I was in a job I had very little passion for [52]. So, I joined them. I was very rusty initially, and I had to practise for several months before I felt able to perform in public [47], but I'm now one of the main acts. Funnily enough, it's been far tougher to make it as a magician than as a lawyer, [45] but I've realised that this is what makes me feel alive.

B Kristina Mayer - I used to work for a bank and made enough from that to be in a position to buy my own apartment when I was 22. After a few years, however, dissatisfaction set in. I was just sitting at a computer, manipulating figures, and I longed to get out into the fresh air and move around. Then, one weekend, some friends talked me into going surfing with them. Surprisingly, it appealed to me so much that I ended up spending my days surfing and doing restaurant work in the evenings. I'm now taking part in competitions and I promote surf gear as a professional surfer. At times I can hardly afford to pay the rent, and I sometimes wonder whether leaving the bank was such a good idea, [43] but then I remember I'm doing my favourite thing in the world.

C Carl Johnson - Five years ago I was an accountant, well-paid but feeling unfulfilled in my life. Then, my cousin asked if I'd help out at his burger restaurant one weekend when he was short of staff. I'd always liked burgers ever since I was small, but I was surprised at how much I enjoyed making them [48]. Two weeks later I quit my job, hired a van and some equipment, and started selling burgers at street markets. It would've been better to have taken more time doing some proper background research [49], but what I knew about accounting came in handy, and my enthusiasm made up for my inexperience  [51]. I've now acquired a second van and taken on a couple of assistants, so the business is growing. It's incredible to think how much my life has changed.

D Anges Porter - I was a very creative child, but I was taught that success lay in other directions. So I worked hard and ended up as human resources manager of an international company. It was well-paid but I dreamed of starting my own business. So during one holiday last year, I decided to experiment and made cakes for a couple of wedding receptions. They turned out to be very popular and, within a month, I'd resigned from my job and was making cakes full-time. Pushing myself hard to do well is in my nature, so I still work a lot, but I feel more in control of things now. People used to say that having my own business was an unrealistic dream, so demonstrating I could achieve it has been very satisfying. [44] It's just a pity I didn't do it several years ago.  [46]

43 B  44 D  45 A  46 D  47 A  48 C  49 C  50 A  51 C  52 A