Two years ago, when I sat down to write my personal Strategic Career Compass, I identified that one of the key ways that I feel fulfilled and successful is through maintaining something called creative tension.

Creative tension is a simple but powerful concept that was formed by Peter Senge, a professor of organizational learning at MIT's Sloan School of Management…

"I'd really love to quit my job and assemble Ikea furniture," my client said to me last week.

Though she is a prominent leader in an international company, overseeing offices in multiple countries, she jokingly fantasizes about leaving it all behind for black and white instruction manuals and particle board.

This topic inevitably comes up with each of my clients—secret wishes for their careers. Here are the three types of fantasies I've heard…