458. A Career of Constant Learning

Lauren McLaughlin

She was delighted to take six years off to be a full-time mom. But as soon as her son went to school, Lauren plunged back into a career. So far, it spans television, public relations for the Red Cross, newspaper publishing, politics, and now a ministry.

Lauren McLaughlin has a long and varied career, every step of which led her to love and learn about people and what makes them do what they do. At the age of 59 her path has led her to become an ordained Unity minister. She’s a writer, speaker, teacher, retreat coordinator, keynote speaker, counselor and professional student. Lauren is always seeking to learn new ideas. Certified in several modes of energy management, she gets great satisfaction helping people who are feeling anxious or are suffering physical or emotional distress by introducing them to the many blessings of EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) and Psych-K, a probing technique designed by psychologist Rob Williams to help identify the deepest desires of the heart. She lives in Palm Harbor, Florida, with her husband and professional partner John.

How Did You Start Using Your Talents?

After minoring in television at Marjorie Webster Junior College near Washington, D.C., Lauren took her first job at a television station in New Haven, Connecticut, where she wore many hats. That gave her the experience she needed to work for KRON-TV in California. “They hired me to go find out what people liked and didn’t like about their television station. Newton Minow, the chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) had called television ‘a vast wasteland,’ and we set out to prove him wrong.”

The Most Impactful Turning Point?

“I took six years off from the working world to raise our son, Bill, up to first grade. I’m delighted I did that. I was an only child, so I didn’t know anything about children, it was a mystery to me. It was a great experience, but the minute he started first grade, I couldn’t wait to get back into the work world again!”

The Most Powerful Lessons Learned?

“Many people would do what they love to do if they could figure out a way to do it. It is crucial to decide what is the real desire of your heart, and what’s keeping you from reaching it. I don’t suggest you quit your day job, but I do encourage you to take systematic steps to move in the direction you want to go. That may be taking a course, doing research, exploring whatever avenues are available. It may be talking to your peers or people in your sphere of influence. it may be a lot of things. In my experience, once you begin to think about making the change, new opportunities will appear.”