Thinking of a shift in Career? John Wood did it

At 34, John Wood was a Microsoft millionaire and head of business development in China. Then he took an interesting step -- he quit.

Determined to find the "second act" of his adult life, Wood began a trekking expedition in Nepal where he saw firsthand poverty and lack of opportunity. When he got home Wood cashed out $50,000 worth of shares and started Room to Read, now a $10 million organization that has opened thousands of libraries and schools for children in six countries around the world!

Wood runs this remarkable non-profit like he ran his business. Overhead is kept in the single digits, donors are provided with regular success metrics and, when Wood sees a market opening, he goes for it. When he couldn't find enough local-language kids' books to stock libraries in Nepal, he hired native authors and turned out his own! [ Charityfocus.org ] [Room to Read]