Former professional fundraiser Neal Griebling left his career in search of something more fundamentally fulfilling.

"I wanted to work directly with people instead of organizations," noted the 57-year-old who came to Pittsburgh in 1980. A practicing Zen Buddhist for 26 years, he has gained a different perspective on what work should be. "I was deeply moved by the suffering so many people experience in today's chaotic times," he said.

Mr. Griebling decided to train to be a chaplain, working with the dying and their families, while also becoming a certified life and career coach.

"As a chaplain I wanted to walk the final walk with my patients and help them find peace and tranquility in their final months and days. As a life and career coach, I wanted to help people work through their fears and resistance to identify and find work they would find both meaningful and rewarding," he said.

In 1999 he founded Future Design Studio Inc. to provide holistic approaches for personal, career and spiritual satisfaction.

"Eventually economic conditions will improve, but the last thing that will improve will be job creation and new hires," he said. Ironically he has found his practice has increased because of this difficult economic environment. "People desperately want to shorten the time it takes to find their next job," he said. "Before this recession imploded the economy, it typically took a job seeker between six and 18 months to find a job." His Life-Work Discovery model is designed to shorten that time and is geared to the unemployed, people who are worried about being furloughed, would-be career changers, and those who would like to start a consulting practice or business of their own.

Mr. Griebling helps clients find a career they will like through intensive self-inquiry. "I help them turn fears into pathways of empowerment, and combine informational interviewing with a system of word-of-mouth referral networking. This puts my clients face to face with the decision-makers who can hire them," he said.

His focus is helping clients identify and find work they love. "I guide them through a process of deep self-questioning to determine what brings them joy, what career niches they are most passionate about, and what talents and skills they would most like to use in their work," he said.

He welcomes inquiries from employers and individuals who seek career guidance. For more information call 412-480-3045 or visit www.pittsburghcareercoach.com or www.futuredesignstudio.com.