Angela Lussier is no slouch . One hour after leaving her full-time job on April 1 , 2009 , she had already taken the first steps towards starting her own career consulting company . Now , five months later , at the helm of 365 Degrees Consulting and with the title of Creative Career Consultant , 28-year-old Lussier is pursuing her dream of helping others realize their own dreams .

Lussier takes a creative approach to helping her clients achieve success . Her goal is to demonstrate to people that it’s liberating to be themselves .

“ I want people to know that the world of job-seeking is changing . Doing the same thing as everyone else to find a job doesn’t work anymore , ” she said .

Lussier assists clients through common life changes like relationships , fear and setting goals . She offers help in the form of seminars , one-on-one consulting and group workshops , with the universal message : Think , create and be .

Her business is built upon two principles : be real with yourself, and do what youlove .

“ I reinforce that job searching can be a time to reinvent yourselfand yourpath , ” Lussier said . “ There is no reason to feel down or worthless for not having a job . I have seen people who say the job change was a blessing in disguise , because it opened new doors and let them take a new direction in life . ”

Lussier’s own new direction began with an experiment : scheduling 32 free seminars at various venues throughout the area for the first 100 days of her company’s launch . The purpose of the seminars was to kick off the business , gain exposure and meet like-minded people . After the final tutorial at the Enfield Public Library on Wednesday , Aug . 19 , Lussier said , “ Those seminars were the best move I could have made . ”

The concluding seminar , titled , “ Top 10 Ways to Blow the Socks Off Your Employer Your First 2 Weeks on the Job , ” was designed to help job-seekers apply the skills they said they had in the interview to the actual job .

Full of thoughtful tips like , “ Get to know yourcoworkers , ” “ Be a reciprocal sponge ( don’t just take in ideas , give some , too ) , ” “ Create a list of yourgoals” and the number-one tip , “ Go above and beyond expectations with everything youdo , ” the last seminar and the 31 leading up to it earned her significant and inspiring feedback .

“ The most common feedback I get is that the message I’m spreading is different . I give them hope , ” Lussier said . “ Being themselves is what will get them far – but first they must discover who they are and what they want . ”

The second most common response cuts to the quick of the message Lussier is spreading : people are inspired to try things they would never normally do .

“ It’s wonderful to watch people take chances and let go of their fear , ” Lussier said .

After holding a series of jobs over the past 10 years, such as radio marketing , human resources and directing a nonprofit agency , Lussier said the one thread connecting all her previous jobs was a stifling atmosphere . She decided that beginning her own business was the way to personal fulfillment and happiness .

“ I’m very interested in reaching as many people as I can about doing what they love , ” Lussier said . “ Ultimately , I’d like to create centers or schools that nurture creativity , stretching the imagination and challenging all to explore who they are . ”

And change is coming . With a plan in place to expand her business to include talented people who are agents of change , she will continue on her path to inspire people to discover their passions and do what they love .

Angela Lussier can be contacted by phone at ( 413 ) 426-2720 or e-mail at angela@my 365 degrees . com .