4 lessons: What we learned in Detroit
In a region hard hit by the Great Recession, people are taking risks to build a brighter future. Here are four families' big chances.
Big decision: Switching careers
Barbara Stachowski, who worked on land development projects for an engineering firm, was making photocopies at work one day in 2006 when her supervisor asked, "Hey, you got a second?"
By the time they got to the conference room, Stachowski knew what was coming: With business having slowed down, she was being laid off.
"It was scary but exhilarating," recalls Stachowski, now 53. She'd been contemplating a career change for years, and this was her chance.
Read her whole story -- and how the experts say to make it work.
NEXT: Big decision: Cutting his losses
Last updated October 29 2010: 12:22 PM ET
