Lucy Z. Martin, APR
Lucy Z. Martin, founder of Now Is My Time, has had a long and successful career specializing in marketing communications, receiving more than 140 awards and honors for creative excellence. For 33 years she has lived in Portland, Oregon, where she ran her own marketing and advertising agency, and continues to provide counsel to a select group of clients.

She also has worked as a public relations executive, national magazine correspondent, university professor, and a newspaper reporter. She is a Midwest native and graduate of Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois.

In 2000, Lucy combined a love of travel, 10-year study of the personal growth field, and 20 years of conducting seminars to offer her first life-planning workshop, in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. The response from participants was so positive that she began developing her course for subsequent trips and other venues.

Lucy says:
"I am grateful for my life. I have a terrific family and incredible friends. I've always loved my work and the myriad opportunities I've been given to learn and experience new things. I've never dreaded Mondays nor watched the clock on Fridays. I've had a variety of related careers, each of which has been exciting, fun and fruitful. And Now Is My Time is the most rewarding of all.

"I'm not much of a cook, but I have a great time setting the table. My home has been featured in national magazines and on home tours, not because it's grand and impressive, but because it's warm and cozy and inviting. And I love being there; as does Maggy, my under-achieving shaggy dog.

"I'm a passionate gardener. Not only do I find digging in the dirt therapeutic, but I enjoy the creativity, color, and ongoing change a garden offers. Plus, I have a serious case of plant lust.

"I've also had my share of pain. Loss of family and friends. Health setbacks. Divorce. And, as with most people, the tough times have produced my most powerful learning experiences. I've found that life is about solving problems, and recognizing that they can't be avoided.

"Ten years ago I realized that my life wasn't as satisfying anymore. I wasn't laughing as much. I was operating on autopilot. After a season of whining and procrastination, I got busy identifying what wasn't working. That was the first big step: knowing what I didn't want, and figuring out what should replace it.

"Although there were plenty of self-help books around to give me answers, most seemed to be generic one-size-fits-all solutions or remedies for women leading tragic lives. In order to reshape my life based on my own personal needs and values, I figured I'd better develop a way to measure my experience and skills.

"Over time, I was able to assess my strengths around who I was, and what I really wanted for the next phase of my life. Then came the strategy for getting there. Thankfully, that part was easy, as I'd been designing transition plans and action steps for my clients for years, so I had the tools and experience readily at hand.

"Now I feel I've reached the most fruitful stage of my life, and I'm excited about helping other women recognize their potential and find their niche. None of us has a choice about growing older, but each of us can choose to grow wiser and happier. Now is your time to choose."

Click here for some of the reasons women have participated in Now Is My Time.