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“James is so restless and energetic. I wonder if he’s hyperactive.”

“Nancy seems to be all over the place. She’s got a dozen projects going at once!”

“Harley does things so fast! He put up a website in two weeks.”

Rick Jarow, author of Creating the Work You Love, introduced many of us to the notion of career seasons. When we’re struggling with a career, we’re most likely to think of winter. At some point a career change (or other transition) feels like being buried under a coat of ice, hibernating through long, dark days. Hopefully we learn to see the beauty of winter — sun on the snow, clear air, the bare outlines of trees denied their leafy cover-ups.

You’ve probably been taught not to stereotype people based on race, religion or sex. But when you make a career or business decision, do you still make decisions based on stereotypes?

“Insurance sales reps must be gregarious.”

Those who watched HBO’s Sex and the City (SATC, now available on DVD) know the last eight episodes were less about sex and more about city. And the last three episodes, taken together could serve as a case study for a decision faced by many clients Should I follow my heart or hang on to my job?

1. Work/life Balance. This is something both companies and employees are striving for. Employees want a life and companies want to avoid costly burnout that affects productivity and quality. Fortune’s 2005 “100 Best Companies to Work For” showcased how culture is key. Using criteria that included benefit programs, health care and paid time off, the 100 best were broken out between 37 large companies; 34 mid-sized companies and 29 small companies demonstrating that good things can come in all sizes.