POULSBO— A few years ago, Joanne Victoria decided she had enough. She was living in the San Francisco Bay Area and needed a change for the better. Fed up with the heat in northern California and longing for the mild weather of the Pacific Northwest, she looked at a map and drew a circle around Seattle. She was going to move somewhere within that circle.

Though it took some time, Victoria did exactly that. And she brought her gumption with her — and she has some to share. She does so through New Directions, a consulting business through which she works with businesses and individuals who have clear goals but need a little nudge to meet them.

“I go into businesses and determine what’s needed and help businesses out to make their goals a reality,” she said. “Usually the only obstruction is the business owner’s own fear of being successful. We try to deal with that in the most painless way possible.”

A former real estate professional—she’s a licensed broker in Washington but does not work in real estate—Victoria’s foray into consulting began quite accidentally. A friend asked her if she wanted to participate in a real estate workshop. Thinking he meant to invite her as a participant, she readily agreed.

“He meant help lead it,” she said, reflecting on the moment that changed her life.

It was then Victoria realized she had a knack for consulting.

“I’m able to rather quickly walk into a room and see what needs doing,” she said.

With her move to Washington state, she proved she can also institute changes in her own life where necessary, she said. After raising her three children in New York, she moved to California. California was good while it lasted, but her heart yearned for something different.

She was drawn to the area for the cooler weather and since moving to the Pacific Northwest each day has become an adventure. Each weekend she heads out to get some shopping done in Seattle or takes day trips to popular destinations. The New York native is “always finding something new,” she said.

When Victoria isn’t consulting or exploring, she loves to write. To date, she’s authored four books, including “Lighting Your Path,” and “Vision with a Capital V.” She’s also written numerous articles in her areas of expertise.

Victoria makes appointments Tuesdays through Thursdays at Wunderful Health, 18978 8th Ave. NE in Poulsbo. For more information, contact her at (360) 377-2995 or joanne@joannevictoria. com.