Paula Deen is an American cook, cooking show host, restaurateur, author, actress and Emmy Award-winning television personality.  Deen resides in Savannah, Georgia, where she owns and operates The Lady & Sons restaurant with her sons, Jamie and Bobby Deen.  Her life story provides a variety of examples of how professional development is linked to personal growth.

Exercising Courageous Behavior – Deen exhibited courageous behavior when she had to overcome the death of both of her parents by the time she was 23.  She also had to deal with an early marriage that ended in divorce.  Perhaps what is most courageous, however, is her remarkable ability to overcome panic attacks coupled with agoraphobia.  She became virtually housebound, and focused on cooking for her family, as something she could do without leaving her house.

Getting Comfortable While Uncomfortable – Even though it made her uncomfortable, Deen worked through it and at 39 years of age she finally felt well enough to take a job as a bank teller. Three years she continued to get comfortable while comfortable and divorced Jimmy Dean after 24 years of marriage and with her sons moved to Savannah, Georgia.

Taking Calculated Risks – Relying on her cooking skills and experience, Deen took a calculated risks and started a catering service called The Bag Lady. Seven years after arriving in Savannah, she took another risk and opened her own restaurant, The Lady & Sons.  Within a few years she moved the restaurant to a larger building and in 1999 USA Today named The Lady & Sons the "International Meal of the Year."