I’m quitting a government job with full benefits and a retirement plan to start an apprenticeship program called Praxis.
Yes, really.
Here’s why.
I grew up doing things differently. I was home educated K-12, in the days when it was still common to have to field the question, “why aren’t you in school?” when I was out in the middle of the day, running errands with my family.
Being home educated allowed me to pursue topics and areas of study I was most interested in, from American history (which culminated in my writing a 20+ page biography—single-spaced—about Patrick Henry, more or less for fun) to creative writing (I drafted several novels through my high school years).
Post high-school, I knew college wasn’t for me. I didn’t want to spend four years of my life and borrow lots of money in exchange for a diploma I didn’t know would translate into the “real world.”
I drifted for a little while, trying to figure out what was next. Even taking a breath, a pause, between two phases of life was different, especially in a culture that says that as young adults nearing the end of our teenage years we have to have the rest of our lives figured out.
I started working with an international non-profit, coaching students K-12 in public speaking, leadership, and communication skills. I ran conferences; designed workshops, spoke in front of thousands of people, coordinated groups of high school students, and collaborated with multi-generational remote teams.
I’ve always loved creating and organizing, and putting together conference experiences allowed me to do just that. I learned a lot about what works, what doesn’t work, and how often the difference between the two is just a quarter turn.
Eventually, though, it was time to move on, and after a short but frustrating job search, I landed a position with my local police department as a 911 call taker and police dispatcher. This job catered to another of my strengths—remaining cool under pressure—and for the last three years I’ve had the privilege of walking people through the first moments of the worst days of their lives.
I’ve also tasted the kind of super-stable, never-going-anywhere, lifelong job so many people crave.
But I’m breaking the mold again and giving it up.
Because I don’t want to clock in and clock out each day.
Because there’s something about stability that will never foster true creativity.
Because let’s-try-and-see-what-happens is way more fun than standard operating procedures.
I want to organize and create. I want to design experiences that free people to be the best they can be at whatever they are. I want to try new things. I want to surround myself with people who see the world differently—people who see obstacles as opportunities, not dead ends.
Seth Godin, an entrepreneur, marketing expert, and author/blogger/podcaster, often signs off with the phrase, “Go make a ruckus.”
It’s time to make a ruckus and break the mold.