I am just wondering if you could go back in time.
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00:00:03.837 --> 00:00:08.837 What would you like to say to yourself or really say to us
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00:00:08.908 --> 00:00:13.079 in this time that we're trying to make this pivotal change?
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00:00:13.480 --> 00:00:17.450 I think you have to be able to ask for help and be open to receiving it.
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00:00:17.450 --> 00:00:21.888 Sometimes you are on such a path that like I couldn't see it any other way,
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00:00:21.888 --> 00:00:25.925 but that I had to earn $1,000,000 or $2 million to start what I wanted to do
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00:00:25.925 --> 00:00:29.796 because I'm a big thinker and I trusted this person.
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00:00:29.796 --> 00:00:32.432 He was the first one that kind of like bonked me on the head,
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00:00:32.432 --> 00:00:34.734 you know, and said, which turn my other direction.
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00:00:34.734 --> 00:00:38.405 But in terms of taking risks and following your dreams,
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00:00:38.505 --> 00:00:42.208 I just had a conversation with someone who sits on my board of advisors.
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00:00:42.208 --> 00:00:45.111 He said, No matter how hard it is for you, he said, Just keep going
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00:00:45.378 --> 00:00:47.180 because he said, something will happen.
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00:00:47.180 --> 00:00:50.316 He said, You lasted five years with no investment.
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00:00:50.316 --> 00:00:52.152 We had no initial investment.
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00:00:52.152 --> 00:00:55.922 And you know, the company sits in 31 states with our curriculum now.
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00:00:56.256 --> 00:00:58.758 You know, we've trained over 10,000 teachers.
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00:00:58.858 --> 00:01:03.763 So in those scariest moments, I believe in myself and the mission.
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00:01:03.763 --> 00:01:04.998 And I had a partner,
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00:01:04.998 --> 00:01:06.032 you know, But
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00:01:06.032 --> 00:01:08.234 if I had to live on someone's couch to build a business,
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00:01:08.234 --> 00:01:11.004 you hear about it all the time with entrepreneur stories, right?
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00:01:11.004 --> 00:01:13.139 What they gave up that they lost this, right?
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00:01:13.139 --> 00:01:15.842 People believe in leaders who are convicted
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00:01:15.842 --> 00:01:17.877 and they make investments in you.
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00:01:18.044 --> 00:01:19.245 Even if they love the company.
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00:01:19.245 --> 00:01:22.315 They make the investment in you because you believe in yourself.
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00:01:22.615 --> 00:01:24.784 So even if you're afraid, who cares?
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00:01:25.151 --> 00:01:26.953 Like, be afraid, live, live in fear.
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00:01:26.953 --> 00:01:29.756 Take the risk. You know, there is no mistake.
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00:01:29.756 --> 00:01:33.126 And if your passion driven, I think you can go very far.
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00:01:33.126 --> 00:01:37.030 But I think it's when you give up your passion that you wind up
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00:01:37.030 --> 00:01:41.134 being kind of sedentary and unhappy and you can do it all.
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00:01:41.134 --> 00:01:42.769 It's just hard. It's just not easy.
 

2023 WCED Roadtrip
advanced-degree
entrepreneur

Following your passion is much more gratifying than doing what you think you are supposed to do according to someone else's plans.

I didn't have much guidance growing up, so I participated in a lot of high risk behaviors from a young age. The experience fueled my desire to dedicate my career to helping kids in similar situations.

Days vary when building an education start up. If at the home office, I'll do Zoom meetings, answer emails, or do a Zoom interactive professional learning workshop for schools or afterschool programs across the nation. If on the road, my days look like six-hour training sessions, building and supports requests for culture improvements in schools or for non-profit organizations, skipping across states on airplanes, and hustling at conferences to inspire future partners to work with kid-grit.

Mindful Founder

You need to follow a predetermined formula for success: go to college, get a job, get married, find success.

Fear

Passion

Risk

Follow Your Passion In Spite Of Your Fears

What advice would you give to someone who knows that they're not in the space that they wanna be, but is too afraid to make that jump? Whether one it's because they don't know what their passion is, or they just don't see it as a viable option. &gt;&gt; I've done a lot of different things in this life, I worked in politics, I worked in public policy, I worked in workforce development, doing this, I did the contracting the construction. Work is work, the reason they pay you to show up is cuz it's not always awesome. But that said not every day of any job is gonna be amazing, that every hour is gonna be like what you might choose to do. But I think it's important to find something to do, this a good way to pass the day. That not every day should be dreadful and some days should be downright exciting, and exhilarating and if they're not, it's not the thing for you. And there's always a fear of career change and the unknown, but at least in my experience, there's equal parts excitement and wonder about it, right? So the unknown can definitely be scary, but I would just encourage people to really embrace it, because the future doesn't look anything like the past. I won't say that I don't worry about my daughter's future anymore, of course I do. [LAUGH] But I think it's really important that she has seen me go through this career journey and this career change and do things that were different, and hard, and scary, right? I think I'm proud that I can be a little bit of an example to her of leaning into that uncertainty and embracing it as an opportunity and not being scared by it, not pushing me to retreat into my zone of comfort. 

YouTube is a great resource to start learning about issues. It's a great way to gain more information to frame better questions if you're trying to join a space like this.

I lead up our efforts to develop the systems and processes that ocean farmers need to be successful. Some days I'll be out on the farm working on the boats. The ocean is unexpected, so boats break often. I spend a fair amount of time jumping in and troubleshooting issues that no one saw coming. I spend time with the team in the lab, understanding the biology of what we're doing. I also do a lot of partnership work. Finally, I work to synthesize our work and share it out for others to learn from.

Director of Infrastructure

Support & Encouragement

Finding The Courage To Change Careers

What's some advice for people who are just scared of getting trapped? &gt;&gt; So you gotta let go of the fear that things are gonna go wrong. Let go of that and just go for the thing, and then guess what? If things don't go exactly as you planned, you learn something, you got the experience, and you clear the space for something else to come in for you. And you realize that is something that you didn't wanna do. But yeah, let go of that fear once you let go of that fear that opens up a whole another world for you. I mean, letting go of that fear is what allowed me to make it as far as being VP of hair, right? To be because when I first got here as director of operations, I was a very fearful person, and I was like they're gonna think I'm not smart enough. They're gonna think this, I need to show up in this way, and that was not the case. And when I saw that, I don't have to be afraid because there is space, and if you show people your passion, your brilliance, there's people that are willing to make that space for you. 

I didn't come out as gay until I was 25 years old. No one else in my family was out and it seemed like being gay was seen as a joke. Once I started working in LGBT rights at The Center, I felt more comfortable coming out.

Vice President of Movement Building

They're going to think I'm not smart enough.

Let Go Of The Fear Of Failure

What advice would you give to someone who wants to do what you do?. &gt;&gt; For me, I think it was really important, although they're few, to identify mentors. I tried to find people who had similar experiences, people who looked like me, who had been successful. And I tried to get in those folks' ears, I tried to work with them, just, soak in, be in their presence, so to speak. Ask questions, one of the things that held me back a little bit in the earlier part of my training and even my career was I didn't wanna ask questions. Because I was afraid that if I asked questions, people would know that I didn't know the answers and they might think that I don't belong in that space. What I realized as I went along is that there were other people who weren't thinking about that, they would just ask the questions, they weren't thinking about how other people would perceive them cuz they didn't have to think about that. And I was like, you know what? If I don't know something, the only way for me to find it out is to ask about it and to seek the answers to the questions that I have. So surrounding yourself with people that are gonna encourage you, that are gonna lift you up, that are gonna celebrate your accomplishments and asking questions and not holding back. 

Professor

You're just trying to convert people and make them agree with your message.

Advice For Starting On Your Career Path

What gave you the courage to actually follow through and actually start and what major obstacles or barriers have you faced or are currently facing in doing your line of work? &gt;&gt; I think at first I was scared. I was really scared to switch my career. And so like the thing that I've always been pursuing, which was music, maybe decided that's not the thing for me. And I didn't know what to, I was like, who am I outside of being add to the rapper? Who am I outside of that? And I didn't know. And it took me some time to just really dive into who I am. I remember having a conversation with my wife. I asked her, I was like, do you think my better days are behind me or ahead of me. And she said, I think your better days are always gonna be ahead of you, and I believe in you. And so I kinda took that back for myself, and I was like, well, I gotta believe in me too. And so just gotta trust it. When I took that first step and there was something positive that happened it made it easier to take the next step and the next step. But there was hurdles, the biggest hurdle that I've had to deal with, which I've dealt with about six times now is when I've lost a mentee, I have a really hard time accepting and dealing with that. And then also you have to be the grief counselor for the rest of the main scenes because that's their friend. And so those have been always the most difficult situations for me because I can't get over it and I missed them. I was thinking about what they could have been and who they were going to be. And I hear their music, I see their pictures, and it just really makes it tough to think about that side of this work. And it's the sad reality about In this world is that tomorrow isn't promised and tonight isn't either. Is that you could be here today and gone today, but my goal now has always been like give them joy now, put a smile on their face now. To do the most surreal thing the craziest surprise for them now, because this could be as close to the dream as we all gonna get. If we don't have another moment, let at least this one be good. &gt;&gt; What advice would you give to someone who wants to pursue something that they don't feel like the space is made for them? &gt;&gt; We can't really control how the world views us. But people will remember what you did for them, and how you made them feel and how they feel supported or whatever feeling that you brought in that room. And so even though at first I couldn't see myself as a mentor cuz I was like, well, what do I know? And then meanwhile, it's like, later on down the road you see like, man, you've had a lot to give. Your perspective is valuable. And maybe it didn't need to be the most profound Confucius type of quote, but it was needed and it was needed from the for that person. And if there's any people who are doubting themselves and feeling like they don't have something to give, you'd be surprised that there's somebody who's waiting to meet you. You're gonna give them that validation to be free, they don't need to see you, they need to know that you exist, because then they're like, man, I can be myself. They give me that same courage, they give me the liberty to pursue it, that's why I say walk in your confidence, cuz you never know who's watching you. 

I believe that in life you don't get what you deserve, you get what you negotiate. So make sure you're always advocating for yourself. Make sure that you're speaking up for what you want and creating opportunities for yourself. Don't just wait for someone to present an opportunity to you.

At Guitars Over Guns, we hire musicians to come into middle schools, high schools, and community centers to create relationships and mentor students for years on end. A mentor will arrive at a school with a lesson plan. We start off with a circle to check in with the students about how they're feeling—that check-in essentially guides the day. We'll teach lessons and lead activities to create a positive experience for students.

Regional Director

Stuff like that doesn't happen to people like me.

Change

Overcoming The Fear Of Failure And Loss

Were you ever afraid that pursuing your passion of recreation and play wasn't feasible? &gt;&gt; Short answer is yes, I was very afraid. I remember when I was in architecture and I was afraid to tell my family that I decided to do something else. Quite frankly, the field of parks and recreation, when I entered it, was a pretty new field and not very mature. And so pay was similar to first year educators, which not good, not right. I also had the experience of losing my father when I was 19 and not sure I was going to get to finish school because of resources. And I shared that with my professor. I said, I don't know if I'll be able to continue, and he actually got me a job on campus. I've worked in parks and recreation and because I'm gay have been asked to leave my work that I was going to be a bad influence on children. And so there's been multiple times in my career where I was like, am I gonna make it? But what each time there was somebody or somebodies. And so what I learned is trusting in humanity. And that most people at the end of the day are good people. There's been multiple times where I was like, I don't know if this is gonna work. And to be honest, I've never been too worried as long as I had enough for food, clothing and shelter. But you only have one person you really have to live with for the rest of your life, that's you. So be true to yourself, believe in yourself and know that you can absolutely make a difference. 

There are a lot of paths into the field of parks and recreation. Only the major cities require a master's degree. I only have my bachelor's degree with a minor in business administration, which is helpful as the application side of the field. One thing that has been really useful for me is ongoing continuing education through the National Recreation and Park Association. Otherwise, hands-on experience is the most beneficial tool for this field.

I lost my dad when I was 19 and wasn't sure I was going to be able to finish college because of a lack of resources. I shared my concerns with my professor and he was able to get me a job on campus so that I could continue.

As a gay woman, I've been asked to leave my work in parks and recreation because I'd be a bad influence on young people. It was discouraging but I learned to trust in humanity. As long as you believe in yourself, you'll make it through.

My day-to-day work varies based on the time of year and the social or environmental issues at hand. I'm here to see what people and place need to provide better opportunity. A typical day for me could include six to eight hours of meetings, site visits, and special events. I spend a lot of time with people, whether in person or through phone calls about various parks and recreation issues.

Director

You need to step away from your work because you're going to be a bad influence as a gay person.

Doubt

Negativity

Pursuing My Passion Despite Challenges

What's the most important life lesson you've learned since you started your career? &gt;&gt; I think not being afraid to be wrong, that's something that I've really had to be okay with. Especially, in a room that can be intimidating, not being afraid to say your opinion. And especially asking others put theirs, too, along the way, cuz you're just gonna be better, right? So not really being afraid of that failure, and not being afraid to ask questions along the way, too. Actually, I know everyone hears it all the time, but it's generally not a stupid question or a dumb question, just ask, if you're thinking it, ask it. And someone else was probably sitting in that same room with you, thinking the same thing, and they were also thinking that it might be stupid ask, but just ask it. 

You need to be able to prove to the teams you want to work for that you're very interested and qualified to work in sports. I recommend finding any experiences you can to build your resume. I've moved to other states just for a three-month internship to add to my resume. Experiences like that not only help you figure out what area you want to work in, but they also help prove to teams that you're passionate about working in the field.

Manager of Baseball Research

You didn't play this sport, so what do you know about it?

Failure

Don’t Be Afraid To Be Wrong

Is there something you would tell your younger self to help you jumpstart in whatever you ended up doing, any sort of advice you would give your younger self? &gt;&gt; I would say do your research, you think you like history? Talk to some people who have done PhD work and see what it's like. But the other thing is, I was thinking about everything I've done, even though it's been disparate and it's been here and there and back and forth, it all kind of leads to where I am now. So that's pretty exciting. So maybe I would say, [LAUGH] just keep trying, make mistakes, go forward because it's all been valuable. There's great value in going into the first day in a new job, in a new career, and being scared, that's when the learning really happens. And if you are in a position where everything is comfortable every day, I've done this before, I've done that, it's not great and it's not really gonna help you in this emerging economy. So if you're in positions where you're like, what am I gonna do? I've never done this before. You have to figure stuff out, there's a lot of growth that comes from that. 

I followed an unusual path, moving from history to journalism to labor union administration to workforce development. For a workforce development career, I would select a path that builds communication skills, includes some exposure to labor economics, and, for some jobs, includes a counseling component.

One of the great things about my job is that there are no typical days. On any given day, I might be meeting with community leaders seeking better jobs for residents, or meeting with a tech employer seeking to hire diverse talent, or writing a research report about changing job skills, or even producing a video about job and educational opportunities for work building electric and self-driving cars.

Program Manager

I'm an introvert, so I'm just not good at talking to and networking with people.

Fear

Follow Your Passion In Spite Of Your Fears

Follow Your Passion In Spite Of Your Fears

Julia Gabor

269 videos on Fear: