Bill: Wow. 25. That was -- Josh: Hmmm. Elyse: I actually already answered this. Anonymously. Through your site. You couldn’t tell which one was mine? Kate: Nope. I can never guess the anonymous submissions. Bill: What was I even doing at 25? Josh: That was a long time ago. | "I would tell my 25 year old self to be patient and keep putting yourself in places where you are forced into sharp learning curves. That way, when expectations aren’t met down the road, you’ll have the confidence, skills, and experiences to adapt to new realities." -- Josh |
Bill: I was… Hmm. You know, when you graduate matters. The economy had just crashed when I graduated. There was no work available to anybody at the time. I started working with my brother at a car dealership. And then I just… stayed there. For 5 years.
I got so wrapped up in everything. And I guess because jobs had been so few and far between when I was first looking, I was scared to leave and not find something else. You also have to understand -- back when I graduated, it was much more taboo to try a bunch of different jobs. You were supposed to -- you know-- pick a thing and stick to it and build a life. It was just starting to change at that point but jumping around was still considered taboo.
I got so wrapped up in everything. And I guess because jobs had been so few and far between when I was first looking, I was scared to leave and not find something else. You also have to understand -- back when I graduated, it was much more taboo to try a bunch of different jobs. You were supposed to -- you know-- pick a thing and stick to it and build a life. It was just starting to change at that point but jumping around was still considered taboo.
If I were 25 today, I’d say to try a BUNCH of different things. Dabble all over the place. Try lots of types of jobs. That’s not considered a bad thing now. And this is the time in your life to take a risk. You’ve got nothing to lose, right?
And beyond that, just focus on building lots of skills rather than going deep with one.
Josh: I guess I would piggyback off of that. When I was 25 I was just about to graduate law school, move back to Michigan and start working for Detroit Labs -- but in business development, not law. I just remember being so anxious about whether I was making the right career choice. It felt like the weight of the world was on my shoulders. At that point, I was focusing on where I would end up or how my next step could affect where I would land in 5 or 10 years down the road. That brought a lot of anxiety and at times the anxiety was… debilitating.
But I was wrong.
And beyond that, just focus on building lots of skills rather than going deep with one.
Josh: I guess I would piggyback off of that. When I was 25 I was just about to graduate law school, move back to Michigan and start working for Detroit Labs -- but in business development, not law. I just remember being so anxious about whether I was making the right career choice. It felt like the weight of the world was on my shoulders. At that point, I was focusing on where I would end up or how my next step could affect where I would land in 5 or 10 years down the road. That brought a lot of anxiety and at times the anxiety was… debilitating.
But I was wrong.
"Having that attitude of just following your gut -- not overthinking it, just going with things -- that’s how I got to the point I’m at with Detroit Labs today.." -- Elyse
It’s nearly 5 years later now and what I learned is that it’s not about how my actions today will affect the long term future. The goal now is how much I’m learning. I’ve learned a ton at Detroit Labs -- sales, contracts, operations… so many other little things along the way. I feel like I’m just building up this giant toolbox that I’ll carry with me the rest of my life.
It’s interesting. There is just as much cloudiness now around where I’m going to be 5 or 10 years down the road now as there was 5 years ago. There just isn’t that same unhealthy anxiety around it.
So, I would tell my 25 year old self to be patient and keep putting yourself in places where you are forced into sharp learning curves. That way, when expectations aren’t met down the road, you’ll have the confidence, skills, and experiences to adapt to new realities.
Kate: Elyse?
Elyse: Well, I did already answer this. But when I think about that time...
You know, most of the time I pick my decisions logically. But it seems like the biggest decisions I picked with my gut. Like, going to Saint Mary’s? I was signed up to go to college somewhere else. Then I met these girls from Saint Mary’s and I was like, “That seems cool I’ll go there” and switched my admission. Or like, being the manager of the Football team at Notre Dame. Had no clue how much work that was going to be. Didn’t care. Glad I didn’t know. I just decided to do it one day.
It’s interesting. There is just as much cloudiness now around where I’m going to be 5 or 10 years down the road now as there was 5 years ago. There just isn’t that same unhealthy anxiety around it.
So, I would tell my 25 year old self to be patient and keep putting yourself in places where you are forced into sharp learning curves. That way, when expectations aren’t met down the road, you’ll have the confidence, skills, and experiences to adapt to new realities.
Kate: Elyse?
Elyse: Well, I did already answer this. But when I think about that time...
You know, most of the time I pick my decisions logically. But it seems like the biggest decisions I picked with my gut. Like, going to Saint Mary’s? I was signed up to go to college somewhere else. Then I met these girls from Saint Mary’s and I was like, “That seems cool I’ll go there” and switched my admission. Or like, being the manager of the Football team at Notre Dame. Had no clue how much work that was going to be. Didn’t care. Glad I didn’t know. I just decided to do it one day.
"I’d say to try a BUNCH of different things. Dabble all over the place. Try lots of types of jobs. That’s not considered a bad thing now." -- Bill | So then I graduated, but it was 2009. And I majored in communications. At that point, there were just no communications jobs on the market, especially for recent college grads. A lot like Bill’s situation. So I took a job in retail back in Ohio. Then I heard about this admin job thing up in Detroit and I was like, “Ok I’ll go do that why not.” |
Having that attitude of just following your gut -- not overthinking it, just going with things -- that’s how I got to the point I’m at with Detroit Labs today.
Josh: I don’t know. I’ve sort of swung away from that actually.
Elyse: Really?
Josh: Yeah.. A lot of times my gut decisions were heavily tied to what you are feeling at the moment. So, I think that’s been a big part about growing up for me -- being able to recognize and sift through emotions to make good judgement calls.
Kate: Sounds like you’re talking about mindfulness.
Josh: Exactly.
Bill: So-- are you going to finish the rest of that garlic sauce?
Josh: I don’t know. I’ve sort of swung away from that actually.
Elyse: Really?
Josh: Yeah.. A lot of times my gut decisions were heavily tied to what you are feeling at the moment. So, I think that’s been a big part about growing up for me -- being able to recognize and sift through emotions to make good judgement calls.
Kate: Sounds like you’re talking about mindfulness.
Josh: Exactly.
Bill: So-- are you going to finish the rest of that garlic sauce?