Young Professionals: Up Your Career Game at FEEcon 2018!

Before I randomly stumbled into my trade as an editor and a writer, I had absolutely no clue what I wanted to be, choosing instead to travel to see if the answer would “just come to me”—for two years.

That didn’t really work, amazing as it was.

So, instead, I signed up for a mind-opening apprenticeship, where I was one of the oldest participants at 26, and discovered a passion for working with other people’s words. But how could I translate that into an actual career?

This snowball effect of connections that happened is the reason I’m so excited to present the chance to you to begin exploring the idea of finding a career.

Somehow, it happened pretty organically, but I still need to give thanks and acknowledgment where it’s due: to my apprenticeship and its introduction to the very idea of entrepreneurship, entering the workforce without a traditional college degree—many participants being homeschooled or college dropouts—and what “forward tilt” looks like.

My apprenticeship also opened the doors to a whole new set of ideas, ones that belonged to ideologies new to me—libertarianism and the freedom movement—and that also came with a group of absolutely amazing and, dare I say, brilliant and thoughtful individuals who I now have the pleasure of working with on a regular basis at the Foundation for Economic Education.

This growth and the snowball effect of connections and networks that happened are the reason I’m so excited to present to you the chance to begin exploring the idea of finding a career—and not necessarily one in the field you studied for. On your own terms.

Can you believe that exists?

That’s why I’m encouraging you to sign up for FEEcon 2018. I can’t wait to meet you there!

Some of the talks and panels I can’t wait to attend include:

Libertarian Writers Panel: Molding a Passion for Ideas into a Career as a Writer

As an editor and a budding writer, I’m stoked to attend a panel talking about making writing a career, something I’ve been experiencing many challenges with.

Session description: Our Libertarian Writers’ panel brings together writers from different mediums who share a common passion. FEE staff writer Brittany Hunter, comedian Lou Perez, YouTuber Julie Borowski, and book author Connor Boyack provide practical advice on building a career as a writer around ideas you are passionate about.

Learning to take critiques from trusted sources is invaluable for creative professionals.

Honing Your Craft: Learning to Take Criticism from Trusted Mentors

I’m especially excited for this because I can’t help but wonder how to both find mentors and build the kind of collaborative relationship that helps me grow into an even better writer.

Session description: Learning to take critiques from trusted sources is invaluable for creative professionals. In our Honing Your Craft panel, keynote speaker Tina Guo, along with screenwriter Paul Guay (Liar, Liar), film composer John Boyd (A Lego Brickumentary), and photojournalist Lido Vizzutti share tips on how to get the most out of criticism and grow as an artist.

Stop Asking Permission: How to Launch a Career that Doesn’t Suck

I love stories, and I know mine very well—but what about how other people made it work?

Everyone wants a cool career. The opportunity to create one has never been greater.

Session description: Everyone wants a cool career. The opportunity to create one has never been greater. Unfortunately, years of school and university make it harder, not easier, to build the kinds of skills needed to think like an entrepreneur and launch a career. We’ll talk about what it takes and how to break free of the conveyor-belt mindset so you can take on the world.

Rethinking Education

I don’t believe in traditional education, having worked in democratic and self-directed learning spaces and seen how they work. But what else is out there?

Session description: The traditional models of schooling just aren’t working for so many children and even educators and parents. We are spending more and more money per child on school, but the intended improvements in education haven’t followed. Students are graduating from college with thousands of dollars in student debt, yet they lack the skills needed to compete in today’s job market. Join us for a conversation about what is possible in the world of education when we push the limits of thinking about what school should be.

See you at FEEcon June 7-9, 2018!