When I launched my career in policy research right out of the University of Illinois, I had no idea how reality would compare to classroom theory. What an eye-opener to experience real life politics and do so in three different state legislatures (each very different). Â As a legislative staff member, you can never tell how you might being pulled into "the thick of it". Â I learned it was sink or swim and had to grow up fast professionally. Most of my friends and family had no real understanding of my situation. To avoid copious detail, I'll simply say that it left me with a unique perspective and an inner toughness not taught in the classroom. More importantly, I developed a confidence that I can go through anything, learn from it, apply it to new situations and move on to the next adventure.
My career(s) have covered the gamut, but none short-lived. I worked for a decade in politics and corporate health care as a budget and program analyst. A decade as a business owner of a successful international marketing company led into six years as a tech and marketing writer in wireless and protocol software. Then, seemingly out of nowhere, I found myself mesmerized (initially as an avocation) by everyday people launching cures to major social problems and doing so at great personal sacrifice! Â I don't know why, but I felt compelled to research and write about them. Later, I invested my marketing background in bringing their causes greater visibility. I did so by creating the National Institute for Civic Enterprise and, later, as a nonprofit marketing director, fundraiser, and consultant.
The hidden common thread in all of these seemingly discordant careers is the skill of writing. I've written legislative reports, corporate business manuals, and entrepreneurial training manuals. Then I learned how to "write tight" composing software manuals and release notes. I took a gamble and researched a nonfiction book conducting interviews across America. That eight years led to a fundraising book, website content, blogs, newsletters, grants, and more. Maybe my instinct at age 6 was true, "I will be a writer". Â It was a long route to come back to that prophesy but just look at how many different ways someone can experience writing! Â If I'd pigeonholed myself to one style out of college, imagine all of the life experiences I would have missed.
Over the years, I have developed a heart for hurting people coming from, I believe, personal and job stumbles as well as life's unavoidable tragedies. It gave me a sensitivity to the "why do they do it" as well as the "how do they do it" side of civic and social entrepreneurs. These individuals convey perspectives in interviews that are seldom taught in a classroom. It's a course in learning, overcoming, and sacrificial giving.
I'm a skillful researcher, tech writer, and content creator. Those skills I have learned from my mentors and in the classroom. As a journalistic nonfiction writer, I didn't have a template for what I should write about or even how to go about doing it. (I'm happy to say it resulted in a Chicago Sun-Times feature article, speaking engagements, a radio show, and talk show interviews.) Â I've personally experienced and read about many topics from politics to social impact. I'm always a student and I won't argue that there will always be a need for classroom training. But sometimes the best training for writing is simply experience and real life ... falling and learning forward and living to tell others so they can learn, too.
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