Everyone has a story.

Mine began when I was 11 years old and I decided to get a job.

Each morning, I delivered newspapers door-to-door throughout my neighborhood. I worked 365 days a year for more than 7 straight years.

That experience taught me three rules of successful career management: Every day begins at 4:30 a.m., the customer is always right, and self-regulation is a superpower.

It also instilled in me a belief that work is a cornerstone of identity, dignity, and purpose.

So, I earned a degree in human resources, then a doctorate in education policy, and built a 30-year career helping people and organizations navigate career pathways, especially during periods of change.

I have worked with national nonprofits, local communities, and workforce and education leaders. I’ve launched initiatives, lead research projects, and built systems.

And I’ve always done it with the same growth mindset that I had when I was 11 years old, rummaging through the bushes, searching for a newspaper that missed its mark.

“You’ll get better, Jeff,” I told myself then.

And I did.

What’s your story?