My name is Jeff Kruman. I am 28 years old and grew up on Long Island. I attended the University of Maryland where I majored in Economics. The bulk of my working career has been working in and managing restaurants in Washington D.C. I spent the majority of my time working at one of the busiest restaurants in the U.S., the Old Ebbitt Grill, which is only steps from the White House.
More recently, I stepped away from the restaurant industry seeking the much coveted, “what else is out there?” Quitting a job where I had been successful and valued by upper management, was one of the toughest decisions I had faced at that moment in my life. Now that I have had some time and can see the forest through the trees (to some degree), I can now say that this was the best decision I have ever made.
Over the last year, I traveled to Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Cambodia, and Vietnam. You can find some more of my stories about quitting the restaurant industry and my travels here, here, and here.
While there has been a lot of fun along the way, there have been struggles. Struggles with creating structure in my life, pressures to find my calling, pressures to make a decision, and still a little pressure from my Dad to consider Law School (sorry, Dad). I left a comfortable job to find MY path. I have been learning that there is immense pressure to follow the tried and true methods of making a living and making a life.
Between, and after, my excursions abroad, I bartended, waited tables, and worked as a legal assistant to pay the bills. I am still searching for the almighty answer we have all been asked since we were 5, “what do you want to be when you grow up?”
“What do you want to be when you are grown up?”
I used to want to be a firefighter so I could slide down the cool poles like on TV. Then I wanted to work at a pizzeria so I could throw the dough up in the air (this one I actually accomplished… throwing the dough successfully is another story).
At 28, I continue to struggle with that one concrete “thing” I want to do. I am fascinated and inspired by people who break the rules, who refuse to conform to the standards society pressures us to conform to, and those who strive to design their lives.
That is what I am going to explore here with all of you. I want to talk about and learn from people who have the audacity and tenacity to live their lives THEIR WAY.
I want to talk about the psychological barriers keeping us from our dreams and how we can overcome them. I want to delve into decision-making, learning, and leadership. I want to discuss tactics and perspectives that allow us to lead the lives we want to live and do the things we want to do.
“Life shrinks or expands in proportion to ones courage.”- Anais Nin
I want to build a supportive community of people who want to see their lives expand, one courageous decision or action at a time.
Ready to join me?
Jeff Kruman 