Tag: apprenticeship

Praxis Customer Reviews

We opened up customer reviews on the Praxis Facebook page, and in the first day, we got some amazing feedback!

“I spent September 2015 – July 2016 in the Praxis program. It was without a doubt the most productive and wonderful year of my life. I started the program as an 18-year-old high school graduate with no real skills. I left the program with two full time job offers, an awesome website, an article published on Vox, and so much more.

I can’t really describe the effect Praxis had on my life. It seems like all my peers are struggling every single day. In 3 years they will graduate from school and struggle to find a job that can pay off their debt. The future is scary for most young adults. That’s not the case for me. Praxis gave me everything I needed and more to come out of the program ready to conquer the world!

Opting out of school and joining Praxis was the single greatest decision of my life. If you’re ready to kick life to the next level, Praxis is your answer.”

And…

“Praxis changed the game for me. It connected me with driven, high-growth, ambitious, life-learners and self-starters. It introduced me to a world where people who want things go out and get them, on purpose. They don’t wait for good things to come or for permission—they just start building.

The experience as a whole flipped my notions about the aim of education on its head—from going school to “get a job” versus learning as a means to creating a fulfilling life according to my terms.

It challenged me. The curriculum, the underlying philosophy, the people. All
of these elements pushed me beyond the original notions I had about my personal limits. Praxis is to young professionals what accelerators are to startups.

If you’ve ever wondered of what you’re truly capable and wish you could start working to discover that sooner rather than later…don’t waste another minute. Apply right now. Jump in. Get started. You won’t regret it.”

And…

“Praxis is full of the highest caliber young people that I have ever met. From the very beginning of the program the growth is immediately noticeable. If you are ready to reach the next level, apply for Praxis and break the mold.”

And…

“Praxis has launched my career forward by more than I can express. I’ve learned real-life skills that I’ve used to create massive growth during my Apprenticeship. I’ve got data proof that I’m valuable – something employers care about much more than a degree (which is becoming more and more meaningless).

Most people my age are just beginning their 4-year-long path to massive debt that they’ll be paying for into their 30’s. Meanwhile, I’m spending net $0 on my real-life education.

On top of all the knowledge and skills I’ve gained, I also have an amazing career as Sales Manager at a tech startup. I truly feel like I’m growing and learning every day. Best feeling ever. Thanks Praxis!!”

And…

“Praxis was a quarter million dollar decision for me. I offer no exaggeration. I completed the Praxis program from Feb ’14 to Nov ’14, was promptly promoted by my business partner the day it ended to VP of Business Development, and have earned over $250,000 in income since I began at my business partner.

I opted out of college after one year, did some stuff in the middle, and ultimately was introduced to Praxis, a completely life-altering decision. I am a high performance sales professional, a creative marketer, and a valuable professional. I’ve created over $2,000,000 in revenue for my business partner in 2 years, and countless millions in revenue for my clients.

I would not have this life if I had let Praxis be an idle thought instead of number one priority. I have built a life, career, and skills that will carry me through a successful life.

Apply for Praxis. Ask me if you want and further details.”

We set out to create the best education/career program in the world and we have.  We set out to create a program where we are directly accountable to the customer for value creation, and we did.

We’re just getting started.

What Homeschoolers and Startups Know About Learning…

Check out this post on the Praxis blog, where I make the case that homeschoolers and self-directed learners already embody the learning style that is the future of hiring and professional development.

From the post:

“Classrooms don’t prepare young people for success in life and career.  They’re slow, expensive, often boring, the incentives are all wrong, the setting is dull, customization is almost non-existent, and lack of real choice means peers and professors alike aren’t the most valuable people to add to your personal network.

Home educators and self-directed learners know this.  They eschew the conveyor belt approach to education.  They step out of the classroom and into the world.  They understand that real learning is a lot more fun, varied, and valuable than chasing the same paper as everyone else.”

I share the three things that homeschooling an apprenticeships have in common:

  • Interest vs. credentials
  • Doing vs. memorizing
  • Being around vs. reading about

Check out the post.  It’s good.

Get Experience with an Apprenticeship Before You Consider More Costly Credentials

Over at the (newly redesigned!) Praxis blog I lay out five reasons an apprenticeship beats more classroom time chasing paper.

  1. A better context for learning
  2. A better signal of real ability
  3. Smaller downside
  4. Bigger upside
  5. More fun!

Check out the post, and browse the new Praxis website.  Including this cool new explainer video:

Apprenticeships Aren’t Just for Welders; Startups Aren’t Just for Coders

I make the case over at the Praxis blog that apprenticeships, especially at startups and growing small businesses, are the best possible way to learn and build an awesome career.

Be around people who are doing what you want to do.  Create value for them.  Don’t just theorize, but practice.

“There is no better way to be a part of something meaningful, to learn what entrepreneurship means, to get a great job, and to take the first steps in an exciting career and life than to apprentice at a startup.

Not everyone wants to write code.  And startups need more than just coders.  They need people who love people!  People who want to learn marketing, sales, and operations.  People who are eager to contribute to a powerful vision and help it grow.

If you want to build an amazing career and be a part of the entrepreneurial Renaissance there’s no need to wait on the sidelines or blast out resumes and hope.”

Check out the post and check out Praxis if you want to build a great career today!

“I Hated School but Thought I Had to Do More of It”

One of the youngest participants in the Praxis program, Charles Porges, was just hired on full-time at his business partner, even though he’s not even halfway through the apprenticeship.

No one, Charles included, assumed someone straight out of high school could be doing amazing work in project management and analysis at a growing startup.  If you’re not loving and excelling at formal schooling, how can you build a career and succeed in the market?  Turns out the opposite is more often true.  The academic-focused world tends to devalue what the market values and vice-versa.

Charles’ story is inspiring to me.  Not because he got a job without the debt and waste, but because he’s happy and fulfilled in a challenging, meaningful work environment.  That’s what it’s all about.

I’ll let him tell the story.  Here’s what Charles shared with the Praxis group:

“Yesterday was my first day of working full-time at my business partner.

Words cannot express how ecstatic I am to be in the position that I currently am. Every single day of work is extremely valuable for both my business partner and myself. Not to mention, I believe deeply in the product, and my boss is one of the most interesting people I’ve ever met. Every one of my interactions with him has been both positive and meaningful.

This time about one year ago, I was in online high school, dreading every second I spent in front of my computer. My days were filled with meaningless assignments, time-wasting projects, and a feeling of hopelessness.

And not too long before that, I was in public high school. I felt like I was in a prison for forty hours a week, and on parole when I had to complete hours upon hours of homework. Most teachers were up to par with your average DMV worker, and almost none of my peers shared my ambition or intellectual curiosity. I was nothing short of depressed, and there were many days where I wished I simply didn’t have to wake up in the morning.

Ever since I joined Praxis, I’ve felt like I have been living a different life. Not only am I free from the cage of state-mandated education, but I know that every action I’m taking is for the purpose of creating a better version of myself. My Praxis advisers have been instrumental to my success in the program so far, and I would like to thank them for all of their guidance. I do not know where I would be without this program.

I only wish that I could talk to my younger self and tell him that there is another way!”

If you want to apprentice with a startup, get coaching and rigorous personal development, and learn by doing, let’s talk about Praxis.  Whether you’re coming out of highschool like Charles, in college and wilting, or have a degree but aren’t happy with your career prospects, we can help.