Transitioning from secure, meaningful employment to living, loving and learning as a freelance creative was a massive shift.

In addition, I had to learn to match spirit with commerce outside a well-funded organizational setting. But the price I paid was well worth it! ~ IbraDanCreative GetOut! Stories

My story is about decades of dedication to an organization and worthy cause, then finding myself suddenly out of work at the height of my career. What if what happened to me happened to you?

I was proud to lead one of Canada’s BEST National Internship Programs.

Of course, leaving a job that felt more like a calling, but I was now free to do things on my terms, not my bosses. And, of course, that kind of freedom takes getting used to after a lifetime of working in a corporate setting.

I truly loved my work, my colleagues, and the clients we served. Finally, however, my career identity was thrown a sucker punch, and I was in a what the hell am I going to do crisis. Sooner or later, it happens to most of us.

Don’t assume you’re safe because of seniority or decades of producing results. Often people don’t make it to retirement; They’re tossed under the bus years earlier and replaced by someone younger and cheaper. Or even worse, replaced by a fucking robot!

Despite years of a big bucket of government funding at my disposal to create and make a difference, the end had come, and I felt a profound sense of loss, like a death in my work family.

No, like a whole school bus of kids driven off a cliff into the murky waters below. We were axed by the grim reaper, with our futures in turmoil.

The universe had forced an existential crisis upon our national network. Despite knowing we left a lasting legacy on the lives of so many people, it sucked!

Our efforts translated into collaborating and coaching hundreds of staff and volunteers. Guiding 13,000 Interns, 7,451 Mentors in 787 Canadian Cities, Towns, Villages, 90 Ministries, Crown Corporations, and Agencies totalling $163 million in Government Funding over 14 Years — WHEW, that’s a mouth full of impressive stats!

“Did we reach the end, or was this the beginning of a predetermined karmic universal shift we were destined for? To me, it felt like a stroke of bad luck.

Yet, on some level, I knew I would look back and realize this was a beautiful example of my spirit having an awkward human experience.” ~ Daniel-Ibrahim

On the upside, I was well-positioned, emotionally, financially, and skill-wise, to support another of life’s curb balls.

What If…?

Armed with the right severance package, no debt, and tons of inspiration, I was poised to rebrand and shift myself in a new and exciting direction. Then, finally, I would see a different kind of success lingering around the bend.

I’d been there before (on a smaller scale) and knew what it took to launch a new idea or project near and dear to my creative soul. History had already taught me how to lose it all and start again! The transition sucked the big one, however!

Nothing is more painful than dedicating your career to a worthy cause only to suddenly have it pulled out from under you.

There’s no point playing the would have, should have, could have blame game.Bad things happen to good people, so dust yourself off, my friend; put one foot in front of the other and push on!

‘What if…?’ you can seek new and brighter opportunities.

Suddenly it dawned on me that I had accelerated the process of carving a more serene, super-creative storytelling lifestyle.

Despite the cool shit I had done, I was also done churning paperwork in an office pod the size of a bathtub, staring at a grey backdrop, smelling the farts of my colleagues waiting for another meeting to pass. — There’s got to be a better way, I thought!

I had longed for this type of forced opportunity much of my ‘employed by someone else’ adult life.

But was I ready and able to branch out independently and keep the same comfy roof over my head? Only time will tell.

I heard comments (and voices in my brain) like; Get a real job before your savings dwindle to nothing.

How will you make enough money to pay your bills? What on earth will you do? Grow up! — — all anxious-laden viewpoints as I caught myself having lucid moments of self-doubt, listing to others give me unsolicited advice.

But then suddenly, I’d get all dewy-eyed and recall countless examples of inspired people doing what mattered to pursue their passions sustainably; If they can LIVE LOVE and LEARN a proud life on their terms and the terms of those near and dear to them, why couldn’t I?

I was clicking rapidly past 54 years on the life-o-meter and thought, ‘if not now, then when?’ — It was finally time to match spirit with commerce as I shifted from surviving to thriving.

As the National Project Manager for one of Canada’s largest charities, I led the most successful National Internship Program ever! If I could do that, then I could do anything!!

It was time to shed the creative shackles of a traditional employer/employee dynamic. I knew deep in the pit of my gut I needed to shift, yet I feared the uncertainty of a rapidly changing gig economy.

Can you relate, my mortal buddy?

You’ll be OK…. imagine….

Working your way up a well-resourced corporate ladder has many perks, and the people you work with are terrific. But, at that moment in your career, you’ll sadly lack the gut-wrenching courage to just up and quit.

So you secretly pray for some divine career intervention to force you out the door with a golden parachute to pursue the vague’ish destiny that every aching bone in your body feels coming.

In my case, the National Internships Program I led emerged as one of the most successful National Programs in the organization’s history, with four out of five participants using their paid internship to either find gainful employment or realize a springboard to pursuing higher education. — We had a profound impact on thousands of lives across the country.

I’m proud to have played a leadership role and made a profound difference in so many lives; what a story to tell, what a legacy to leave.

That translated to over 13,000 Canadian youth over 14 years since 1997, all under 30, most of whom were non-grads, many of whom represented significantly underserved Canadian minorities, social service recipients, members of First Nations, and Francophones.

We paired clients with more than 7,450 mentors and dozens of facilitators and guest speakers spanning the entirety of our Canadian Provinces and Territories.

Urban-rural, English French well peppered with diversity and social inclusion demographics.

Within this Program, we did much more than help a disadvantaged person find a job and return to school. Instead, we offered a safe, supportive environment where young people learned valuable life skills, employability assets, career planning and developed their sense of self.

“The Program benefited the groups of people who needed it most and represented the highest social services delivery standards.”

We set 50% of the internships for youth who had not completed high school or faced multiple barriers to employment, 30% for high school graduates and 20% for those who had graduated from College or University.

I committed over two and a half decades of my work life to an organization with a commitment to young adults that, to this day, is well-known from their earliest days in Canada over 170 years ago to the present day as a leading national charity.

I was leaving my job at the height of my career — that’s inspiring!

As a result, I held the title to have an excellent track record of training tomorrow’s leaders in a culture of peace and social inclusion.

I left a lasting legacy that few people can say at the end of their first career. — Not bad for a constructive irritant getting tossed under the bus.

In July 2011, the Federal Public Sector Youth Internship Program we collectively created was declared a big success; the government believed it had met its objectives.

Accordingly, the Program began a wind-down process, with a final closure date of March 2013. — I’ll never forget that day. It sucked the big one because we all knew it would be hard to top this decades-long gig with anything as lucrative and impactful.

The parting email to my colleagues read; “The Government of Canada valued our work from a policy and operations perspective. Repeatedly we heard of how ‘reliable a delivery partner we were and how accountable/transparent the Program was.’

When we collaborated, we added value, impressing others with our strategic planning. Our nationwide infrastructure was exemplary, and the thought work for planning and evaluation was superior.

They were most impressed with the project’s outcomes, noting that it was one of the longest-running employment outcomes-based program funding contracts they had ever given to a national community-based organization at that tim.” — Daniel Trepanier, National Manager.

Ultimately, as the National Internships unit shut down, we all moved on to new endeavours. But, as cliches go, ‘good things come to an end as one door closes, another opens.’

The years that followed

Armed with a rich history of interaction with diverse populations, I aimed to continue generating energy, enthusiasm, curiosity, and engagement while mastering the art of sharing Live Love Learn STORIES.

For the next seven years, I focused my extensive experience on leading facilitated learning processes with a focus on profiling asset building, academics, self-awareness, and essential skills development.

But the bumpy gig road has been messy and peppered with summer sabbaticals hanging out at Toronto Island Marina on my 30′ sailboat, attempting to feel what semi-retirement could be like. — a story for another time.

Nevertheless, I’ve held my own like a phoenix rising from life’s ashes.

To this day, one area of expertise near and dear to my heart is using various media to tell inspiring stories.

Sometimes that includes profiling environments that allow individuals and groups to enhance performance and achieve desired outcomes. But alas, I’m beginning to believe that mother destiny has other plans for my partner and me. — — time will tell.

When the unknown is calling you, answer the call. Don’t hang up. Start the conversation and talk with yourself about what matters to you.

What if YOUR life was more inspiring because you got excited over the things you’ve always wanted to do?

I recommend getting scared shitless!

• Think about something you’ve always wanted to do but are apprehensive about trying. Something a bit wild that scares the hell out of you. The more scared you are, the more likely you’re onto something epic and life-altering.
• Anything goes; Start or leave a relationship? Quit your job to launch something new? Pack your bags and take an epic journey halfway around the world. — what’s it going to be before your too dam old or, yet worse, dead?
• Even if it’s a hunch, don’t worry about the details at this early stage. Dream and capture your best ‘what if’ ideas, thoughts and feelings — definitely journal.
• Do you have an existing idea that needs a new twist or taken to the next level?
• What would you do if the doctor said you had five years to live, came into extra money, or suddenly were cast into early retirement?

I’m not suggesting you quit your job tomorrow or drop everything to travel the world as a missionary (although other people have). Take calculated risks, not reckless ones.

Change takes us to the future and helps us transition from one place to another. Change is necessary. Change is inspirational. — embrace it! — Daniel-Ibrahim Shikder-Trepanier

What’s calling you to make a change? Are you ready to go into the unknown?

Please send me a message and let me know how that’s going for you.

With love,