I Moved to Tampa Before I Even Applied to Graduate School

At 23 years old, I transferred my job from Tallahassee to Tampa because I intended to attend graduate school at the University of South Florida. There was just one important detail: I hadn’t applied yet.I paid for the move myself, rented a truck and car dolly, found an apartment, coordinated the end of one lease with the beginning of another, and drove around Tampa with my checkbook getting the utilities connected—all before knowing whether the graduate program would accept me.From the outside, it probably looked as though I had uprooted my life without a plan. But in my mind, I had created something different: a no-lose situation. I still had a job. I already had an undergraduate degree. I was returning to a city I knew. The state would pay for graduate courses related to my work. And while my application was being considered, I could begin proving myself as a non-degree-seeking student.In this episode of IN THE KNOW with Tony Reeves, I revisit one of the boldest decisions of my early professional life and examine the difference between recklessness and taking a calculated chance on yourself.Sometimes you don’t receive confirmation before making the move. Sometimes the move is how you position yourself for the opportunity.At 23 years old, I transferred my job from Tallahassee to Tampa because I intended to attend graduate school at the University of South Florida. There was just one important detail: I hadn’t applied yet. I paid for the move myself, rented a truck and car dolly, found an apartment, coordinated the end of one lease with the beginning of another, and drove around Tampa with my checkbook getting the utilities connected—all before knowing whether the graduate program would accept me.From the outside, it probably looked as though I had uprooted my life without a plan. But in my mind, I had created something different: a no-lose situation. I still had a job. I already had an undergraduate degree. I was returning to a city I knew. The state would pay for graduate courses related to my work. And while my application was being considered, I could begin proving myself as a non-degree-seeking student.In this episode of IN THE KNOW with Tony Reeves, I revisit one of the boldest decisions of my early professional life and examine the difference between recklessness and taking a calculated chance on yourself. Sometimes you don’t receive confirmation before making the move. Sometimes the move is how you position yourself for the opportunity.Have you ever made a decision that looked risky to everyone else but made perfect sense once you understood what you still had working in your favor?If you’re confronting a career decision, weighing security against purpose, or learning to trust yourself without having every guarantee, explore the Career Crossroads Collection: Decisions, Doubt, and Owning Your Place. The collection brings together four personal reflections about leaving comfort, making consequential decisions, confronting imposter feelings, and learning to own your professional value. 📘 Purchase the Career Crossroads Collection: https://mynameisreeves-shop.fourthwall.com/products/career-crossroads-collection-decisions-doubt-and-owning-your-place For additional stories, deeper reflections, and behind-the-scenes context, join my Patreon community—including the free membership option. Start at AnthonyReeves.com and choose the gateway that works best for you.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/in-the-know-with-tony-reeves--5596987/support.