Community Highlights: Meet Meagan Skerchock of Perspectiv

Today we’d like to introduce you to Meagan Skerchock.  

Hi Meagan, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
I grew up in Burlington, a suburb of Cincinnati on the Kentucky side of the Ohio River; we relocated to Lima when I was 9. After high school, I chose to pursue Aerospace Engineering at The Ohio State University, but doubts about my chosen major grew over the summer before college, and I dropped out of OSU on Orientation Day. Ultimately, I enrolled at a film school, a life decision based primarily on the fact that I thought Davy Jones’ beard in Pirates 2 was cool. I’ve now worked in the Motion Picture Industry for 12 years; I’ve moved nearly 20 times since graduating from Full Sail University to chase big-budget features and build a resume I could be proud of. A member of unions on both the East Coast and the West Coast, I’ve been fortunate to work on some of the biggest Hollywood films. However, about six years in, my career that I was once passionate about had started to feel like work. 

The fulfillment I sought in a career and had failed to find in film is best summed up by Neil deGrasse Tyson in Letters from an Astrophysicist, “My personal goal is to leave the world a little better off for my having lived in it.” Viewed through that lens, I realized moviemaking was not my life’s calling. During this time, I’d become increasingly interested in how large, iconic companies were born and how they became household names – Google, Apple, Microsoft, the list goes on. I began reading a lot of literature on this subject, but one book, in particular, stood out to me. In Zero to One: Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future, Peter Thiel writes, “A great company is a conspiracy to change the world.” Reading Thiel’s book sparked in me a strong desire to pursue entrepreneurship, though, at the time, I had no idea what to do or how to do it.

Feeling lost, I considered going back to college to get my engineering degree. Luckily, before committing to this path, I was able to speak with an aerospace engineer who was very unhappy in her profession. She worked in a cubicle, was prohibited from speaking about her work, and had little to no interaction with her coworkers. During our conversation, I realized that I was no closer to making an informed career decision than I was when I was 17 years old. It became evident that without such perspectives, I would never truly know if I was making the right choice. That’s how the idea for my startup was born. 

Perspectiv is a conspiracy to change the world. So often, teens are funneled into college and saddled with student loan debt, only to discover later that they’re truly unhappy in their careers. Imagine the world we’d live in and where we could be as a civilization if more people reached their potential. I believe that if people can find a career that aligns with their interests, goals, and values, they’d be more inclined to work harder, dig deeper, research further, and innovate within their chosen field. When individuals are engaged in meaningful, impactful, and fulfilling work, they drive positive change not only in themselves but in their families, their workplaces, their communities, and, by default, the world. 

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
If you choose to climb a mountain, I don’t think you get to complain about how dreadful it is. Anything I’ve “suffered” through was an outcome of choice, not of circumstance. It’s much easier to take risk and accept bigger challenges when you have a wide safety net. I’m fortunate and grateful to have a loving family and loyal friends willing to catch me when I fall, as well as a network of supportive people always happy to lend a hand. 

That being said, getting into film was not a smooth road. With no connections and very little money, I’d walk up to film crews on the streets of New Orleans and offer to work for free or for food. The first 10 days, I lived in my car, but soon moved into a 6’ x 12’ office I’d rented on the 25th floor of a high-rise that I was definitely not supposed to be living in. For the next couple months, I slept on a desk, showered at a gym, and ate mostly microwaved Chef Boyardee out of a mug. After sending hundreds of cold emails and Facebook messages, I got my first real film job on a movie called Oblivion. As in any career, there were subsequent challenges, but everything became a lot easier with a foot in the door. 

Generally, I try to avoid absolutes, but I think it’s safe to say that entrepreneurship is never a smooth road. Startups may be uniquely difficult, but perhaps I’m biased in my misery. As a founder, you’re investing all of your time and all of your energy, beating on the door of anxiety and depression begging to be let in, sacrificing your emotional and mental well-being, your own money (initially), and possibly even relationships in pursuit of an idea for which there may or may not be a market, all while the statistical chance of success is negligible at best. 

I’m an introvert by nature and treasure my alone time, but I never truly experienced loneliness until I decided to start a startup. It sometimes feels like you’re the court jester dancing for everyone with their 9-to-5, two weeks PTO, pension, 401K, hamster wheel jobs; a lot of people don’t understand why we do what we do. Almost 3 years into this journey, I met a fellow founder in Cincinnati who has become an invaluable advisor. Encountering someone who had already travelled this path made me feel a little saner. However, the more I learn, it’s possible that all startup founders have gone down the rabbit hole, and my advisor is the Cheshire Cat telling me, “We’re all mad here.” Either way, knowing that I’m in good company, sane or not, is comforting, encouraging, and I wouldn’t trade founder life for anything.

Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Perspectiv, Inc.?
Perspectiv is essentially an online Career Day. Our team films interviews with people in all different professions from all walks of life, talking about what it’s like to do their job. We discuss pros and cons, effect on family life, day-to-day responsibilities, advice, first steps, misconceptions, challenges, and more. You can learn about a broad range of occupations, from ice farming and taxidermy to nuclear pharmacy and plastic surgery. Each professionally filmed interview is broken into bite-sized chunks (chapters), and we’re adding quizzes and worksheets to encourage active learning. We also provide transcripts for every interview, plan to add live Q&A sessions, and are beginning R&D on VR job shadowing! 

There’s no shortage of employment-related hard data out there, but there is a massive void on the emotional side of career decision-making. While the Bureau of Labor Statistics can tell you that jobs for logging workers are projected to decline 4% over the next decade, we can tell you whether you’ll have the flexibility of schedule to make your child’s ball game, whether you’ll be confined to a cubicle, or if you’ll get to (or have to) travel endlessly for your job – what life is actually going to look like. 

As a subscription business, we offer monthly and annual memberships to individuals and tiered pricing for homeschool co-ops and smaller student organizations. We are working to get Perspectiv in public schools, private schools, colleges, and career academies across the country while continuing to grow our catalogue of professions. Suitable for all ages, from elementary to adult, there’s something for everyone. For adults, the “Course Correct” section highlights serial career-changers, why they chose to pivot, and how they successfully switched professions. 

What I’m most proud of is the diversity of careers and people we’ve interviewed, as well as their honesty. Our interviewees aren’t shy about sharing the downsides of any given profession in addition to the upside. They talk about their greatest achievements and their greatest regrets. They’re everyday people living ordinary lives, and collectively their wisdom is unparalleled. I will forever be indebted to everyone who has been gracious enough to share their story with us so that we may share it with the world. 

What would you say has been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
The most important lesson I’ve learned is that we get one shot at this thing called life. When it’s my time to go, I want to look back on my life and be proud of what I’ve done with the time I was given. Keeping that as my North Star and trusting my intuition has helped me prioritize all things in life, not just my career. Time is our most precious and most valuable asset, a gift that should never be taken for granted. As Americans, we’re all fortunate to live in a country where we can do anything we can dream. I think it’s important to remember that someone else isn’t coming home to their loved ones, will never start that business, and forfeited their dreams so that we have the freedom to chase our own. They aren’t so that we can, and we should all strive to live a life worthy of their sacrifice. 

In short, don’t waste time. Try new things. Choose living over existing. Wake up early. Eat well and exercise. Do hard things. Pain is temporary. If you’re comfortable, you’re not growing – get uncomfortable. Avoid toxic people. Ask for help. Learn to embrace embarrassment (drop the ego), and there’s nothing you can’t do. Put your phone down. Be present. Take risks. If it doesn’t kill you, it’s going to make for a damn good story. 

Pricing:

• Solo Explorer Monthly: $18/month
• Solo Explorer Annual: $180/year
• Group Mission: Call for Price

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.getperspectiv.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/get_perspectiv/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/getperspectiv
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/perspectiv-inc/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/get_perspectiv
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBxwgvhh-3_bBsCm6rCiaiw

Image Credits
Michael Neveux