🎙️ Episode Summary: In this episode of Life’s Next Lesson Plan Podcast, host Rachel Rauch sits down with former educator and entrepreneur Tom Juran to discuss life after teaching. Tom shares his journey of leaving the classroom, finding purpose through creativity, and building meaningful connections in his next chapter. With insights from his personal and professional life, this episode explores career transitions, living with intention, and how to shape your “Life’s Next Lesson Plan.”

Key Takeaways:

1. Navigating Life Beyond Teaching:

• Tom shares his experience transitioning out of a decades-long teaching career, including how he recognized it was time for change.
• The challenges and opportunities in redefining your identity after leaving a career that shaped much of your adult life.

2. Staying Purposeful:

• Tom’s two guiding principles:
  1. “What did you make today?” – The importance of creativity in daily life.
  2. Giving back through volunteerism and meaningful contributions.

3. Supporting Others Through Life’s Challenges:

• A touching story about remodeling a home with his daughter to help her heal after a significant personal loss.
• Building resilience through shared experiences and connection.

4. The Changing Landscape of Education:

• Reflections on how education has evolved, including the importance of creating spaces where students feel a sense of belonging.
• Insights from his time substituting and mentoring in his post-education life.

5. Advice for Listeners:

• Embrace purposeful living: find what brings you joy and ways to give back to your community.
• “Live a life with purpose on your own terms.”

Homework:

Put Tom’s principles into action! Here is the link to apply Tom's ideas in your own life!

1. Reflect on what you made today—whether it’s a physical creation, a meaningful moment, or an act of kindness.
2. Consider a way to give back in your community or to someone close to you this week.

Connect with Tom:

Instagram and Facebook:

@Taylor’s_cadillac_ranch

@Driftless_hardwoods

@Wimke.llc

@Juranimal

Contact Tom at [email protected] to discuss how you can incorporate making into your class or how to get involved in woodworking or home renovation.

Connect With Us:

💌 Email: [email protected]

📱 Socials: @LifesNextLessonPlan Instagram and LifesNextLessonPlan Facebook

🎧 Subscribe: Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and your favorite podcast platforms.