We Can Endure Most Anything,
If We Get to Tell a Story.
Something is shifting in the world of work. More people are questioning whether a paycheck alone can justify the energy, creativity, and sacrifice they bring to their roles.
Conversations about well-being, fulfillment, and the stewardship of unique talents—whether paid or not—are becoming more urgent. Workplaces are evolving, but for many, the deeper search isn’t just about where they work, but Why.
That's why we created The Epic Turn | A Professional Renewal Circle.
Every Life, a Protagonist
We like Christopher Booker’s Seven Basic Plots. Example of the many resources explored in our wisdom-rich professional renewal circle. What's your plotline, we imagine. We beleive:
- Every life holds a story arc—challenge, change, and the chance to rise.
- We’re not just surviving events; we’re shaping meaning as protagonists.
- The Epic Turn helps name the plot you’re in—and the one you're meant to live next.
WorthPlace or Worse Place?
We are learning from resources like David Graeber’s Bullshit Jobs and other workplace critiques. We beleive:
- Work without meaning drains more than time—it erodes dignity.
- Many roles feel hollow not from laziness, but from disconnection.
- The Epic Turn helps leaders reclaim purpose—and refuse roles that betray their values.
Epic Life, Epic Choices
In just a few pages of reading Josh Kaufman’s How to Fight a Hydra, you'll get the gist of what we mean by the epic choices we each face daily. We beleive:
- Facing the unknown courageously is the price of doing meaningful work.
- You can’t wait for certainty—you move forward by choice, deliberation, not guarantees of progress or reward.
- The Epic Turn invites you to name your Hydra and act, even without a map.
The Conversations
I Want to Be In.
RW. West, Ph.D. | Decision Support Coach
Welcome to my Studio. As a career leadership educator, I am convinced executive and emerging leaders deeply convinced their circle of influence still invites change.
I've been through a lot in the last decade. I've took some career-shifting leaps, the kinds that required calculated risks. Not everything went the way I had hoped. TAP "Studio" Image for my bio site, RussellWest.Info.
At Some Point in Life, You'll Need a Knife.
Kevin Parido, MA | Transitions Coach
Hello, I’m Kevin Parido, and along with my wife Sarabeth, I founded Shepherd's Forge in 2021. We believe that some things in life simply feel right because they are inherently so. For me, hand-forging, fitting, and finishing a knife is one of those things.
Our goal is to create a lasting legacy with every knife we craft. We are committed to delivering a blade that is simple, durable, and functional—one that you can proudly hold and cherish for years to come.