Meet Paul Herman

We recently connected with Paul Herman and have shared our conversation below.

Paul, thank you so much for joining us today and appreciate you talking about a sensitive topic. It’s unfortunately relevant to so many in the community as layoffs have been on the rise recently, and so we’d appreciate hearing your story and how you overcame being let go?

From Fired to Freedom

The truth is, I’ve been fired (or conveniently laid off) from almost every job I’ve ever had. For some, that might sound like a setback or proof of a poor work ethic. For me, it was the best thing that could have happened. Each time I lost a job, my situation improved. Not only did I land on my feet, but I always moved upwards. Looking back, it’s clear that being fired was never about failure. It was about being nudged toward my true calling: entrepreneurship.

The Early Days

It all started in high school when I got fired from a froyo shop. It wasn’t a huge blow. I mean, I was just a teenager serving frozen yogurt. But then I landed a job at The Gap, which was the epitome of cool back then. Working there didn’t just give me a paycheck, it gave me social capital. Suddenly, getting fired from my first job felt more like a blessing in disguise.

In college, the pattern continued. After being fired from a community center job, I found myself working at a hip and trendy music store. This wasn’t just a better job with better hours and better pay, it was a gateway to a whole new social scene. It’s as if every door that closed just redirected me to a better one. These firings certainly stung at the time, but moving onwards and upwards wasn’t just dumb luck. It was resilience.

I think most people would take getting fired as a blow to their ego or a condemnation of their character. I always found a way to redirect those blows and condemnations into vocational revenge. In fact, improving oneself is always the best form of revenge in any sector of your life. Remember that.

Rising Through the Ranks

Then came my time in the hospitality industry. I was fired from a waiting job at a greasy spoon, and my very next gig was bartending at an expensive Italian bistro. Bartending was more prestigious, more lucrative, and it taught me how to talk to anyone about anything—a skill that would prove invaluable later on. It wasn’t just a step up, it was a leap.
Getting fired kept putting me on a better trajectory, even if it didn’t feel that way at the time. And it usually didn’t. But with each new role, I was learning more about people, business, and ultimately, myself. In hindsight, it almost seems like each former job was future training for the next job, and so on.

Finding Opportunity in Adversity

The biggest turning point came when I was fired from a tech center job. I was at a crossroads. I could continue to work for others and risk getting fired again, or take charge of my own destiny. That’s when I decided it was high time I work for myself.

Using the tech skills I had learned and the salesmanship skills from previous jobs, I started my own graphic and web design company called Jade Tiger Productions (Jadetiger.com). No bosses. No cubicle. Just me, my creative skills, and my ambition. And by the way, clients are not bosses. There’s a big difference.

Anyway, it was the best decision I ever made. It was certainly a risk, and it was feast or famine for a couple years. However, “compound interest” isn’t just a banking term. It’s a self-employment term as well.

Turning Passion into Profit

One of the keys to my success was recognizing that my hobbies were more than just ways to pass the time. They were windows into what I could do for a living. In college, I loved practicing the martial arts, so when I got fired from bartending, I became a martial arts instructor at a sports club. I had always been good at monetizing my hobbies, so why not make it a full-time gig?

Years later, I expanded my entrepreneurial pursuits by launching a gaming channel on YouTube called The Skooled Zone (YouTube.com/SkooledZone). And as an additional side hustle, my love for gaming led me to create a video game blogsite called Baldur’s Guide (BaldursGuide.com).

Some people are afraid to monetize their hobbies, thinking it will taint their passion. But I’ve found it to be the opposite. If anything, monetizing my hobbies makes me love them even more. Why? Because I get to spend my days doing what I love and get paid for it. It’s not about selling out; it’s about aligning my passions with my paycheck.

Built for Entrepreneurship

Some might think getting fired so often is a personality flaw or a lack of discipline. But the truth is, I was never fired for anything nefarious. I clashed with management because I saw ways things could be improved, which they often took as stepping on their toes. It wasn’t that I was lazy or incompetent, I just wasn’t afraid to express my creative ideas if they could improve the company or the environment for the employees. Some people are built to follow orders and fit within corporate routines. Others, like me, are built to question the status quo, invent, and break the mold.

Now that I’ve been working for myself for many years, I could never go back to having a boss. I make my own hours, chart my own course, and get to capitalize on every ounce of effort I put in. It does take patience and discipline, I’m not gonna lie. But the motivation is there because the only one responsible for rising or falling is yourself.

Turning Lemons into a Lemonade Stand

Being fired was never the end of the road. And it shouldn’t be for you. It’s always been a detour, a push in the direction I needed to go. It was about turning lemons into lemonade and then taking it a step further by turning that lemonade into a lemonade stand. It was about realizing that failure isn’t the opposite of success. It’s always a part of it.

If I could offer one piece of advice to anyone who’s been fired, it’s this: don’t be afraid to take risks and follow your passions. Sometimes the worst thing that can happen—getting fired—is exactly what you need to set you on the path to something greater. If you ever observe a spinning Yin-Yang symbol, remember that the downward turn is just the momentum needed to rise to the peak again.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

At the heart of it, I’m an entrepreneur that runs several small business and brands. I turned my passion of digital media, writing, and gaming into living. I run a boutique graphic and web design company called Jade Tiger Productions (Jadetiger.com). I run a gaming YouTube channel called The Skooled Zone (Youtube.com/skooledzone). I’m a writer with one book already published and a second one on the way. And I recently started a video game blog called Baldur’s Guide (BaldursGuide.com). I also have plans for a second YouTube channel later this year. While it may seem like I have many irons in the fire or I’m spreading myself too thin, it’s always important to adapt and change with the times. For example, the demand for graphic and web design is dwindling with the rise of social media and AI. So when I start my second YouTube channel, I’ll probably phase out my graphic and web design work (at least on a client-level) and redirect that focus towards the other plates I have spinning. And never stop dreaming. Even in middle age, I still want to be an inventor and full-time novelist when I grow up. Humans are living longer than ever these days, so it’s always important to think ahead, stay nimble, and reinvent yourself from time to time.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

[ most of this is contained in the first article I submitted for the first question but I can add to that if it needs to be distilled ]

Resilience and Adaptability

Setbacks are a part of life, but how you respond to them makes all the difference. When faced with rejection or a job loss, see it as an opportunity to pivot rather than a reason to quit. Learn to view setbacks as stepping stones. Ask yourself: What can I learn from this? How can this lead me to something better? The faster you can adapt and bounce back, the quicker you’ll find new opportunities. Let any anger or resentment you feel be the fuel for your engine to speed forward.

Creativity and an Entrepreneurial Mindset

Start viewing challenges as chances to innovate. Don’t be afraid to monetize your hobbies or pursue unconventional career paths. If you’re passionate about something, there’s a good chance others will value it too. The key is to be strategic about how you package and present it. Experiment, take risks, and don’t be afraid to pivot until you find the right fit. The small amount of discomfort you may feel in the beginning is worth the years of satisfaction it brings later on.

Independence and Self-Awareness

One of the most powerful things you can do is understand how you’re wired. Are you someone who thrives under structure, or do you crave freedom and flexibility? If you’re the latter, consider paths that allow you to work independently, like freelancing or entrepreneurship. Embrace your strengths and don’t waste time trying to conform to roles that don’t suit you. Chart your own course and be confident in your vision. It’s okay to be different, use it.

Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?

[ most of this has already been said ]

Contact Info:

• Website: https://BaldursGuide.com
• Instagram: @theSkooledZone
• Twitter: @SkooledZone
• Youtube: https://YouYube.com/SkooledZone

Image Credits

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