In this episode of The Forgotten Podcast, host Jami Cave sits down with Jonathan Brush, CEO of Unbound and a foster and adoptive dad of eight, to discuss how to help young adults—especially those not pursuing a college degree—successfully transition into adulthood and thrive. The conversation addresses the unique challenges facing children from the foster care community, such as trauma and learning gaps, by focusing on resilience, practical career opportunities in a questions-based economy, and the necessity of high expectations paired with endless patience. Jonathan reframes success as “thriving” and offers guidance on understanding the “creation of value” in the workplace and the irreplaceable power of community.
About the Guest
Jonathan Brush is the President and CEO of Unbound. As a first-generation homeschool graduate and a foster and adoptive dad of eight, he is passionate about preparing young adults for life and has spoken on the subject for over a decade.
- Defining success as “thriving” (living a meaningful, important life) rather than fame, fortune, or power.
- Exploring non-college career options in business (marketing, sales, technology/AI) and the trades (welding, plumbing, electrician).
- The shift from an “answers-based” paradigm to a “questions-based” paradigm in the modern job market, emphasizing the ability to quickly and effectively master complicated information (QE MCI).
- Why the inherent resilience and survival skills of foster children are valuable assets in the current market.
- Setting the “high expectation” that young people can thrive, combined with “infinite patience” to help them achieve it.
- Understanding work as the “creation of value” by showing up, working hard, treating others well, and “thinking like an owner”.
- How to cultivate natural curiosity and the ability to ask better questions by looking for “the game being played underneath the game”.
- The critical role of community in driving careers and the willingness to open your home despite imperfections.
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