The Man Behind The Cost

his week The Cost team had the opportunity to catch up with the founder on why he started the company. He believes if you’re not happy in your current profession then you should leave — it’s as simple as that. ‍

Cost Team: "Why did you start The Cost?"

John Cornelius McCaskill: I’ve always believed if you’re not happy with your current profession then you should look into doing something else. There were three simple rationales why I started The Cost. First, I wanted to give professionals a voice. I wanted to create a platform for professionals to connect with one another and share tips and strategies. These are professionals who love to write about their experiences. Second, I wanted to help professionals who struggle with the fear of career change. This normally happens because of doubt or lack of confidence.

Also, our world tries to fit us in a box and wants us to be good at only one thing. Once you pick a major or industry then it’s expected that you stick with it for the rest of your life. That notion has always been ludicrous to me. Our passions change as we grow and learn new things.

Lastly, I wanted aspiring professionals to learn about the nature of their chosen profession and industry before or while they're pursuing it. This way they are completely sure they want to continue on that path.

Things we were once passionate about as a teen can change when we become adults. Even as adults our passions change over time. What you were passionate about at 21 years old may not be the same when turning 30. Maybe a career you thought you’d enjoy isn’t as enjoyable now that you have experience doing it. 

There’s no harm or shame in wanting to make a career change. Many are fearful of the unknown and the intimidation of learning something new and especially in a new industry. This is why I started The Cost. I want people to gain the confidence to learn other industries and from professionals doing the exact profession they might be interested in. I want them to get the full understanding before they invest any long-term dedication or monetary value in it. ‍

Cost Team: "Why did you name it The Cost?"

John Cornelius McCaskill: Everything has a cost to it so I thought it would fit perfectly with what I was trying to portray. Many adolescents before going to college probably don't understand the full picture of taking out loans to go to school. That’s a cost that will follow them for the rest of their lives so they need to understand that cost before actually going to college. By the same measure I seek the same for our viewers.

"I want our viewers to understand what they’re getting themselves into by learning from the professionals who are already doing what they might be interested in. What is the true cost of becoming your profession? The skills, time, and energy required." - John Cornelius McCaskill

Cost Team: "What do you think separates you from other publishers like Entrepreneur, Inc., and others?" ‍

John Cornelius McCaskill: We focus more on professions than just one industry. Those publishers are great and focus on entrepreneurship and business as a whole, but were focused on professions in several industries. We want to hear from CEOs, actors/actresses, vice presidents, engineers, musicians, sales professionals, general managers, business analysts, news producers, real estate professionals, and the like.

When people are thinking about choosing a profession I want The Cost to be the first resource that comes to mind. The Cost is unique because our writers aren’t just writers, but professionals who love to write about their work experiences. This way you can trust the information to be authentic because it’s from people who have actually been in the profession or are currently in it. ‍

Cost Team: "What do you hope for in the future with The Cost?"

John Cornelius McCaskill: I want The Cost to be a household resource for anything career wise. One thing I learned in life is that many people ponder a career change in their minds but are too fearful to pursue it. It’s normally due to lack of confidence or their close family and friends risk-averse nature. When everyone around is telling you that it’s risky there’s no wonder why many don't leap.

The fear of the unknown is prevalent. The Cost can give them that confidence to jump. We work hard to find professionals that give their guidance and candid principles on their profession and industry. 

Cost Team: "Any final parting guidance?"

John Cornelius McCaskill: I encourage any one who is unhappy with their profession to take steps into changing it. It doesn’t have to be an instant action, but take some time out every day for at least 15 to 20 minutes into researching industries you might be interested in. Just because you have been in an industry 20 years doesn’t mean you should stay in it until you retire. Our world is vast and there are too many careers out there for someone to pick one and stick with it for the rest of their lives. 

Nothing is wrong with that if that’s what a person wants to do, but if you’ve been thinking about a career change then start now. Let The Cost help you and connect you with other professionals to give you that confidence. I’ve seen chefs turn into software developers, teachers turn into sales professionals, and restaurant managers turn into engineers.

It’s all decided by a choice. Do you want to keep showing up at a job you don’t enjoy anymore? Connect with others going through the same thing and just take the leap, we’ll catch you on the way down. 

Cost Team Final Remarks

We hope you enjoyed this piece from The Cost editorial team and the words of our founder. It’s never too late to make that career change. We’re all in this together and here to help one another. Until next time!

Happy writing!

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