Leaving California Propelled Me To Launch My Media Business

I celebrated a huge milestone on Saturday: my sixth anniversary of making the Exodus out of California.

Why would a native daughter like me celebrate this? How could I betray my homeland so brashly and so rudely? How could I abandon life in the world’s supposedly fifth largest economy? As the famous Eagles song goes: You can check out anytime, but you can never leave. The state did shape the person I am today, and for that I’m grateful. I’m still proud to say I grew up there. I never thought I would leave Southern California, but reality sunk in my second year of college at UC-San Diego: I had to get out of California to have a viable career in politics or consulting (or so I thought at the time). Being a native Californian will always stick with me, but doesn’t entirely define me anymore. I’m a Virginia transplant who’ll always be grateful for her 21+ years in the Bear Republic.  If I didn’t flee my home state, I’m uncertain I would have launched my freelance media business two years ago.

From 2007 to 2016, roughly six million Californians moved out while five million relocated there. (Most Californians appear to have made Texas their new home, along with Nevada and Arizona.) My family and I comprise that six million number figure, although we escaped to Virginia. What led us to leave gradually? The rising costs of housing, the lack of job opportunities, the burdensome tax policies, the horrible traffic, and unfriendliness we began to witness prompted us to get the hell out of there. We suffered from California fatigue. Oddly enough, some believe wealthier people from New Jersey and New York are choosing to move to the Bear Republic, while those in lower income brackets comprising that 6M figure sought refuge elsewhere. Nevertheless, it’s undeniable Californians are seeking shelter in more pro-business and yes, Republican-run, states.

I was first lured to the DC Metro area after visiting the nation’s capital during a August 2010 trip here for a conservative student conference. I had never been to the East Coast; I namely ventured to the Mountain West or Southwest in my travels. The “Swamp”- as we affectionately call it now- had this allure to it despite its corrupt nature. The monuments, the rich history, the big-little city feel? It wasn’t so overwhelming like New York City or Los Angeles. For young professionals, it’s a great city full of a surprisingly vibrant social life and a bustling dining scene —even outside of politics. (USA Today noted it’s a top choice for young professionals.) I was that wide-eyed girl who dreamed of carving a space for myself in conservative politics, and the DC Metro area was the place to do it. Today, I’m happy to call the Virginia side of the DC Metro area home to my business.

Here are three observations why leaving California allowed me to start my business at age 25:

I took the right job in the DC Metro Area at the right time.

I’m convinced staying in California would have stunted my professional growth. Granted, I didn’t look for immediate opportunities in San Diego prior to graduation. (Otherwise, I might have stayed given how enticing that city is.) Within three weeks of graduating from UC-San Diego in 2012 and deep into my Reporting Internship at Media Research Center (MRC), specifically mid-July, I learned the news that I’d be getting my first full-time job at Leadership Institute. (It was where I firmly planted myself for nearly four years and got the foundation to go on my own.) I was 21-years-old with several paid internships and unpaid work experiences in local/state/national radio, publications, and social media gigs under my belt. I was riding high off of my campus experiences—namely the infamous David Horowitz talk I single-handedly organized in May 2010. A fresh-eyed, well-spoken, highly driven first-generation American boasting Eastern European roots with a compelling story to tell? I’d be the perfect activist to showcase to donors and others interested in bolstering the conservative cause given my involvement. (Don’t worry—I excelled because of my strong networking skills and inclination to work hard.)

LI was my home away from home. Working with other young conservative and libertarian professionals added to my overall happiness despite initial feelings of being homesick for California. It was a positive work environment free of sexual harassment and lots of added benefits attached to it. I definitely flourished there and grew more as a young adult with all the trainings I took there. My job as Regional Field Coordinator—along with some dabbling into social media lectures—allowed me to guide and mentor students who were facing campus battles I had similarly faced at UC-San Diego. It was a rewarding experience—one marked by travel to New England, new experiences, and seeing campus victories unfolding in hostile territory. When time came to plot my next move in Summer 2016, I felt conflicted to leave as place that marked a good chunk of my 20’s. But it was time to move on. After a short-lived stint in between LI and freelancing, I knew it was time to ditch the 9-to-5.

Imagine if I had been sitting on a San Diego or Orange County beach instead of doing a media internship at the MRC that fateful summer, I wouldn’t have gotten that LI job. I could have been chronically unemployed in Southern California. I’m so glad I took that internship because it led me to my first job and then to self-employment.

I networked with the right people, in and outside of politics 

Throughout my time in San Diego and in the DC Metro area, I was always keen on meeting people. Whether for mentorship purposes, forging new friendships, or finding like-minded allies in San Diego or in “The Swamp,” I perfected the art of networking—which led me to befriend and interact with some prominent people in both conservative politics and the outdoor industry. It even led me to some life-long friendships, speaking events, writing opportunities, and even client work.

I didn’t simply use the contacts I made for self-enrichment; I want to cultivate meaningful relationships with others. I wanted to know what made people I looked up to tick; I wanted to learn of their stories, their failures and their successes. Unfortunately today, many young conservatives enter the political industrial complex (PIC) for malicious reasons. I was and am not one of those people. I REFUSED to be that young conservative activist then and I refuse to be that now. Studying the experiences and stories of those above you on the career ladder is extremely beneficial. Fast forward to today: I’m providing people with job leads, mentoring up-and-comers, and imparting wisdom to those who genuinely seek me out for advice and guidance. THIS is how you network—with mutually-beneficial returns.

I got to further pursue my outdoor passions, which allowed me to have crossover into other industries professionally

Despite being the most outdoorsy state in the union, opportunities to fish and hunt in California were becoming increasingly scarce. Moving out East allowed me to live honestly and not hide my love for fishing anymore. From fishing came my foray into shooting sports and most recently, hunting. Virginia, along with nearby Maryland and West Virginia, is replete with amazing freshwater and saltwater fisheries. (It’s the country’s best kept secret.) Partaking in these various activities naturally led me to write more about Second Amendment issues and outdoor legislation. And the rest is history.

If I hadn’t been established in politics and shooting sports issues, it would have been harder to carve a space in the outdoor industry. Believe it or not, there’s actually a lot of crossover between politics and the outdoor industry—some good, some bad. For me, it proved highly beneficial both personally and professionally to apply my knowledge from politics into the outdoor industry. It taught me to stand my ground, to fight for the right issues, and yes, even taught me to put aside differences with some political adversaries for the cause of conservation. (Don’t worry, I’m still a diehard political conservative.) I like having my feet dipped into both industries, though I find myself increasingly more drawn to outdoor pursuits.

Considering I live in Virginia –which is by no means a red state anymore—it still, for now, has fewer taxes, more friendly gun laws, and comparably business-friendly policies in place. (Let’s keep it this way so I don’t have to move to South Carolina or Florida one day.) Getting outside the Orange Curtain and California Bubble opened my eyes to the rest of the country, made me more humble, and curious to explore new places (urban and rural). Leaving California may be viewed as a mistake, but I don’t see it that way. The positives FAR outweigh the negatives. If you’re contemplating escaping California, I say go for it.

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What did you think of this piece? Am I on-target or off-mark?

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