"Here's my phone number, I bet you might need it someday."
That was the first step. Parker was graduating high school and I was no longer his teacher. For years his motivation and attention to finer details had shown through in every class period. He would laugh as I constantly reminded him to someday #BeYourOwnBoss...I just knew he wasn't destined for a life of cubicles, deadlines, and virtual meetings. More than any other student I had ever taught, Parker possessed the Maker Mindset. I knew we'd keep in touch to talk about his endeavors and so I gave my phone number to my now former student.
Parker and I remained in contact through his college years, checking in often to discuss projects we were working on. I added a laser to my shop, he started a CNC operation, both as outlets for our desire to Make. Every conversation we had reminded me that Parker was cut from a different cloth than the rest. Deep down, I was just waiting for a phone call that I knew was coming.
"Mr. Gill, how are you? I have an idea I want to run past you."
First off, stop calling me that. He hadn't been my student in four years and we had collaborated on so many projects, it actually didn't even sound right. He was a senior in college and a member of a business accelerator program. He had a goal in mind for his next venture: extend hands-on learning through durable kits that enhance confidence and ability to Make. I listened as he described, in the typical attention-to-every-detail way that Parker does, the idea for Maker Movement.
"I'm in. How can I help?"
That was all that it took. He had the business background, I had the educational experience, but we both shared the Maker Mindset. There were a few missing pieces to the puzzle (more on that to come in later posts) but Maker Movement was born.