We had the good fortune of connecting with Ruby Compton and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Ruby, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking.
When I first left my full-time job to run my business, I had so many people tell me how brave I was to make the leap into self-employment. I always found myself responding to them, “Yep, brave or stupid. Not sure which one. It is a fine line between them.”
I have been privileged to be able to take some risks in my career that not everyone has the opportunity to do so I am grateful for that privilege and hope I can offer support to others who may be looking to face their own “brave or stupid” moment.
Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I run a training company for summer camps and outdoor programs. Most of my training revolves around American Red Cross programming like CPR/First Aid, Lifeguarding, and Wilderness First Aid. I also do some training about management for newer leaders. My goal is to take some of the stress away from the leaders working in the outdoor industry. Many of my clients are the hardest working people you will ever meet who are sparking curiosity and passion for the outdoors while also teaching the next generation how to live in community with on another. This is important and impactful work and though I couldn’t make it as a camp director, I feel honored to get to continue to serve these incredible folks by taking a few items off their to-do list.
I went to a camp one day for a training I was leading and the director said to me, “I love it when you are here. My blood pressure actually goes down pretty significantly when I see you driving through the camp gates.” I love teaching and I love helping people so in my business I get to merge those two passions in some really beautiful outdoor settings.
That said, I also continue to maintain a handful of other jobs. I am fueled by the variety. While getting to design your own schedule is awesome, it is also exhausting. A few years ago, I discovered that the part-time jobs that worked best as the puzzle pieces in my life were the ones that allowed me to turn down work. That is, every part-time job I maintain alongside my business has an ebb and flow to them. They also all allow me to request time off well in advance so I can try to coordinate scheduling.
I had a high school teacher who was simply one of the best teachers I ever had and he always mentioned in class the various jobs he had over the years. One day he filled a whole white board with all the jobs he had had. That day was the day I decided that the best teachers are the ones that have done all kinds of stuff and thus the spark for my journey was born.
I want the world to know that exceptional outdoor professionals are artists. Outdoor guides and leaders are historically not seen as the creatives that they are. I view my work outdoors as an artform. Guides and outdoor leaders are like mayors of little towns managing the ins-and-outs of everyday. They must maintain a grasp of every little detail while also keeping an eye on the big picture. They facilitate gatherings of people with an assortment of experience levels, habits, and comfort zones. They are prepared for silly banter or deep meaning-of-life musings. It’s an incredible space to work in and I love getting to work alongside and train these amazing artists.
Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Doesn’t really matter what city I’m in, I am looking for the following activities:
Climb to a view and think about your life purpose. Sit by a creek with your feet in the water and sip a bubbly beverage of choice. Take an easy hike where you can spend more time looking closely at the nature around you. See a live performance – be it music, theater, or dance. Seek out a geocache or two because it will always take you someplace new and allow you to see your surroundings a little differently. Sit in a bar and watch a sports competition with other fans. Journal about your travels so you don’t ever forget the highlights and lowlights of the trip.
The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Two of the most amazing women in my life are my cohosts of the camp staff training podcast, Camp Code. Beth Allison and Gabrielle Raill have pushed me as an outdoor professional and as a staff trainer. Each of us prepares for presentations in drastically different ways and over the last decade, we have formed this incredible process for creating and teaching together. I was working on a project alongside the two of them when I discovered that people were willing to pay to hear what I had to say. That was a hugely empowering moment that was a catalyst towards my starting my own business.
Website: https://www.rubyoutdoors.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rubyoutdoors/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanie-ruby-compton-outdoors/
Image Credits
Photo of me with microphone at conference: Credit-Candice Conner.