My very first day running the shop for Adelante, a dog came in and peed on a pile of boxes. I stood there thinking, what did I get myself into? For the past five years I’ve worked in a corporate setting, developing economic reports for the organized private sector. Suddenly, I'm cleaning pee off the floor in a workshop in Pastores, Guatemala.

To many of my friends and family I’ve gone crazy — they’re convinced I’m going through a quarter life crisis. When I expressed my desire to become more entrepreneurial, they imagined me opening a side business while still keeping my job. I understand their reservations, but in the short amount of time I’ve been working for Adelante I have felt more challenged, inspired and fulfilled than ever before.

A corporate job gives you a sense of stability and direction. It includes perks like phones, parking spaces, business trips and cards. To some people this also means fulfillment, but to me it meant endless hours refreshing websites and sighing at my screen. When the opportunity came to join Adelante, I froze. Suddenly those endless hours seemed comforting. I wanted to say no and run back into my cubicle, but something pushed me forward and made me feel like it would be worth it. The regret of not taking the job seemed much more terrifying than the risk of taking it.

The Adelante team is a combination of varied thinking hats and personalities that push me to better communicate and dive deep into my own strengths and weaknesses. The craftsmen are wonderful people from whom I get to learn more every day. During my time here we have already celebrated babies, new bank accounts, and paying off debts. The work in itself changes every day — I’ve found myself running around Guatemala City carrying leather and heel caps while Bob buys fried chicken on the street while others I’m developing strategic models that can help us reach production goals.  I couldn’t imagine a better job description.

Adelante is trying to do things differently simply by doing things right. As Peter often says, shoes are just a vehicle. What we really care about is creating dignified employment that can catalyze social mobility and end the cycle of poverty. Quarter life crisis or not, I’m convinced Adelante is the place I’m supposed to be, even if I need to clean pee off the floor from time to time.