The Deliberate Dropout: Recent Episodes

Mitchell Earl and Ljupco Stojanovski Jr.

Welcome to The Deliberate Dropout with Mitchell Earl and Ljupco Sojanovski Jr.!

We are here to dissect the decision to drop out of college and break it down through Ljupco's lived experience.

If you've decided to drop out or are unhappy at college and thinking about dropping out, stay tuned as we go through the experience and help lay out how to go from dropping out to building a thriving career.

Mitchell Earl is COO of Praxis and host of the Self-Directed Podcast.

Ljupco Stojanovski Jr. is an account executive at Xplenty and Praxis alumnus who made the decision to drop out of college

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Saying “Yes” to one opportunity means saying “No” to many other opportunities. So how can you get deliberate about saying “Yes” to the best opportunities? Mitchell and Ljupco break it down on this episode of the Deliberate Dropout.

In this episode:

  • What is opportunity cost?
  • Future opportunity costs tied to present decisions
  • Becoming aware of available opportunities
  • “Compared to what?”
  • Reverse-engineering your goals
  • How to push back against instant-gratification
  • Practical tips for creating more favorable opportunities in your life today

If you've decided to drop out or are unhappy at college and thinking about dropping out, stay tuned as we go through the experience and help layout how to go from dropping out to building a thriving career.

Mitchell Earl is COO of Praxis and host of the Self-Directed Podcast.

Ljupco Stojanovski Jr. is an account executive at Xplenty and Praxis alumnus who made the decision to drop out of college.


Praxis is a year-long apprenticeship program that matches you with a full-time, paid job at a growing company. The program offers a direct route into high-potential careers for driven young people without the cost and hassle of college. Learn more here: https://discoverpraxis.com/

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Are you spending more effort on impressing people with your skills than you’re spending on building your skills? When is it time to shout your accomplishments from the rooftops and when is it time to shut up and get to work? Mitchell and Ljupco break it down on this episode of the Deliberate Dropout.

In this episode:

  • Fighting the urge to feign competence and “fake it till you make it”
  • Creating a public “learner-in-progress persona”
  • The downsides of working hard without building a strong value signal
  • The difference between confidence and credibility, and how to build credibility through consistency
  • Tips to build professional options and avoid getting stuck: Make a Mess (get reps) & Don’t Be A Jackass (consider other people)
  • How to start building a strong value signal today

Links mentioned: https://twitter.com/Mitchell_Earl/status/1491167054501937153?s=20&t=WQVBwh-bm7YKBTbYxZYeMA

If you've decided to drop out or are unhappy at college and thinking about dropping out, stay tuned as we go through the experience and help layout how to go from dropping out to building a thriving career.

Mitchell Earl is COO of Praxis and host of the Self-Directed Podcast.

Ljupco Stojanovski Jr. is an account executive at Xplenty and Praxis alumnus who made the decision to drop out of college.

--- Praxis is a year-long apprenticeship program that matches you with a full-time, paid job at a growing company. The program offers a direct route into high-potential careers for driven young people without the cost and hassle of college. Learn more here: https://discoverpraxis.com/

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If you’re like most people, when an opportunity starts to get hard, other opportunities start to look really attractive. Why does this happen? And how can you keep yourself from becoming addicted to comfort and instant gratification? Mitchell and Ljupco break it down on this episode of the Deliberate Dropout.

In this episode:

  • Finding one thing you can be good at and giving it your all vs jumping from new endeavor to new endeavor
  • Using pleasure as a distraction when you don’t have purpose
  • Creating identity-based habits
  • Fighting the urge to give up when you aren’t immediately good at something
  • Short-term gratification mindset vs long-term gratification mindset
  • Why do hard things?

Links mentioned:

John Piper’s Book – Desiring God: Meditations of a Christian Hedonist

If you've decided to drop out or are unhappy at college and thinking about dropping out, stay tuned as we go through the experience and help layout how to go from dropping out to building a thriving career.

Mitchell Earl is COO of Praxis and host of the Self-Directed Podcast.

Ljupco Stojanovski Jr. is an account executive at Xplenty and Praxis alumnus who made the decision to drop out of college.


Praxis is a year-long apprenticeship program that matches you with a full-time, paid job at a growing company. The program offers a direct route into high-potential careers for driven young people without the cost and hassle of college. Learn more here: https://discoverpraxis.com/

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Where can you go to find wisdom for your life and career? And how can you make the most of your mentorship options? Mitchell and Ljupco break it down on this episode of the Deliberate Dropout.

In this episode:

  • Seeking out people who are already doing the things that you are interested in
  • Different types of role models: Books, virtual, in-person
  • The value of online communities
  • Learning from anti-rolemodels
  • Being mindful of other people’s time and energy
  • Observing and providing value before demanding time and wisdom
  • PICK UP THE TAB

If you've decided to drop out or are unhappy at college and thinking about dropping out, stay tuned as we go through the experience and help layout how to go from dropping out to building a thriving career.

Mitchell Earl is COO of Praxis and host of the Self-Directed Podcast.

Ljupco Stojanovski Jr. is an account executive at Xplenty and Praxis alumnus who made the decision to drop out of college.


Praxis is a year-long apprenticeship program that matches you with a full-time, paid job at a growing company. The program offers a direct route into high-potential careers for driven young people without the cost and hassle of college. Learn more here: https://discoverpraxis.com/

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Are you living by accident or are you living on purpose? What’s it going to take for you to find your agency? Mitchell and Ljupco break it down on this episode of the Deliberate Dropout.

In this episode:

  • 00:10 Passive creation vs deliberate creation
  • 02:10 Exercising your power of deliberate creation to overcome inertia and living by accident
  • 06:50 Trading your agency for a scarcity mindset
  • 11:20 Finding abundance through innovation
  • 18:00 The accessibility of value creation
  • 22:20 Fighting for the abundance revolution

If you've decided to drop out or are unhappy at college and thinking about dropping out, stay tuned as we go through the experience and help lay out how to go from dropping out to building a thriving career.

Mitchell Earl is COO of Praxis and host of the Self-Directed Podcast.

Ljupco Stojanovski Jr. is an account executive at Xplenty and Praxis alumnus who made the decision to drop out of college.


Praxis is a year-long apprenticeship program that matches you with a full-time, paid job at a growing company. The program offers a direct route into high-potential careers for driven young people without the cost and hassle of college. Learn more here: https://discoverpraxis.com/

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What are some of the worst money mistakes Mitchell and Ljupco made early in life? And what are some money mindsets that will help set you up for success?

That and more on this episode of the Deliberate Dropout!

If you've decided to drop out or are unhappy at college and thinking about dropping out, stay tuned as we go through the experience and help lay out how to go from dropping out to building a thriving career. Mitchell Earl is COO of Praxis and host of the Self-Directed Podcast. Ljupco Stojanovski Jr. is an account executive at Xplenty and Praxis alumnus who made the decision to drop out of college. Praxis is a 6-month bootcamp that results in a full-time job at a startup.    

Learn more at: http://discoverpraxis.com/Apply now at : https://www.discoverpraxis.com/apply

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How do you decide when it's time to make a career change? And how do you find the best opportunities and win them when you already have some career experience? Mitchell and Ljupco break it down on this episode of the Deliberate Dropout.

If you've decided to drop out or are unhappy at college and thinking about dropping out, stay tuned as we go through the experience and help lay out how to go from dropping out to building a thriving career.

Mitchell Earl is COO of Praxis and host of the Self-Directed Podcast.

Ljupco Stojanovski Jr. is an account executive at Xplenty and Praxis alumnus who made the decision to drop out of college.


Praxis is a 6-month bootcamp that results in a full-time job at a startup.   

Learn more at: http://discoverpraxis.com/Apply now at : https://www.discoverpraxis.com/apply

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More people than ever are working from home, often not by choice, so how do you make working from home work for you? Mitchell and Ljupco break it down on this episode of the Deliberate Dropout.

If you've decided to drop out or are unhappy at college and thinking about dropping out, stay tuned as we go through the experience and help lay out how to go from dropping out to building a thriving career.

Mitchell Earl is COO of Praxis and host of the Self-Directed Podcast.

Ljupco Stojanovski Jr. is an account executive at Xplenty and Praxis alumnus who made the decision to drop out of college.


Praxis is a 6-month bootcamp that results in a full-time job at a startup.   Learn more at: http://discoverpraxis.com/Apply now at : https://www.discoverpraxis.com/apply

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This time on The Deliberate Dropout, Mitchell and Ljupco are diving into the debate about burnout and work-life balance.

It's more popular than ever to talk about how we need to incorporate self-care into our schedules and create work-life balance, but the surface level discussion overlooks a deeper truth that more often than not, avoiding the problems in our life and refusing to take responsibility for them is the root of burnout. That and more in this episode of The Deliberate Dropout.

If you've decided to drop out or are unhappy at college and thinking about dropping out, stay tuned as we go through the experience and help lay out how to go from dropping out to building a thriving career.

Mitchell Earl is COO of Praxis and host of the Self-Directed Podcast.

Ljupco Stojanovski Jr. is an account executive at Xplenty and Praxis alumnus who made the decision to drop out of college.

Praxis is a 6-month bootcamp that results in a full-time job at a startup.

Learn more at: http://discoverpraxis.com/Apply now at : https://www.discoverpraxis.com/apply

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Mitchell and Ljupco are continuing to break down the key things to think about when you're dropping out of college, this week focusing on the goals that are best to focus on in your twenties.

If you've decided to drop out or are unhappy at college and thinking about dropping out, stay tuned as we go through the experience and help lay out how to go from dropping out to building a thriving career.

Mitchell Earl is COO of Praxis and host of the Self-Directed Podcast.

Ljupco Stojanovski Jr. is an account executive at Xplenty and Praxis alumnus who made the decision to drop out of college.

Praxis is a 6-month bootcamp that results in a full-time job at a startup.   Learn more at: http://discoverpraxis.com/Apply now at : https://www.discoverpraxis.com/apply

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This time on the Deliberate Dropout Mitchell and Ljupco are breaking down why you should stop wasting your time in college and make the decision to dropout today.

If you've decided to drop out or are unhappy at college and thinking about dropping out, stay tuned as we go through the experience and help lay out how to go from dropping out to building a thriving career.

Mitchell Earl is COO of Praxis and host of the Self-Directed Podcast.

Ljupco Stojanovski Jr. is an account executive at Xplenty and Praxis alumnus who made the decision to drop out of college.

Praxis is a 6-month bootcamp that results in a full-time job at a startup.

Learn more at: http://discoverpraxis.com/Apply now at :

https://www.discoverpraxis.com/apply

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This time on the Deliberate Dropout, Mitcheel and Ljupco are flipping the script and breaking down when it does make sense to stay in college. What are the situations that make sense for a student to invest their time and money in college? And how can you get the most value out of college if you're there?

If you've decided to drop out or are unhappy at college and thinking about dropping out, stay tuned as we go through the experience and help lay out how to go from dropping out to building a thriving career.

Mitchell Earl is COO of Praxis and host of the Self-Directed Podcast.

Ljupco Stojanovski Jr. is an account executive at Xplenty and Praxis alumnus who made the decision to drop out of college.


Praxis is a 6-month bootcamp that results in a full-time job at a startup. Learn more at: http://discoverpraxis.com/Apply now at : https://www.discoverpraxis.com/apply

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There is a common myth that if you don't go to college you are missing out of the best way to build a network and make valuable connections, but is that really true?

This time on The Deliberate Dropout, Mitchell and Ljupco are breaking down the reality of building a valuable personal network  from horizontal vs. vertical connections to the fundamentals of what builds deep connections with others.

If you've decided to drop out or are unhappy at college and thinking about dropping out, stay tuned as we go through the experience and help lay out how to go from dropping out to building a thriving career.

Mitchell Earl is COO of Praxis and host of the Self-Directed Podcast.

Ljupco Stojanovski Jr. is an account executive at Xplenty and Praxis alumnus who made the decision to drop out of college.


Praxis is a 6-month bootcamp that results in a full-time job at a startup.   Learn more at: http://discoverpraxis.com/Apply now at : https://www.discoverpraxis.com/apply

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This time on The Deliberate Dropout, Mitchell and Ljupco are diving into the financial side of dropping out. Sure, it's easy to think about leaving if you don't have debt, but how can you think about and plan for dropping out if you've got large student loans?   

If you've decided to drop out or are unhappy at college and thinking about dropping out, stay tuned as we go through the experience and help lay out how to go from dropping out to building a thriving career.     

Mitchell Earl is COO of Praxis and host of the Self-Directed Podcast.     

Ljupco Stojanovski Jr. is an account executive at Xplenty and Praxis alumnus who made the decision to drop out of college.        

Resources mentioned in this episode:  

  • Sofi for refinancing student loans: https://www.sofi.com/refinance-student-loan/ 

  • Dave Ramsey's Snowball Method for paying down debt: https://www.ramseysolutions.com/debt/how-the-debt-snowball-method-works  

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Praxis is a 6-month bootcamp that results in a full-time job at a startup.  Learn more at: http://discoverpraxis.com/Apply now at : https://www.discoverpraxis.com/apply

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So you've made the decision to drop out and you need to find a way to start making money and start learning in the real word. What are the jobs that you could go get today and start making forward progress?

Mitchell and Ljupco break it down from waiting tables to working in a grocery store and what you can learn along the way.

If you've decided to drop out or are unhappy at college and thinking about dropping out, stay tuned as we go through the experience and help lay out how to go from dropping out to building a thriving career.

Mitchell Earl is COO of Praxis and host of the Self-Directed Podcast.

Ljupco Stojanovski Jr. is an account executive at Xplenty and Praxis alumnus who made the decision to drop out of college.


Praxis is a 6-month bootcamp that results in a full-time job at a startup.   Learn more at: http://discoverpraxis.com/Apply now at : https://www.discoverpraxis.com/apply

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Everyone assumes you're going to be heading off to college, but you're not sure it the right fit for you, what should you do? How can you find out if college is right for you and what other options do you have?   

This time on the Deliberate Dropout, Mitchell and Ljupco dive into those questions and break down the options that exist for finding out if college is right for you beyond simply going to college.   

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If you've decided to drop out or are unhappy at college and thinking about dropping out, stay tuned as we go through the experience and help lay out how to go from dropping out to building a thriving career.     

Mitchell Earl is COO of Praxis and host of the Self-Directed Podcast.     

Ljupco Stojanovski Jr. is an account executive at Xplenty and Praxis alumnus who made the decision to drop out of college. 

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Praxis is a 6-month bootcamp that results in a full-time job at a startup.   Learn more at: http://discoverpraxis.com/ Apply now at : https://www.discoverpraxis.com/apply

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When you've dropped out, you need to put a plan in place to start learning high-value skills that you can build a career around. What are those high-value superskills? And what are the best ways you learn them? Mitchell and Ljupco break it down in this episode.   

If you've decided to drop out or are unhappy at college and thinking about dropping out, stay tuned as we go through the experience and help lay out how to go from dropping out to building a thriving career.     

Mitchell Earl is COO of Praxis and host of the Self-Directed Podcast.     

Ljupco Stojanovski Jr. is an account executive at Xplenty and Praxis alumnus who made the decision to drop out of college.        

Skills discussed:  

  • Hustle 

  • Sales 

  • Copywriting  

  • Emotional intelligence  

  • Financial literacy   

Books mentioned:  

  • The Boron Letters by Gary Halbert 

  • Scientific Advertising  by Claude Hopkins  

  • Influence by Robert Cialdini 

  • The Ultimate Sales Letter by Dan S. Kennedy   

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Praxis is a 6-month bootcamp that results in a full-time job at a startup. Learn more at: http://discoverpraxis.com/Apply now at : https://www.discoverpraxis.com/apply

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This time on the Deliberate Dropout, Mitchell and Ljupco are breaking down the differences between book smarts and street smarts.

When you make a move to dropout of college, you know you need to start learning both, but how do you do it? How do you learn the streets smarts you need without making too many mistakes?

If you've decided to drop out or are unhappy at college and thinking about dropping out, stay tuned as we go through the experience and help lay out how to go from dropping out to building a thriving career.

Mitchell Earl is COO of Praxis and host of the Self-Directed Podcast.

Ljupco Stojanovski Jr. is an account executive at Xplenty and Praxis alumnus who made the decision to drop out of college.


Praxis is a 6-month bootcamp that results in a full-time job at a startup.   Learn more at: http://discoverpraxis.com/Apply now at : https://www.discoverpraxis.com/apply

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It's tough making the move into the professional world. You'll be confronted by a lot of challenges and to overcome them learning quickly is key. So, for someone who has just dropped out and is just about to start the career journey, what are the things you should be learning about? What are the books you should be reading? Mitchell and Ljupco break it down in this episode.

Books for developing your mindset:

  • How I Found Freedom in an Unfree World by Harry Browne
  • How Will You Measure Your Life by Clayton Christensen
  • How to Find Fulfilling Work by Roman Krznaric
  • 12 Rules for Life by Jordan Peterson
  • Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill
  • Awaken the Giant Within by Tony Robbins
  • Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself by Joe Dispenza
  • The Last Safe Investment by Bryan Franklin and Michael Ellsberg

Books for developing your skillset:

  • The Personal MBA by Josh Kaufman
  • Fanatical Prospecting by Jeb Blount
  • The Boron Letters by Gary C. Halbert
  • The Ultimate Sales Letter by Dan S. Kennedy

If you've decided to drop out or are unhappy at college and thinking about dropping out, stay tuned as we go through the experience and help lay out how to go from dropping out to building a thriving career.

Mitchell Earl is COO of Praxis and host of the Self-Directed Podcast.

Ljupco Stojanovski Jr. is an account executive at Xplenty and Praxis alumnus who made the decision to drop out of college.


Praxis is a 6-month bootcamp that results in a full-time job at a startup. Learn more at: http://discoverpraxis.com/Apply now at : https://www.discoverpraxis.com/apply

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You've already made the decision to drop out... what comes next? This time on the Deliberate Dropout we are breaking down the steps you should take once you've officially dropped out.   We cover how to think about your next move, deciding on skills to learn, and how to develop the confidence you need to succeed. 

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If you've decided to drop out or are unhappy at college and thinking about dropping out, stay tuned as we go through the experience and help lay out how to go from dropping out to building a thriving career.     

Mitchell Earl is COO of Praxis and host of the Self-Directed Podcast.     

Ljupco Stojanovski Jr. is an account executive at Xplenty and Praxis alumnus who made the decision to drop out of college.     


Praxis is a 6-month bootcamp that results in a full-time job at a startup.   Learn more at: http://discoverpraxis.com/Apply now at : https://www.discoverpraxis.com/apply

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Welcome to the first episode of the Deliberate Dropout! This time we are talking all about timing. How do you know when it's time to drop out? Is it a feeling? Are there steps you should plan to take? Where breaking it all down in this episode.   

Resources recommended in this episode:   

  • Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki 

  • Human Action by Ludwig von Mises 

  • Your Next Five Moves by Patrick Bet-David  

If you've decided to drop out or are unhappy at college and thinking about dropping out, stay tuned as we go through the experience and help lay out how to go from dropping out to building a thriving career.   

Mitchell Earl is COO of Praxis and host of the Self-Directed Podcast.   

Ljupco Stojanovski Jr. is an account executive at Xplenty and Praxis alumnus who made the decision to drop out of college.      

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Praxis is a 6-month bootcamp that results in a full-time job at a startup.   Learn more at: http://discoverpraxis.com/Apply now at : https://www.discoverpraxis.com/apply

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Welcome to The Deliberate Dropout with Mitchell Earl and Ljupco Sojanovski Jr.! We are here to dissect the decision to drop out of college and break it down through Ljupco's lived experience. 

If you've decided to drop out or are unhappy at college and thinking about dropping out, stay tuned as we go through the experience and help lay out how to go from dropping out to building a thriving career. 

Mitchell Earl is COO of Praxis and host of the Self-Directed Podcast. 

Ljupco Stojanovski Jr. is an account executive at Xplenty and Praxis alumnus who made the decision to drop out of college