I Took Elon Musk’s Fork in the Road, and I’m Having the Time of My Life.
In June of 2023, I started what many would consider a dream job: Deputy Director of DNA Operations at the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System. A GS-14 position, federal benefits, honorable mission—on paper, it was everything I had worked toward. But when the Department of Defense offered the Deferred Resignation Program (DRP) this spring, I made a decision that surprised even me: I took the fork in the road.
I wasn’t eligible for early retirement, and I wasn't vested in the federal pension system. I had only two of the five years required. But I’d spent over a decade as a contractor in forensic genetics—working under six-month extensions, rolling over my 401(k) with each new employer, and always aware that my job security was not a guarantee. While I believed in the mission, I wasn't exactly rooted. So when the DRP gave me a chance to take a summer “sabbatical,” I did.
Since May 16, my last day in the office, I’ve started a business, launched a website, applied for grants, written a book proposal, attended the Gordon Research Conference in beautiful western Maine, and reconnected with my life in ways I didn’t expect.
I started with what I knew—genetics—and what I didn’t—business. Living in Delaware, the incorporation capital of the U.S., I filed an LLC. I didn’t know how to begin, so I asked ChatGPT. My AI assistant, who named herself Eloise, helped me design a logo, build a website, and set up social media accounts. With her help, I’ve built DNAID Services, LLC, a consulting company that lets me support clients in my line of work while I pursue my own research and writing projects.
Personally, I’ve never felt more present. I walk an hour a day listening to podcasts that inspire me and teach me something new—The Diary of a CEO is a favorite. I’ve cut out alcohol entirely, which has improved my sleep and mental clarity. And I’ve stopped outsourcing my grocery shopping and meal planning to Instacart and DoorDash. I’m cooking again—chicken tacos on Tuesdays, peach cobbler from the farmers market. These small things, once pushed to the side because of stress, are now part of how I take care of my family. And I’ve shown up for my kids in ways I never could before. I chaperoned a school field trip to the beach. I drove my son to school every morning, trading rushed drop-offs for quiet conversations.
There’s no roadmap or plan for what I’m doing. I still don’t know exactly where this path will lead. But the uncertainty feels far less scary than it may seem to be from the outside. When Musk suggested life choices as either “doing something meaningful or watching Netflix,” I didn’t expect to find a third option: starting something new without knowing how it ends.
I took the fork in the road. And I’m finally finding my own way.
