Project Restart
From Setbacks to Comebacks: How “Restart” Is Rewriting the Future of Work
by Candace Goodman | The Good Blog
In a world where economic landscapes shift with each passing quarter and traditional career ladders crumble under the weight of outdated systems, one question looms large: what happens to those who never had a ladder to begin with—or who fell off entirely?
Enter Restart—an ambitious, beautifully human-centered mobile and web-based app that’s not just changing how people learn to work, but how they see themselves in the workforce.
At the helm of this bold innovation is R. Courtland, CEO of The Goods Virtual World, a visionary platform redefining career exploration in the digital age. I sat down with him on a brisk morning in Waldorf, expecting to talk technology and workforce trends. What I found instead was a revolution of reinvention—one rooted in compassion, strategy, and the kind of insight that only comes from someone who has seen the system from the inside and still dares to reimagine it.
“Restart isn’t an app. It’s a second chance in your pocket.”
Candace Goodman: Let’s start at the top—what is Restart, and why does it matter right now?
R. Courtland:
Restart is a 6-month, AI-guided educational app designed to prepare anyone—regardless of background—for entry-level careers in industries like construction, finance, legal, education, and retail.
It’s for the people who weren’t groomed for success in school. It’s for those starting over after incarceration, recovering from health setbacks, or simply saying, “I want something different.”
We don’t just teach what to do—we teach how to show up. How to dress, how to speak the language of the job, how to walk into a new world with confidence.
“Most platforms give you content. We give you context—and courage.”
Candace: How is this different from traditional online training or job readiness programs?
R. Courtland:
What we’re doing is unprecedented. Traditional programs focus on the hard skills—how to use a spreadsheet, how to lift safely on a construction site. That’s important, and we do that too.
But Restart goes further. We teach the unwritten rules. How to speak in a staff meeting. How to ask for feedback. How to shake off imposter syndrome when you’re walking into corporate America for the first time—or back into the workforce after years away.
All of it is delivered in bite-sized, gamified lessons, similar to Duolingo. You don’t need a degree to follow along. Just a phone and the will to learn.
Examples of Empowerment
Candace: Give me a picture of how someone would actually use Restart—say, a teacher wanting to enter the business world?*
R. Courtland:
Perfect. A teacher logs in and chooses a track—let’s say finance. The app walks her through the basics of corporate structure, financial terminology, office tools like Excel or QuickBooks, and helps her reframe her existing skills. Her classroom management becomes “team leadership.” Her lesson planning becomes “project management.”
By the time she’s done, she doesn’t just have knowledge—she has language, posture, and confidence.
Candace: And for someone stuck in a low-wage job, aiming higher?
R. Courtland:
We’ve got a guy working in retail, making under $100K, maybe closer to $35K. He wants to be a manager but doesn’t know how to level up. Restart puts him on the retail management track—training him in scheduling, leadership, inventory, customer service excellence. We even give him mock interviews with AI feedback and help rewrite his resume to reflect who he’s becoming—not just who he’s been.
Why Charles County? Why Now?
Candace: You're launching this in Charles County. What makes this community the right place to begin?
R. Courtland:
Because we see the people here. Charles County has pockets of high unemployment and underemployment—bright, capable people who just need a clear, guided path.
With the County’s support, we’re piloting Restart with 200 participants, tracking not just who completes the program, but who finds work, who earns more, and who feels seen for the first time in a long time.
This isn’t charity. It’s investment in human capital—and the returns will echo for generations.
Reclaiming Potential
Candace: What’s driving you personally to build this?
R. Courtland:
I’ve been in rooms where I was the only one who looked like me. I’ve seen brilliance overlooked because someone didn’t “speak the language.” I’ve watched people carry shame because they never learned what they were never taught.
Restart is my way of saying: You’re not broken. The system was incomplete. And now? We’re completing it.
It’s Not Just an App. It’s a Wake-Up Call.
When I began this interview, I thought I was writing about a tech product. I ended it feeling like I had just touched the pulse of something deeply transformational.
Restart doesn’t offer empty inspiration. It offers infrastructure for personal reinvention—scaffolded with empathy, powered by AI, and grounded in the belief that everyone deserves a way forward.
We live in an era that demands agility, reinvention, and lifelong learning. Restart answers that call not with lectures, but with compassionate, intelligent design—and a deep, unapologetic respect for the people it serves.
As R. Courtland said, "You're not starting from scratch. You're starting from experience." And with Restart, that experience finally has somewhere to grow.
So whether you're switching careers, rebuilding your life, or simply daring to believe there’s more out there for you—Restart is ready when you are.
Restart launches its pilot soon in Charles County. To learn more, partner, or support the mission, follow @TheGoodsVirtualWorld and stay tuned for updates.
#RestartYourLife #WorkforceRevolution #SecondChancesStartHere #TheGoodsVirtualWorld #CharlesCountyStrong
