I spent much time reflecting on a post by Kay Clancy “Creating Ripples” on LinkedIn recently.

“Be the reason someone believes in themselves”. 

Such a powerful and important message my Reticular Activating System (RAS) took over and filtered in anything relatable and I started to see and hear stories emulating this message everywhere. 

This made me reflect on my experiences: My father was this person for me. 

He himself was told to take a steady, secure, job, not risk unemployment and so at the ripe old age of 12 years he completed scholarship and commenced as a telegram boy for Australia Post.  44 years later he retired as the Postmaster at Palm Beach, Gold Coast.  It was a good life, but he felt he had somehow let himself down, and not backed himself to follow his passion.  

His consistent message to me was I could do anything I wanted, and he encouraged me to explore my options and try different things to understand what I truly enjoyed.  I have always been a positive person and am so glad for his encouragement and validation.

This gave me the courage to turn down the first job offer I received from the ANZ Bank and I also learnt quickly I was not cut out to be a dental nurse or an administrative assistant for a tax accountant.  I had deferred nursing and was about to go down the accountancy path when I discovered my true passion in a Hotel and Casino of all places! 

While waiting for my licence to work on the Casino floor I helped out in the recruitment division of the Human Resources department. A couple of the managers saw something in me and like my father instilled confidence and self-belief. One of these early mentors saw something in me and gifted me my first self-help book by Dale Carnegie “How to Win Friends and Influence People”.   

I had found my home, a profession that served my purpose and my soul.  Today, 35 years later, I still love being a career architect, working with people who are trying to identify their why and their next career option. 

The power of positive mindset and self-belief sets you up for success.  Some of us naturally have this ability and others of us have trusted advisors who support us along the journey.   If you need support, we are here to help. Please connect with our Careers, Leadership Development and Consulting Services Team. 

Kerri Hansen is a customer-centric leader, Kerri is known for her ability to develop and grow long-term relationships with her clients. She brings a professional and authentic approach along with strong commercial acumen. You can contact Kerri on 07 3305 5800.