30 years ago today was a life changing and life defining day.
I was 17 and started my first office job. In a bank.
A very different world from growing up being a bricklayer and working in the trades. Six months after leaving school and working in horticulture… I now had a job in the city, wearing a suit to work, and surrounded by so many interesting people who had different perspectives and experiences to what I’d grown up with.
My whole world opened up and led to a life of adventure and possibilities that I never knew were an option for me.
Today, as I get ready for work and get the kids to school, I’m remembering my feeling of excitement. Getting the bus over the Wainui hill, the train into town, and arriving at the office that first time. Ready to soak it all up and learn.
This was the real start of three decades of adventures and learning… that are very much in progress.
The accidental beginning of my non-linear career in strategy, design, tech, innovation, consulting, program management, startups, social enterprise, and wellbeing. The start of my focus on taking a human-centred approach to designing, building, delivering, and leading strategic change in Australia, NZ, the UK, and Europe.
I’ve been lucky to work with and learn from so many awesome people over the years who’ve helped me on my journey. I’m stoked to have so many of these people as close friends.
In various posts, I’ve called out some of these people and reflected on the journey and learnings so far. I’m still learning every day, and this is very much a story in progress.
I wrote about the journey five years ago in three posts, and a few years ago I reflected on some key things I’ve learnt from 20 years of Dynamic4. Start with Reflecting on 25 Years. Part 1: The Westpac Years (1993-1998) if you’re curious and follow the threads…
30 years of work done… and almost 22 of them spent running Dynamic4. I feel very lucky to be able to spend my days playing at the place where design, regenerative innovation, and wellbeing meet. It’s very likely I’ll spend at least another 30 years learning and exploring my endless curiosity. I’m looking forward to the adventures to come…
