The top three career lessons from 20 years at ReachOut

This month I celebrated twenty years at ReachOut. It happened to coincide with an invitation to give a speech at the graduation ceremony for Social Science Students at Western Sydney University. It was a great opportunity to reflect on my time at ReachOut as shared below. To all those I have served with at ReachOut, my deepest thanks!

Deputy Chancellor, thank you for the generous welcome.

Academic Staff, Graduands, family and friends, it is a privilege to be with you here today.

I want to extend my deepest congratulations to all Graduands. Today marks a great achievement in your lives. It represents many years of education, missed social events, sleepless nights and if you are anything like me, days of procrastination as you fought an overwhelming urge to do anything other than study.

It also places you among a rare group of people with a university degree. In a country more than ever dependent on the creativity of people’s minds rather than the calluses on their hands, this provides you with a great advantage. In a world where the jobs of the future will likely require further study, your ability to achieve this degree should give you confidence to tackle new educational challenges. And in an economy that is internationally connected, the fact you attended one of Australia’s most globally orientated universities, has provided you with a set of relationships and cultural experiences to succeed in Australia and around the world.

I have had a fortunate career marked by twenty years of service at the one organisation, ReachOut. It began with a tragic loss of a friend to suicide when I was 14 and a decision to pursue a life in improving the mental health of young people. During this time I have helped establish ReachOut in Australia, Ireland and the US, worked with street kids, refugees and young prisoners across Indonesia and consulted to UNICEF in Cambodia. I have had lunch with Prime Minister’s and murderers, swapped stories with billionaires and people who live in extreme poverty and been witness to humanity at its best and worst. All of this was made possible because twenty years ago I sat where you sit and received a degree in psychology. 

I am often asked how I have stayed in a difficult area for the whole of my career. Since at least some of you will be interested in a similar path, I offer you some thoughts that have guided my life.

First, focus on the life you want to lead not the career you want to have – Some of the most successful people I know are also the most miserable. They live a life of great success but little purpose. My experience is that life is a series of trade-offs. In my own case, I have traded off changing jobs to help build a charity. This has always been an easy choice because I decided long ago the type of life I wanted to lead and been happy to let the chips fall where they may.

Second, be grateful – While much of your success will be determined by your own efforts, you also stand here today because of sacrifices of those around you. My degree was earned because my grandparents moved as refugees to create a better life for their family. My grandmother, a woman who spoke five languages, worked in an umbrella factory and my grandfather, a true craftsman, worked as a fitter and turner to fulfill this dream. My father taught himself English by reciting words from the dictionary. He failed his high school exams but went onto achieve a PhD. My mother gave up a flourishing career for many years to raise our family. We all stand on the shoulders of those who have come before us. If we are grateful, those same shoulders become the arms that support us when we fall.

Finally, go home – No one on their death bed says, if only I had sent one more email, my life would be better. Many people regret not spending more time with those that they love. While I love my job, I love my family more. I love reading a story to my four year old more than working back and would rather watch Game of Thrones on the couch with my wife than send work emails late at night. The most important career advice I can give you is to know when to stop and give your full attention to the things in life that matter most.

Once again, congratulations to each of you on your achievements. I wish you all the best in your chosen career. More importantly, I hope you find a life of purpose, filled with people who love you at work and at home.

Thank you