Gabe Westmaas’ Post

Think about a time you not only felt happy at your job, but you felt really good at it. A time you felt a level of pride that came from somewhere internal, with no need for external validation or assurance. Think about a time at work you believed, securely, that you did something good. Made someone’s day better, in a simple way. Made a positive impact on your community. I’ve always had parallel career paths. One, white collared and degreed, I’ve been sharing here for a long time. One full of pivots, disappointment, flashing moments of success and connection, but ultimate disillusionment. The other, steady and humming in the background, under a night sky, has been there to pick up the pieces. In these places, I’ve been slowly growing, and learning. Learning to celebrate myself in a new way, for the good I do for people and not the title or expectations. I’m 27 now. I’ve made a lot of poor decisions in my career. I’ve trusted the wrong people and companies. I’ve lost a lot of money. I’ve stalled and been broken down. I decided I wasn’t going to let that happen anymore. I would take ownership of my path and not flail in the general direction of vague approval. I would commit myself, professionally, to my “second” job. A role that makes me happy. One with straightforward expectations, markers of success, and surrounded by people like me. Dreamers, creatives, people-people like me. Who happen to really like food. I still have two jobs, but now it’s not two sides of a coin. Now I’m just a server, full stop. In mornings and nights. Developing my skills, knowledge, and community one table at a time. Deeply, unexpectedly, in love with service and the person that I become on the floor. I have a new job, serving lunches at an opening restaurant in Midtown. My nights are still with the Broadway crowd in Times Square. My body is tired, and my heart has never been more full. This is a new chapter. I’m happy.

Great news from me! Your enthusiastic response to last week's shared roles left me chuffed, so let's dive deeper into a couple of other roles, this time within our dynamic NEST team at CITB. Don't know what NEST stands for? Where have you been, if you're thinking of twigs, leaves and moss you're barking up the wrong tree, (get it? never mind) So, what's the gig about? As a vital cog in the Customer Engagement team, of which I am based, you're not just a leader, but an advocate of CITB’s purpose, aims, and vision. You'll be rubbing elbows with folks across CITB, working collectively to meet our objectives. You'll manage performance, with an eagle-eye focus on increasing new entrant starts and completions. You'll bridge the gap between industry demand and available provision, epitomising CITB behaviours and competencies. As a beacon of CITB's vision, you'll make the pound stretch, managing spend against budget, and assess resource needs to guarantee effective delivery of objectives. Customer experience is king, or queen! Your skills will help you evaluate information and constantly improve the customer journey and ultimately achieve the right outcome with external partners and employers. At this exciting pace, I might just swap hats and become a recruiter! And no, I'm not a recruiter, not wish to be bombarded by them so please check out the careers page if you are interested! #CITB #NEST  

🚀 Unlock Your Career Potential at #Barclays! 📅 April 18th, 14:30 BST Discover the path to becoming a Product & Proposition Manager. Engage with our team, learn key skills, and get further insights. Don't miss this chance to start the blossoming of your career! #Webinar

🚀 Unlock Your Career Potential at #Barclays! 📅 April 18th, 14:30 BST Discover the path to becoming a Product & Proposition Manager. Engage with our team, learn key skills, and get further insights. Don't miss this chance to start the blossoming of your career! #Webinar

🚀 Unlock Your Career Potential at #Barclays! 📅 April 18th, 14:30 BST Discover the path to becoming a Product & Proposition Manager. Engage with our team, learn key skills, and get further insights. Don't miss this chance to start the blossoming of your career! #Webinar

Ever get tired of being introduced as just your job title? "Oh, this is Sarah, the accountant." "Meet Ben, the software engineer." Like, sure, that's what we do for a living, but is that all there is to us? Nope! We're all way more than our job titles. We're passionate storytellers, adventurous globetrotters, silly dog parents, and maybe even secret slam poets! Our lives are filled with hobbies, dreams, and experiences that make us who we truly are. So next time you meet someone new, skip the boring job title intro. Instead, ask them about their hidden talents, their deepest passion, or that crazy adventure they're planning. You might be surprised at what you discover! Remember, friends, we're more than just what we do for work. Let's break free from those labels and show the world the amazing, multifaceted beings we truly are! P.S. What about you? What hidden gem are you waiting to share with the world? Let's chat in the comments! #beyourself #sydney #workculture

🌟🚀 Exciting News! Today marks the beginning of a new chapter for me as I step into the role of a Sales Development Representative (SDR) at Review Wave Feeling a mix of nerves and excitement as I embark on this journey of learning and growth! The opportunity to challenge myself, acquire new skills, and push beyond my comfort zone is both daunting and invigorating. Change can be scary, but it's also where growth happens. I believe that embracing discomfort is the key to unlocking our full potential. I am ready to dive in, learn from every experience, and become the best version of myself in this new role. I'm grateful for the opportunity to work with such a talented team at Review Wave and to be part of a company that values personal and professional development. I'm committed to giving my all, pushing boundaries, and making a meaningful impact. Here's to new beginnings, stepping out of our comfort zones, and embracing the journey ahead. Let's do this! 💪🔥 #NewBeginnings #LearningAndGrowth #ExcitedAndScared #SDR #CareerJourney

Four months ago, I joined the WERQ LABS as a Business Development Associate, full of excitement and curiosity about what lay ahead. The first few weeks were all about getting familiar with the company culture, understanding the processes, and getting to know the team. This experience has been full of learning, growth, and challenges that have pushed me to develop new skills every day. Highlights from My Experience So Far: Over these four months, I’ve undergone a significant learning curve. From understanding my role to adapting to the professional environment, each day brought new challenges and learning opportunities. With the help of training sessions and guidance from my mentors, it helped me to quickly pick up the required skills for my tasks - From mastering the art of cold calling to understanding the nuances of #customerrelationshipmanagement.  I had the opportunity to contribute to several Meetings, working closely with my colleagues. Collaborating with experienced team members has not only enhanced my knowledge but also helped me develop a sense of responsibility towards my work. I’ve learned the importance of effective #communication, #teamwork, and #timemanagement. The journey wasn’t without its challenges. There were moments when I felt overwhelmed, especially when dealing with new and complex tasks. However, with support from my team and perseverance, I was able to overcome these hurdles. Each challenge taught me something new, whether it was #problemsolving, #multitasking, or handling pressure. Looking back, these four months have been incredibly enriching. I’ve grown both professionally and personally, and I’m proud of the progress I’ve made. As I move forward, I’m eager to take on more responsibilities, continue learning, and contribute to the organization’s success in more meaningful ways. #InsideSales #LearningAndGrowing #SalesJourney #Gratitude #CareerGrowth

I watched a clip of Glen Powell this weekend, who has seen his career absolutely take off the past few years (link to clip in the comments). In the clip, he talks about auditioning for the role of Rooster in Top Gun, which as you know, he did not get (shout out to Miles Teller). When Glen found out that he didn't get the role, he was crushed. Tom Cruise called him and asked if he'd be open to still being in the movie, to which Glen Powell said he wasn't sure it was worth it. Glen agreed to sit down with him though, and in that conversation Tom asked him what kind of career he wanted. Glen said that he wanted a career like his. He wanted to be the greatest of all time. Tom then asked him if he knew how Tom got there, to which Glen said, "Yeah, you choose great roles." Tom responded: "No, I choose great movies and I make the roles great." It changed Glen's perspective entirely. He ended up doing Top Gun, made his supporting role great, and has since landed several amazing roles/movies (including Twisters, which I saw on Friday and highly recommend). I love this story. Reminds me of Sheryl Sandberg's quote: "If you're offered a seat on a rocket ship, don't ask what seat! Just get on." I remember being offered an internship at Uber back in 2016. This was peak Uber hype, Travis Kalanick was still at the helm, and the business was on an absolute tear. I would have accepted a job cleaning the bathrooms at Uber if it meant the chance to learn and observe that company. Thankfully, I got to do more than that and work with several incredible people. Just that one experience has impacted by career tremendously. As you evaluate career opportunities, do everything you can to work with exceptional people building exceptional companies. Worry less about what you will be doing, and worry more about being exceptional yourself. Everything else will take care of itself.