So ‘showcase me’ you ask. The only way I know is to give you an insight into my life. Would I change anything? Absolutely not. The brilliant and god awful experiences that have shaped me. Do I like who I’ve become… not always. But I am me.

But my biggest strengths are also my weaknesses and this is why I want in on this program. I want to learn to play to my strengths as an independent, annoying, passionate and informal leader but know this isn’t always going to serve me well.

So I write these life lessons to my 20 year old self. As a way for you to get to know me, to highlight my strengths but headline my challenges.

LIFE LESSONS TO MY 20 Y.O. SELF

1. Nobody has their shit figured out…

If they say they do, they are lying. Everyone has something going on. Be kind. Look at your nephew, he’s asleep on a picnic blanket. He has nothing sorted.

2. Say yes to everything.

Throw the 5 year plan out. It defines where you are going and you will miss out on amazing things.
Wing life. You will always fall on your feet.

3. Definitely move to Sydney.

At 22, you should pack up everything and take the role you don’t think you can do. This sets you up. You have a brilliant first boss who, 17 years later, has left an imprint bigger than you realise on your leadership style. You make friends for life

4. Don’t project manage life.

Mum will die and you will move back to Melbourne (despite her making you promise you won’t put your life on hold to look after Dad and your brothers). You’ll want to project manage everything but you’ll end up becoming immune to feeling. Emotions. You become immune to all of it. This is protection. You hate it. But are too scared to be anything else. Ask for a hug. Don’t run away.

A MUM’S
HUG
LASTS
LONG
AFTER SHE
LETS GO

5. Try and be more open.

You will never get any better at vulnerability. But you will awkwardly try. F@*k it’s funny to watch.

6. Inspire everyone.

Play to your strengths. Be open when others aren’t. Empower. You’ll get xmas cards one year from your team saying you are are the best boss ever. You’ll cry (in secret)

7. Creative doesn’t mean you can draw.

You will get weird when people say you are creative because being creative to you still means being able to draw. And you never can. Even still, you get Microsoft paint out every year to create this card

8. The anti corporate.

You will get bored easily and bend most of the rules. But it works for you. You’ll find out that a square peg in a round hole is amazing. But that takes years to realize. Wear your jeans to every ‘no denim’ event

9. Always make your brain hurt.

Always surround yourself with people who know way more stuff than you. They make you smarter. Think more. Learn more.

10. Know who the Australian Cricket Captains are.

Sport is your family. It lets you connect. Its your support network. The baseball, football, cricket, horse riding family will look out for you. You’ll make life long friends. Your shrink will help you work through being the only one in the family not to make an Australian team and being “The Twins’ sister”

11. Marry Nick.

Everything in your gut will tell you otherwise, but marry him. It’s a sweet party and leads to you becoming a better person.

12. Be brave.

At 37, you’ll fly to the Greek Islands. Sit by yourself and write a list. You’ll come home and leave your husband. Proud of yourself and not scared of anything anymore, you’ve seen yourself through other people’s eyes. And for the first time ever, even you think you are pretty cool. You made the decision. This is your defining moment

13. Everything is choice.

Always back your decisions even if they are aren’t right.

14. Figure out what you trust more.

Your head? Your heart? Or your gut?

15. Focus on what you have and why people love you
(like your nephews).

You’ll feel like you don’t fit anywhere, with any of your friends. Different lives. You are scared of ambition because it pulls you apart from people. Scared of it but secretly desire it. Figuring out that people love you for who you are gives you permission to honor ambition.

But I’m still working on figuring all of that out… stay tuned