INC.
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2017 GQ.COM.AU 149MOSTLY As
You’ve barely clocked a year
in a role and you want out. in a role and you want out.
Fine, since you’re so early in Fine, since you’re so early in
your career, job-hopping may your career, job-hopping may
not matter. Just watch you not matter. Just watch you
don’t gain a rep for flitting don’t gain a rep for flitting
about. Best thing may be to about. Best thing may be to
download a meditation app download a meditation app
and stay put. Our advice? and stay put. Our advice?
Gain some more experience Gain some more experience
and you’ll be better off and you’ll be better off
when you start looking. when you start looking.EMBRACE
A SECOND
CAREER
For former professional
surfer Luke Stedman,
retirement landed
decades earlier than it
does for most, forcing
a rethink, at just 30, as
to what his second act
would be. Here, the
41-year-old opens up
about his experiences
and learnings as founder
of menswear label
Insted We Smile.
“We launched in
2013 with T-shirts and
I came in so naive – I had
no idea, no real textile
knowledge, I didn’t know
about print application
processes or fits and
fabrications – I was
completely blind but
I thought, fuck it, let’s
just jump in. Looking
back, I should have only
started things after
much more market
research, I should have
mapped things out and
had a stronger game
plan and a real blueprint
about what it was we
were trying to achieve.
“I wouldn’t be here if I
hadn’t had mentors. Kym
[Ellery, designer and
former girlfriend] really
showed me the way- she’s incredible,
awesome at strategy
and financial planning
as well as being an
incredible designer. You
need to ask and be open
to learning from others.
“Social media’s been
imperative, I don’t
understand how anyone
can exist without it. For
a brand like us with no ad
budget, it’s a must. We
also try and align with
the right people – Chris
[Hemsworth] has been
a huge supporter and
he’s epic because he
loves to surf. We’re
growing nicely and now
have accounts across
the US, HK, China and Oz.
“The key’s to have
goals, be led by passion
and to fuck fear.“ Head
to gq.com.au for more
from Stedman;
instedwesmile.com
QUIZ TIME
SIMON BENNETT, PRINCIPAL CONSULTANT FROM GLIDE OUTPLACEMENT AND CAREER
COACHING, SAYS THE LENGTH OF TIME YOU STAY IN A JOB DEPENDS ON A NUMBER OF
FACTORS. TAKE THE GQINC QUIZ AND SEE WHETHER IT’S TIME TO MOVE ON OR STAY PUT.R E S U LT S
MOSTLY Cs
You’re an expert in what
you do. You have a long you do. You have a long
career history, and no one career history, and no one
grasps industry nuance or grasps industry nuance or
organisational organisational esprit esprit like like
you do. Far be it from us you do. Far be it from us
to say what you should do, to say what you should do,
but you’re closer to the end but you’re closer to the end
of your career than the of your career than the
beginning, so you may want beginning, so you may want
to investigate the company to investigate the company
position on gold watches. position on gold watches.MOSTLY Bs
Put your shoes on because
you’re ripe for walking into you’re ripe for walking into
a new challenge. Sure, you a new challenge. Sure, you
may have hit a wall after 3-5 may have hit a wall after 3-5
years punching into the same years punching into the same
clock, but with that has come clock, but with that has come
a perfect blend of youth a perfect blend of youth
and good history in the and good history in the
industry, as well as a swag industry, as well as a swag
of experience in the one of experience in the one
place. Wplace. Wherever you land, herever you land,
they’re lucky to have you. they’re lucky to have you.Q1
YOUR AGE?
A. 20s.
B.B. 30s. 30s.
C.C. 40s and beyond. 40s and beyond.Q6
WHAT ARE YOU HOPING TO ACHIEVE IN YOUR
CAREER - WORK/LIFE BALANCE FOR EXAMPLE,
OR RAPID PROMOTION?
A. Promotions pay more, right?
B.B. Both. Both.
C.C. Promotion, if there were any more Promotion, if there were any more
rungs left on the ladder. rungs left on the ladder.Q4
HOW IS CHANGE PERCEIVED IN YOUR INDUSTRY?
A. A given after 10 months.
B.B. As an unavoidable fact of life after a time. As an unavoidable fact of life after a time.
C.C. As an affront to both God and man. As an affront to both God and man.Q5
HOW HAPPY ARE YOU IN YOUR ROLE?
A. Meh. The stocked bar fridge is nice,
but don’t all jobs have that? but don’t all jobs have that?
B.B. Happy enough on finding a groove Happy enough on finding a groove- can stick things out until it’s the right – can stick things out until it’s the right
time to move. time to move.
C.C. Co-workers have become family members. Co-workers have become family members.
Q3
TOTAL NUMBER OF YEARS YOU’VE BEEN
WORKING (ALL JOBS)?
A. Does shelf-stacking count?
B.B. The ten-year high school reunion The ten-year high school reunion
was ten years ago. was ten years ago.
C.C. You recall free tertiary education. You recall free tertiary education.Q2
NUMBER OF YEARS WORKED
IN CURRENT ROLE?
A. Years? Try months.
B.B. More than a few years – have made More than a few years – have made
some inroads, but you’re getting some inroads, but you’re getting
restless and keeping an ear out. restless and keeping an ear out.
C.C. Literally centuries in dog years. Literally centuries in dog years.ADDITIONAL WORDS: RICHARD CLUNE.