You may have heard me talk about my son, Flynn, before. Can you believe he’s 21 now?
Once upon a time, he was that wide-eyed, deep-thinking kid who wouldn’t eat his lunch until the jigsaw was complete. The one who clung to my leg at daycare drop-off and burst into tears if we left him with a babysitter. While other boys were outside kicking footies, Flynn was inside building Lego cities, sketching imagined worlds, and obsessing over Magic: The Gathering.
From day one, Flynn danced to the beat of his own drum.
Then came Covid.
Right as Flynn entered his senior year of school, the entire world turned upside down. Lockdowns crushed his HSC desire to study, especially for a creative kid studying arts – yep, not much inspiration within the four walls of his bedroom. His spirit took a hit. Honestly? We stopped hoping for top marks – we just wanted him to make it through.
He scraped through. No drive to study. No master plan. So, we did what any parent would when their child wants to take a break to figure things out – “Well, you need to get a job.”
And he did.
Flynn, after years of watching Jason and me navigate business and careers, took my mantra – you for “thank the opportunity” – and landed a casual role at a fashion retailer. He showed up. Did the work. Grew into it.
Two years later, the fog lifted. Fashion. Buying. Brand. That creative spark that was always there suddenly had a home. I remembered him lying on the floor at Target as a kid, pairing pants and shirts together for fun. It all made sense.
He applied to a competitive fashion and global brand management course – and got in. One of only a handful of boys in the cohort. It didn’t matter to him. He was exactly where he needed to be.
Then came an internship and a mentor – his new boss, a grounded, driven man who saw Flynn’s spark.
Practising what I preach, I told him: “Reach out. Ask for advice.”
“No way,” Flynn said. “Why would he want to talk to me?”
But with a little nudge, he sent the message:
“What advice would you give someone like me wanting to build a career in buying?”
Do you know where the bravery to send that one question got him?
Just one week later, he was in an interview – with three GMs. High stakes. Flynn prepped like a pro (big shout out to Kara Atkinson for your help). And just like any task he put his mind to, he nailed it.
They offered him the job.
The HR Director told him: “We’ve never done this before. But you stood out. You took initiative. You followed up. We saw the person you are.”
So, what does Flynn finding his path have to do with you?
You’ve already got a career, or a business. You’ve achieved success… but are you walking your own path? Or someone else’s?
Would carving your own path bring more satisfaction, even if nothing else about your title or business changed?
Because the world is loud right now. Everyone is shouting. But what people are craving is trust.
Flynn didn’t stand out because of grades or polished credentials. He stood out because he was real. He asked. He trusted his gut. He backed himself, even when he was scared.
And that’s what we need to bring to the table. Not the cookie-cutter, play-it-safe version. The real, brave, slightly-wobbly-but-here-anyway version.
Being unforgettable isn’t about being the loudest or having the perfect plan. It’s about trusting yourself enough to show up as you, even when your path doesn’t make sense to anyone else yet. Even when the timeline looks different.
Flynn’s story isn’t about lucky breaks. It’s about backing yourself before the outcome is guaranteed. It’s about realising that your difference – your perspective, your creativity, your timing – is what makes you magnetic.
So, if you’re feeling behind, unsure, or like your journey doesn’t match the highlight reels you’re scrolling through – good.
That means you’re not following someone else’s script.
You’re writing your own.
And that’s where the real impact starts.
If this resonates and you’re curious about how I can help you carve out your own path – with strategy, visibility, and confidence – hit reply and let’s talk.
Janine x