The GrowBiz Team Share #NoWrongPath Advice

On August the 6th, young people in Scotland will receive their exam results. We hope they all do well, but realistically, not everyone will get the results they wanted or expected. Even if they do, it’s not always an easy transition to the world of work. That’s why DYW have developed the #NoWrongPath campaign, which they launched in 2017 to demonstrate that there are many ways to success.

In this article, some members of the GrowBiz team are joining in by sharing their advice, and a few nuggets of wisdom they would tell their younger selves:

Corrie

Like many of the GrowBiz team, Corrie took a winding path to get where she is now, as a self-employed business support professional. At GrowBiz, she works as the Client Services Manager.

What would you would tell your younger self?

It doesn’t matter if you change direction many times, it all gives you valuable experience. Be open to every opportunity

Advice to young people receiving their results?

Exams and degrees are not the be all and end all. Try not to have fixed ideas, be flexible to everything that comes along.

Kirsteen

Kirsteen is the Finance Manager at GrowBiz and says: “I moved to Edinburgh from a small rural town when I was 18 having secured a position as a bookkeeper with an accountancy firm in Edinburgh. After a couple of years with the firm my manager gave me the opportunity to study for the Association of Accounting Technicians qualification. It was a 3 year course where I could learn while I earned, which really worked for me. Having this qualification mapped out my career path and having worked for various financial institutions in Edinburgh, I was ready to move back home to the small rural town I was brought up in to raise my family and where I now run my own small business as an AAT licensed accountant.   

“I'm delighted to say that my colleague who encouraged and supported me going back to education, over 30 years ago, still comes to visit me each year!”

What would you would tell your younger self?

Don't compare yourself to others - your journey is your journey!  

Advice to young people receiving their results?

Learning and education is a lifelong journey. 

Angela

Angela is an Enterprise Facilitator and SEED Coordinator at GrowBiz. She says: “Huge congratulations to everyone who got the results they wanted! For those who didn’t, remember, these results are just a snapshot and your worth isn’t defined by this moment.”

“There are countless paths to success, and very few doors that are truly closed.”

What would you would tell your younger self?

Don't stress about finding the perfect path. Life's a grand adventure, with countless turns and opportunities. Trust your gut, and most importantly, talk to people. Share your passions and listen to theirs. Conversations unlock connections and opportunities you never knew existed. Embrace the journey!

Advice to young people receiving their results?

There are countless paths to success, and very few doors that are truly closed. There’s support available to help you get to where you want to be so speak to as many people around you as you can about options and alternative routes”

Hayley

Hayley is a self-employed massage therapist, as well as being Care and Wellbeing Coordinator at GrowBiz.

What would you would tell your younger self?

It's never too late to try something new. I have had a number of different types of jobs throughout my life and have learnt so much along the way. The most important thing is to be brave, try your best and the path forward will become clear! 

Advice to young people receiving their results?

When I received my exam results I thought that my grades would be the most important factor deciding what I was going to do with my career. What I've learnt since then is that exam results are just one piece of the puzzle. I've learnt that our interests, ideas and other skills are really important too. Maybe you're really good at talking to people or caring for others? Or drawing and making things? Or coming up with new ideas? Or using technology? Skills you may not even realise you have yet will be so important to you throughout your working life. 

Abi

As the GrowBiz Marketing and Communications Coordinator, Abi turned her hobby into her career when she began writing for a living, rather than just for fun. “It didn't go quite according to plan,” she says, “as I always imagined I'd be writing fiction rather than creating marketing content, but that was all just part of the journey!”

Self employment opens up a world of opportunities to try something different

What would you would tell your younger self?

I’d tell my younger self that learning doesn’t stop when you leave school! And self employment opens up a world of opportunities to try something different. You can work at whatever you want to on the side, until you’re ready to launch into it full time.

Advice to young people receiving their results?

Even if you don’t end up on your ideal career path right now, don’t be afraid to continue to explore your interests and hobbies and forge your own way ahead.

Would you like to chat to a member of the GrowBiz team about potential self-employment opportunities? Request a call here. Or, if you’re based in Perth & Kinross, why not take a look at our SEED programme?