Coming Full Circle at 40

This weekend, I turn 40.

As birthdays go, it's one of those milestones that naturally makes you stop and reflect on where you've been, where you are now, and where you're heading next. Looking back, if you'd asked my 20 year old self what I'd be doing at 40, I don't think I would have predicted any of it.

I've worked in graphic design, print, account management, project management, events, exhibitions, emergency services, and even spent several years travelling and working abroad. On paper, it might look like a career that wandered off in several different directions.

But now, standing where I am today, I can see that every step played a part in getting me here.

The Creative Foundations

My career started in the creative industry. After studying Graphic Design, I worked in design studios, print companies and agencies, learning everything from branding and artwork production to account management and project delivery. At the time, I thought I was learning how to design. What I was really learning was how businesses work, how clients think, and how good communication is often just as important as good design.

An Unexpected Detour

One of the biggest changes in my career came completely unexpectedly. I attended a Fire Service open day to support a friend who wanted to become a firefighter. I had no real intention of applying myself, but at the end of the day we were invited to put our names forward, so I did. My friend didn't make it through the selection process.

I did.

About a year later, while lying on a beach in Thailand during a period of travelling, I received an email offering me a place to begin firefighter training. It felt like one of those opportunities that was too good to ignore. The training was fantastic, and becoming a firefighter taught me lessons that I still use today. The ability to stay calm under pressure, assess situations quickly, solve problems methodically and work effectively as part of a team are skills that transfer surprisingly well into business and project management.

Then, of course, COVID arrived and changed everything. Many of the community-facing aspects of the role that I had enjoyed disappeared overnight, and at the same time I still had a growing sense of wanderlust.

Chasing the Digital Nomad Dream

For much of my thirties, friends knew me as "Nomadic Rich".

I've always been fascinated by the idea of creating a life with more freedom, flexibility and experiences than the traditional nine-to-five path offered. That curiosity eventually took me overseas, including working as a Group Leader in Fiji and taking on a variety of project and event management roles along the way.

Travel taught me a lot. Not just about different places, but about people, adaptability and confidence. When you're constantly stepping into unfamiliar situations, you learn to become comfortable with uncertainty. You learn how to figure things out. And perhaps most importantly, you learn that most problems can be broken down into smaller problems and solved one step at a time.

Returning Home

When I returned home just over two years ago, I found myself becoming increasingly involved in events. What started as helping out led to assistant event management roles and eventually managing large-scale events and experiences. Alongside that, I took on a contract role in the exhibitions industry, combining project management and artwork production. Then, a couple of months ago, that role came to an unexpected end through redundancy. In previous chapters of my life, I might have seen that as a setback.

This time, I saw it as an opportunity.

Why Organised Creative?

One thing I've realised over the years is that creativity alone isn't enough. Likewise, organisation without creativity can only take you so far. The sweet spot sits somewhere in the middle. The ability to think creatively while managing projects, solving problems, communicating clearly and delivering work professionally.

That's really what Organised Creative is about. It's the combination of everything I've learned over the last twenty years.

The designer.

The project manager.

The business owner.

The firefighter.

The event manager.

The traveller.

None of those experiences were wasted. They've all contributed to how I work today.

Looking Ahead

The funny thing about turning 40 is that it doesn't feel like an ending. If anything, it feels like the beginning of a new chapter. The travel bug that drove much of my thirties has finally settled. The constant search for what's next has been replaced by a clearer understanding of what I enjoy doing and where I can add value.

I'm excited to be back doing freelance work full-time, helping businesses with creative projects, project management and event delivery. And if the last twenty years have taught me anything, it's that the most interesting opportunities often come from the paths you never planned to take.

Here's to the next chapter.