By CASEY NEILL
BE bored.
This was the advice from strategic futurist Marcus Barber for more than 150 Year 9 and 10 students at the annual Lunch with the Winners at Sandown Racecourse last Tuesday, 2 September.
South East Business Networks (SEBN) hosted the event with South East Melbourne Manufacturers Alliance (SEMMA) and South East Local Learning and Employment Network (SELLEN).
“Boredom is one of the best things you can ever do,” Mr Barber said.
“It will help your brain create things.
“Turn off the Xbox, put down your phone. Allow yourself time to do nothing. Just sit down and be quiet.”
Mr Barber also gave predictions for emerging career opportunities for employees of the future, from building robotic exoskeletons to vertical farming.
He encouraged students to find a vision, identify the barriers to achieving it and how to overcome them.
“A lot of people live their life treading water, drowning,” he said.
“That’s because they don’t know where to go.
“Whatever you choose for a career path is what you do for now.
“It’s not forever, but you have to start somewhere.”
The Braaap Motorcycles founder Brad Smith, Shaun Surtees, Rhonda Neil and Sahema Saberi joined MC and M+K Lawyers managing director James Sturgess on stage to share their journeys to success.
Footy was Mr Surtees’ focus during his VCE studies at Hallam Secondary College.
He had no idea what he wanted to do, but his mum was an accountant at Austbreck and his father was a fitter and turner.
He’s now 22, has completed an apprenticeship in mechanical fitting and turning and supervises 15 staff as a production team leader at Austbreck.
Ms Neil was awarded the Master Builders Association of Victoria Apprentice of the Year Award and Female Apprentice of the Year earlier this year.
She took a gap year after graduating from Lyndale Secondary College in 2008.
“Get as much life experience as you possibly can,” she said.
Sahema Saberi arrived in Australia from Afghanistan at age 14 and has been awarded the Greater Dandenong Young Achiever of the Year award.
She recalled going to home from school and crying during Year 9, frustrated she was unable to understand her teachers. She wanted to quit, but her mum urged her to give it another month.
She stuck with school, topped several of her classes in VCE at Dandenong High School, has gained a Bachelor of Science and is completing an honours degree.
Mr Smith, 26, has won business and entrepreneur of the year titles after taking his passion for motor cycles and creating a back yard business in high school.
Despite numerous setbacks, Braap is now a multi-million dollar company.
“It’s important for us to talk about the people we want to become,” he said.
But he said that young people were used to having things immediately.
“I’ve learnt that opportunity takes time,” he said.
Students from Berwick Secondary College, Carwatha College P-12, Dandenong High School, Emerson School, Hallam Senior Secondary College, Hillcrest Christian School, Lyndale Secondary College and Noble Park English Language School were involved in the day.
Bailey, 15, from Berwick Secondary College, wants to own a business when he grows up and said the speakers had given him the confidence to do it.
“They were talking to our age group,” he said.
His classmate Jasmin, 14, said the day made her determined to work harder at school.
“It really made us think about choices we make for our future,” she said.
