From Apprentice to WorldSkills Competitor: Where the Trades Can Take You with Louise Azzopardi Part 1

and I was 15, so I went with my parents and I had three conversations that night that I remember so vividly. The first was a lecture about how I couldn't be a mechanic. The second, yeah. So it just lectured me and my dad for about 10 minutes. And at the time I wanted to be a motorcycle mechanic, so he was like, she's too small to push the bikes around. She won't be able to do it. And yeah, like it now, like 12 years later, it's ridiculous. Yeah. Um, but that's what that guy thought. Um, and then I had another conversation with a company. It was very short. These guys were like, we wouldn't want our daughters working at this workshop. We don't recommend it for you. Later I found out that male apprentices had been sexually harassed at that workshop, so I was like, got outta that one. Yeah. But it's kinda sad that these guys knew how bad of the environment their workshop was. It was like, looking back, I'm like, that is pretty bad. But then I kept going through the expo and I met Sarah. So Sarah at the time was a first year heavy vehicle mechanic. She was the same height as me, the same build as me. And at the time we were both blonde. It's changed a few times since then. Yeah. Yeah. But, but she was there and after these two first conversations, I was feeling pretty disheartened. So when I saw her I was like, look like she can do it, like. Like, it looks like I can do it too. Right? Yeah. Um, so I ended up doing work experience at her work. I did, I loved it. I applied for the job and then I got the job.

you just got a little bit of a taste test of our latest guest, miss Louise Azzopardi who is amazing, um, connected with her through LinkedIn and there's some fiery conversation as we go on and continue to learn about the amazing experience that she's had and like the tremendous personal growth that she's experienced as, as a result of choosing a career in the trades. Who to thunk it? her experience as an apprentice is pretty unique because she started her apprenticeship in high school, meaning she was like out working with adults and of course with a bunch of men as a young teenage lady. And so she shares some good insight about what it's like, uh, dealing with those things and really like as a teenager, working with adults in the trades and how that kind of shaped her and galvanized her going forward. And you're gonna learn about how big a baller Miss Louise is. Uh, but she's actually a world-class competitor in her specific trade. And so she tells us like the whole story of how she competed locally that regionally the net like globally, which is super damn impressive. And it's an amazing story. So you're gonna want to like catch all of that. y'all we're making a little bit of an adjustment here. I've gotten some feedback and I've been reluctant to, to listen. And so the goal is to release an episode every week. And so what that means is we're gonna be, um, slicing the 60, 70, 90 minute interviews. We're gonna be cutting them in half. Uh, and this way, you know, you can take the whole thing, whatever's ready and available on your way into work. Close it off, and then next week there's gonna be another one just for you. So I'd love to get your thoughts on how that feels. Is it funky or whatever, but we're gonna give it a shot. We'll see how it goes. Also, the Patreon element that we've had historically. Is, is gone. Patrons, love you, love you very much, deeply appreciate your support and I know you're still out there supporting and working to enhance the image of careers in the trades. Uh, I've done a poor job of actually fulfilling my commitment to the patrons. Y'all have done a phenomenal job and there ain't no reason for y'all to be paying for this stuff. So we're gonna be closing that. Ted's just, just giving y'all a heads up. Much, much gratitude for that. And of course we gotta give a shout out to the LnM Family members out there that show us so, so much love this shout out goes to Ms. Angela Gardner, who is, uh, one of the soothing, calming southern tones that you're gonna hear on Women Talk Construction. Ms. Angela Gardner says this is why we love y'all, Jen and Jess, you both are always lifting up. Others. I love the blog posts, always looking for ways to help others grow by creating meaningful ways to digest and understand what our internal selves need. Hashtag be the inspiration. Angela, you are an inspiration. I got to interview you early, early on on the podcast, and then you and Ms. Christie graced me with your presence and being the first, first guest on the OG Spotlight, so I appreciate you, sister. Love y'all very much. And here we go on the Miss Louise.

What is going on, folks? I'm here with Ms. Louise Azzopardi. Did I get that? Yes. Yeah,

you got it. Good job. Yes,

thank you. Thank you. Um, who's all the way in the future? Right now, Louise is in Australia, which is, uh, it's a 15 hour time difference from San Antonio, Texas to Australia. Where, where specifically in Australia? Miss Luis, uh, Sydney. Sydney, Australia. Is that like Party Central over there?

Well, I'm not in the party scene, but yeah. No, it's pretty, it's, it has its seasons.

Okay. Okay. Good. Good. Well, I know that you're a baller because I, I think I've seen you come across my feet on LinkedIn. and then of course I got nosy and let me look at some more. So I was like, oh my goodness. She's like, competitor speaker, um, coach, like you got, you got a whole ton of stuff. And I'll tell you what really intrigued me or or caught my eye was that you came up. So you come up as a heavy machinery mechanic. Is that Yeah. Did I get that right? and now you're like life coaching and speaking and, and like, so that whole path I think is amazing and I'd love for the LnM Family to hear more about that because it started as a career in the trades and it was an avenue to all this other amazing ways that you're serving the community at large. And so I'm going to try to stop blabbing my mouth and, and I miss Luis. I'd love for you to tell us. What should the LnM Family know about you?

Yeah, so like I said, like you said, my name's Louise. I did start off my working journey as a heavy vehicle mechanic, um, which I started when I was 15 actually. Ooh, okay. Yeah. So I, school was not for me and I knew very early on, so we, over here, we do like preschool, like pre-K, and then we do one year, two, year three, whatever. So in year seven you step up into the high school kind of age. And I knew then, like when I did that step that I didn't wanna continue studying and I actually tried to convince my parents to leave school then. And when we're in year seven over here, you're about 12 to 13. And I was like, I don't, huh? None of this school stuff. Me not a fan. Um, but my parents were like, okay, you gotta make it to your temp. So year 10 is kind of like the end of high school. And then we do year at 11 and 12, which is our senior years of school. So at the end of year 10, they were like, you can leave if you have a job or an apprenticeship or something to go into. And this is when I'm about 14, 15. Okay. Um, so I'm like, cool, I wanna get outta here. Um, so gone, like none of this sitting at a desk in a classroom for me. No, thank you. Um, so then I ended up deciding that I wanted to be a mechanic. So I grew up on a farm and I'm actually living at my parents property at the moment too. So grew up on the farm, always working with my hands, fixing machinery, helping with farm work. So I was always very hands-on. So I was like, yep, I'm gonna be a mechanic. And then I started doing work experience, so just like free work trials in my school holidays. And I did, I loved it, but all the places that I went, they gave me a good reference, but they didn't have a position available for me. So, I was like, look, I'm not giving up on this. So I kept on going, and at the time, because I was still in high school, it didn't really matter that I was getting these rejections as well. Um, so I kept looking. I looked for about a year and we, me and my parents went to this, um, apprenticeship expo. We have them over here. We're all companies that have apprenticeships available. Set up an expo and job seekers can walk through, have a look and talk to everyone. And I went to this expo and I was 15, so I went with my parents and I had three conversations that night that I remember so vividly. The first was a lecture about how I couldn't be a mechanic. The second, yeah. So it just lectured me and my dad for about 10 minutes. And at the time I wanted to be a motorcycle mechanic, so he was like, she's too small to push the bikes around. She won't be able to do it. And yeah, like it now, like 12 years later, it's ridiculous. Yeah. Um, but that's what that guy thought. Um, and then I had another conversation with a company. It was very short. These guys were like, we wouldn't want our daughters working at this workshop. We don't recommend it for you. Later I found out that male apprentices had been sexually harassed at that workshop, so I was like, got outta that one. Yeah. But it's kinda sad that these guys knew how bad of the environment their workshop was. It was like, looking back, I'm like, that is pretty bad. Yes. But then I kept going through the expo and I met Sarah. So Sarah at the time was a first year heavy vehicle mechanic. She was the same height as me, the same build as me. And at the time we were both blonde. It's changed a few times since then. Yeah. Yeah. But, but she was there and after these two first conversations, I was feeling pretty disheartened. So when I saw her I was like, look like she can do it, like. Like, it looks like I can do it too. Right? Yeah. Um, so I ended up doing work experience at her work. I did, I loved it. I applied for the job and then I got the job. So I started my heavy vehicle apprenticeship, um, a few months after that. So it was, I started in 2012 and I was about 15 and a half when I started my apprenticeship there. Wow. Wow.

Yeah. So what was it about school that helped, you know, like, I ain't got no interest in doing any more of this.

I just, because I grew up on a farm and like, this is my parents' livelihood, so that was like my idea of work life. Okay. My parents were doing well. Like, I was watching them like proceed through their careers kind of thing. And I was at school and I was like, how does this connect? Like, there is no connection between, like, you're telling me you're preparing me for work, but I'm looking at my parents' work and none of this has any relation to that. True. True. That's, that's little like teenage Louise. That's what she was thinking. Yes. And I think so many kids experience that. And often then we are put, like I, I was, um, honestly, I was told that I was too smart to be a mechanic. I was like high achiever in school, but I found it really boring. I found it like too easy. Like I was one of those kids. Mm-hmm. Um, and I was like, what? Why would I, this is boring. Um, But I know it happens to a lot of kids where they're just not interested and a lot of them have that. Like, how does this connect to the real world? So I was just like, that's one of the things at school, like, and even possibly being on the spectrum for a D H D, like that, not being able to sit still. Like, and I'm like, you want me to sit in a classroom for another six years after this? I don't think so. Negative

does not sound appealing at all. Well, I, you know, that's a, it sounds like no big deal, but I think it's a really profound question to be sitting there and saying, how does this connect to real life? Mm-hmm. Like, how does this connect to work? And of course, your situation, your family and being able to see their business and, and the life that they're experiencing was the connection that you were making. But I don't think I ever had that question. Um, I do know similarly, right? Like, I, I would get in trouble because, come on, man, like, go faster. This ain't enough to keep me settled. Mm-hmm. And if I, if my mind wasn't challenged and occupied, I was knocking off and that wasn't good for anybody.

Um, yeah, but I never, I think with kids these days as well, the kids that do experience that, even though like the trades, like, you know, the governments are getting behind trades because of the skill shortage and everything. So it's becoming more well known. But still these kids that are like, relate to me and like you, like just they're not sitting, still not working fast enough. The trades and like hands-on jobs are really good for people like us. Yes. But a lot of kids don't get that exposure. They're just not aware of it. Yeah. So they don't see that option. For me, I was like, I know that there's another option and I'm going for it. If I didn't have that other option to go for, like who knows where I would be.

And so it sounds like your parents were very supportive of your decision.

Yeah, my parents were like, they were pretty supportive because they knew what I was like, like they knew that I was good with tools. They knew that I could like manage myself around, like a lot of guys, like my dad's friends had sons around my age and we would all go, go to bike riding together. So my dad would bring me and his mates would bring their sons. So in that situation, I was the only girl. So they knew that I could hold myself in that type of environment.

that's pretty powerful and like ultra important because I'm sure once you entered the workforce, the ratio, right? It, it's a male populated industry and being able to, what's the word? Maybe not question yourself because of other people's dumb or ignorance even. Right? Like, because I mean, you talked about it the first three interviews at the expo. They're like, there's no way I'd never let my daughter do this. Or You're too small, you can't, based on absolutely nothing, right? Mm-hmm. Just their ignorance and their lack of awareness and their close-mindedness. and then to be like working in that environment. Mm-hmm. And there's, there's, there's that degree of competitiveness because now, hey, like, she may take my job unless they're super goofy and think like, it's not possible that a woman can come in and, and like, outperform me, like brother. Yes. It's a hundred percent possible. Oh man. So that, okay. so you knew early, early, early on that something that required some physicality was going to be important for you. Mm-hmm. Uh, you can, sounds like you can digest and process information rapidly. Mm-hmm. Um, so what was apprenticeship like?

Apprenticeship it. Like I'll, I refer to it as a bit of a rollercoaster. Okay. Um, because like, even now that I look back on it, um, what I tell other apprentices is the first year, so over here, apprentices are typically, apprenticeships are typically four years. Yep. Um, three years go apart with college, um, as well as working. And then the fourth year is just working. By that first year, I refer to it as being dunked by a wave in the beach. So you've just got all of this, like if you're just overwhelmed, right? Yeah. Yeah. And if you are a school, so if you're just gone from like high school into an apprenticeship, which is pretty common over here, you're entering the work. You are being treated like an adult where you've been treated as a kid in the, in the school system. You gotta be accountable for yourself. Plus, you know, with an industry, with a trade, with, with any business as well, you're pretty much learning a whole new language about how they talk about things. Then you're learning the work and you've got all of this coming at you. It it's a lot, it's a lot for anyone, even mature age apprentices. They =like==, even though they're adults, like they've been treated as adults before, they've still got the new language, the new workplace, the new content, the new skills, like all of that coming at you.

Yeah. And so what do you, how do you, what kind of advice do you offer? Um, youngsters, I mean, of course, like, hey, you're gonna be hit with this tidal wave. But in terms of how to navigate that and how to deal with that, what do you recommend to them?

It's more just like not using your energy to beat up yourself. So like a lot of times you'll be stuck. Like, you'll be like, shit, I learnt that, but I forgot it. And then they like, you, you use that energy to be like, shit, I should remember. Yep. But just having that acceptance, being like, no, I've learned like a lot. Like I can't possibly remember it all. So rather than using your energy to talk down to yourself and beat yourself up, use that energy to then find out the information. Oh, cool. I remember so and so told me this, but I can't remember exactly. Okay. Instead of going in the bathroom and being like, fuck, what am I doing? I'm gonna, I'm gonna go and ask the person for that information.

Well, you know, it's interesting. I remember, um, back in, back in school, which was a long time ago, the, the, the work was easy. I didn't care about getting a's, I didn't care. Like all I needed, I was, I was in, I was in base, I played baseball, ran cross country, and so all I needed was a 70 to play. Mm-hmm. And I was in honors courses, so I got like an extra 10 point grace because of the honors courses I was in. So really all I needed was a 60. So that, and to play anything lower than that, I couldn't play. And so I wouldn't, like, I would do the minimal amount of work, like whatever, just no big deal. I never did, really did homework. I did good on tests and I remember my friends, like my classmates, who would stress out about their grades. Mm-hmm. And that's a good thing. I think that's actually a really good thing. However, the d I think one of the differences in, in it's, it's maybe a gap, it conditions us to put unnecessary pressure on ourselves is when like schoolwork was right or wrong. It was only a right answer, a way to do the thing. And if you didn't do it precisely that way, there was, it was a F Right. Or it wasn't a hundred. Yeah. And then that conditions us to go out into the real world and think that we have to get it right all the time.

Mm-hmm. I have to say, like the universe doesn't have an answer sheet for you as soon as you leave school. There's no more answer sheets. You have all these options, but there's no right or wrong. You're never gonna find out. You're not gonna get a letter from the universe and be like, yes, you picked it the right path. Like it's not gonna happen.

That's freaking brilliant. There's no answer sheet for you. Go do it. So you've, you've, I mean, as you've progressed in your career and contributing the way you have, I'm sure you've been exposed to and shared space with some very accomplished people. A, I mean, hell being a teenager working with adults, that's a different world. Like you said it, it's a whole different thing. How many like accomplished human beings have you met that said, oh yeah, my life was a straight linear path. None.

None.

It's done like in Australia, y'all don't have that either.

No, but it's funny because you look at the most, like there are some accomplished, like you, you're in Texas, you know the us, you've. Heard of Donald Trump, I assume. Oh yes. So there, there's that kinda stream of accomplishments, but then there's like the genuine accomplished people that you love and respect. And when you look at them, most of the time they've had a really rough upbringing. They've had something turned total crap in their life. Whether it was, you know, a partner, a parent, a, you know, something crazy happened, a natural disaster. They've been through some kind of hardship that's got them to where they are today.

Yes. And, and so what, how much does their mindset have to do with turning that tragedy or hurdle into, um, a body of work that they can serve others?

I think it's, it's all mindset. Like literally everything you do is mindset. Confidence is mindset. You know, being able to do well on a test is mindset. No matter how much you study, if you don't think I know the answer, you're not gonna come up with the answer. No matter how many books you've read. Like, it's the way that you interact with people is all mindset. Like, you, me, jumping on this podcast with you, if I'm like, oh yeah, this, this podcast is a great way to share value and, you know, great, you're a great person to have a chat with, then my attitude's gonna be very, very different if I'm like, this is a waste of time. Like, sure. And you can really feel that when you interact with people. And it's, it's all about what thoughts you go into each situa situation with.

Yes. Yes. So, I, I know rather I've read on, on your website, um, you, you're now like certified life coach. Mm-hmm. And, and I'm assuming that in that coaching you help people with mindset and, what's the word? Self-image and self-talk and these sorts of things. How far off base am I? That's pretty

close. Like a lot of the times it is a lot of that working on the self first, like a lot of my girls. So I like, I coach like pretty much everyone, but I focus mainly on women in the trades. Awesome. And those girls, they're in environments like we talked about before, my energetic people think you don't belong there. People you know, have all their opinions. People are sexist, people have unconscious bias, people bully, they're all that kind of stuff. But really if you have the mindset that you belong here, you are not gonna tolerate any of that shit. Whether that's standing up for yourself, whether that's leaving the workplace, whether like there's so many different ways that you can get out of that situation, whether it's changing or leaving the situation, but that's all in your mindset. Like so many of my girls come to me and they're like, I don't like, I feel like shit here I'm getting bullied, but I think I'm no good at my job, so no one's gonna employ me. But that's like, you have to have the mindset to believe that you are good enough to be employed elsewhere as well.

Yeah. Yes, yes. A hundred percent. I get to talk to, hi, actually I'm hanging out with the group of high school students tomorrow. one of the things I try to instill that back to the thinking cuz the thinking is the thing that's the key. It's the way I think. And yes, you're in high school, but there's a difference. And maybe, maybe it's because of the experience I have now of the way I used to function and I used to go and apply for a job and hope that they would hire me. Right. And behave as if I'm the only one getting interviewed. Mm-hmm. Now it's the other way around. Like, you get to hire me and I'm not the only fool that's gonna get interviewed here. You're getting interviewed too. I need to understand, do you got game enough to lead me and support me and help me thrive? Cuz if you don't, I'm going next door because they're gonna hire

me too. Yeah, that's it. And I don't know if you do it over there, but we do like a probation period here. So it's either three months or six months. You know, you can get terminated without any notice, all that kind of stuff. But that's for both parties. Like so many people, so many employees go into that situation where they're like, oh shit, they can fire me for no reason. And I'm like, but you can also leave for no reason. Yeah,

you can fire them back or fire them first. Right. If, if they're not helping you.

He said you can have another job lined up, quit that job and go to the next one the next day. Like you

can do that on the way home. So. So I'm assuming based on that y'all have a pretty big gap in terms of the amount of jobs and work available and the amount of people there to fill it.

Yeah, especially in the skilled industry. So like in the trades, like electricians, plumbers, mechanics, like now that I'm working as a life coach, but I'm a mechanic by trade. And then before I become a life coach, I was also a technical teacher as well. Yep. And people like I get asked, you know, Hey, are you looking at getting back on the tools? Hey, do you wanna train? Hey, like all the time.

Yeah, yeah. Yeah. It, it's, it's, so you didn't do the math when you decided to go the trades? Mm-hmm. Did you do any ma, like how much did earning potential weigh into that

decision? I think it was more just, there wasn't the numbers, but there was more the fact of like, I could be paid to learn. Why would I pay to learn? Was our numbers there? It was like, this seems stupid.

Uh, girl preach, sister preach. Now I'll say like, I think there are some professions that need, uh, require a college degree and there are some families and people that really, really, it's a high value to have go do that, right?

Like, do that. It's all about choice. There's nothing wrong with choosing either path as long as you are choosing it. Like kids that get pushed into the trades because. Like they're not performing well at school. Like that might not be their path. Maybe they wanna put the effort in, but they just don't know where or how to get those skills to get into college or into university. But then the kids that get pushed into university, they might not like it. They might study for the six years leave and become a truck driver because they're like, I just did it cuz my parents

said Yes. Yes. And that's that. So for me, like my drive to continue advocating for careers in the industry is because I know so many people and I was one of them for a very short period, like, like my senior year in the first probably two years of apprenticeship. I loved what I was doing, but I was beating myself up because I didn't go to university. Mm-hmm. Right. And, but I also know a lot of people are getting pushed into environments that they will not thrive in. Because for the simple fact that they don't know that this is an option. Mm-hmm. And I think your phenomenal evidence of like thriving, finding the conditions in the environment that help you access, uh, and realize all that you have within you, right? Mm-hmm. And, and it's not like, I think you know this, but I'm getting the sense that what you are doing now in terms of contributing your gifts and talents to the world is small compared to what you're going to be doing in the future. Is that fair?

Yes. I've got the big plan. This is just beginning. And so

we've talked a little, we touched a little bit about accomplishments and you, you mentioned that you were a technical. But word is you, you've done some competing for a period of time.

Yeah, so I competed in the world skills competition. Cool. So it's a international competition, um, for the skilled, like skilled industry skills trade, it's run regionally, nationally and internationally. And I think over where you are, they have so world skills, it's got a few different Ishi in a few different variations in the US I think it's Skills usa Yep. Is like their national level. So that's the, it's the same stream. Um, so over here I competed regionally when I was in my fourth year of my apprenticeship. So I was. Um, 18, 19. Yeah. And I had about a week's notice before that and my goal, yeah, so for regionals it's a bit of a short lead time. Um, but I was like, cool, I'm going in this. Like, my goal is to not come last like that. That's a good goal. Like, you gotta start, like sometimes, like, especially when you're super high achieving, it can seem like all or nothing, but sometimes you just take those little wins. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. And that's it. So I went in and my confidence was pretty low at that point. I had just come out of a sexual harassment situation. I had been like just, I had imposter syndrome. I was like, not really doing well and I was like, look, let's go into this environment. No one knows me over there. Like no one knows me in the competition. I can just reinvent myself. So I'm like, I'm gonna go in, gonna have a great time. Gonna, you know, what if worse comes from worse, I'm gonna work out what I don't know. Yeah, yeah. Yeah. That's it. That's the worst case scenario.

I wanna I So you point something out. How valuable is discovering what you don't know?

It's so valuable. I think. Like, I often tell like apprentices, like, don't waste your time pretending to know everything, because that's preventing you from learning everything.

Yes, yes. Open mind, closed mouth. You know, people ask me, you know, what would you tell your 18 year old self? They're like, oh, that's easy. Two things. One, you're enough. Two, shut up and listen, because I, I'm about you. But I knew everything. Like I knew everything and it, all that really did was, and it's still something I do today. Uh, I learned I'm a fast learner, but I'm a fast forget. Faster, forget her. And so I learned the same lesson over and over and over because no, no, no, no. I, I still don't believe it. I I need to try this again my way. And so I kind of, I don't know why, but I gotta learn things the hard way. Um, obviously less now than I did back when I was younger. But I had so many very experienced people that were trying to share knowledge with me. And I just wouldn't, I just didn't believe 'em. I just didn't listen. Mm-hmm. Like, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. But I'm gonna, I know I'm 18 and I know,

I know everything. It's like, was that period between like 13, 13 to 19, you know, everything.

So you commute, you competed at the regional competition with the goal to not be.

Yes. And I succeeded. I placed second in that competition. Yeah. So that was good. That was like, you know, you hear the, because they announced like a bottom up kind of thing, and like as soon as I wasn't the first one announced, I was like, I've done it, I'm done. That's it. But then they, so what they did, they, um, said these people are in the top three, and then they did a big presentation ceremony. So a month later. So I had a month to find out what place I had actually come, but I knew I was in the top three and I was like, cool, probably come third. I ended up coming second. Nice. And with that, like we're talking about mindset and everything and how that leads into what, like how you act. So in that, um, first place automatically goes to nationals, but I come second, so I didn't have that automatic path, but I was like, oh yeah, like is there any way I could get into internationals? And they're like, yeah, like some places don't run competition, so. Through the pyramid, there is spots in nationals because some locations, some regions haven't run competitions. I was like, also, that would be amazing. And people had known my attitude like in that space by now. Yeah. And they were like, yeah, we'll put your name forward. So I had like four or five people that I had probably met once or twice that were in leadership positions that were like, yeah, we'll put your name forward for you. Yeah. Um, so I ended up going and getting into the national competition. I found out about, well, 10 months before the competition itself, like, so I found out. So the regionals was in 2015, nationals 2016, um, in October, 2016. And I found out in January, 2016 that I was accepted. Ooh, nice. So that was good. And like it was funny the way that my mentality changed it because I was like, none of this second bullshit, like we are win like this win in this one. Yeah. No, none of this.

How did that, that competition turn out?

That turned out really well. It was a lot of putting in the prep work, so I was still working full-time, um, at my original place where Sarah had worked and how I started there. So I was working there full-time. I got a weekend job so then I could get experience on more machines. Um, and then I was also doing two courses at tafe, which is our technical college here, um, at night. So I was putting in the effort. And then it kind of led up to the national competition and, you know, everything ramped down. They were like always, you know, rest before the competition kind of thing. And I kind of went in the competition and just trusted, like, look, I'm, I've done all I can, I'm here to have a good time. And I just went into it with that. Like, I'm like, I've done all I can, I just gotta trust myself to do the things and come up with the knowledge. Um, and the competition, the nationals was six stations, so it was like gear boxes, electrical. Brakes engines, like that kind of thing. And you had three hours on each station to fix the problems. And I finished all of them early or except for one. Um, and I was like, I feel like, you know, when you finish early and you're like, did I miss something? Like when you're doing a test, you're like, miss a whole page. You're like, oh, everyone else is still going. So I kinda had that thought. I'm like, I've either done really well or I've just totally bombed. Like I've just dismissed the whole part. Yeah. Um, turns out that I didn't miss any of it. Um, And I ended up, um, winning gold for the national competition. Oh, congratulations.

Yes. Thank

you. So that was amazing. And it was such like a bit of a contrasting feeling because like at my full-time workplace, I was still struggling with imposter syndrome. I was still getting harassed by a few people. I was still struggling with my mindset and having faith in myself. But I had created this opportunity where I was training and I was working, and I was able to, you know, be my most confident self in those places where I felt safe. Sure. Um, so in that, I was like navigating that in my mind, like, what does this even mean? Like, I've got this accolade, but then in my main place of work, People think I'm shit. Yep.

Accolade like whatever.

Yep. Yeah, that's it. So, removed myself from that situation and ended up working full-time where I had been working on the weekends for the extra work. Okay. Um, so that was a really great environment and the, um, it was a really small business. There was only three of us there, so they like, we really support each other like a family and they helped me, um, like build myself back up to like my most confident self that I was being everywhere else, um, which was amazing. And then I got into internationals. Yes. Yes. So that was a selection process as well, cuz for the, like, there was like about 50 competitions run at the national level, but with funding and everything, they can only take about 20 competitors to the international level. Mm. Yeah. So even if you win your skill, Um, you're not necessarily going all the way on. So that's, that's when you become, like, it goes into the attitude, your tradeability, like your mindset, all that stuff to see who would probably do the best in their category. Right. So I got through that level as well, that, that criteria and then, yeah, went into nationals. But it's funny cause I went in and I was training as well, like training pretty much differently, but as hard as I was going into internationals. But I had like, I had lost a bit of the playfulness about it. Like in going internationals, it was like that fun. Like, no, I'm not coming second again, like a bit of cockiness in there, like just having a bit of fun. But then Nat in internationals, I was like, I know I can do it. I've done it before. I need to do it again. I need to do this, I need to, I

gotta win. I

gotta, oh yeah, I gotta win. So the pressure was so much and I got into the competition and everything was like, I wasn't enjoying it as much as I had enjoyed the nationals cause of all the pressure. And, um, like, so my first job I was mostly working on, um, truck engines. Like we worked for a brand and like we did truck engines. So then that's why I had ended up getting that second job to work on whole machines and stuff like that. So we got into the engine section in the international competition, so it was the same setup as nationals. We had seven stations each with different parts of the machines. And I had got into the engines and I was like, yep, this is my specialty. And some of the tooling was wrong, but the judge that was judging me, he's first language was an English, and he was, wasn't really like, he was just watching me. He wasn't, didn't really want me to engage and I said all the tools wrong. And he's like, no, no, no, everything's right. And I'm like, no, the tool's wrong. Um, so like, it threw me because I was like, you know, all the self-doubt comes in because I thought it was wrong. And then it, I tried to use it how it should have been used, but then it wasn't fitting, it was the wrong size for the engine. And like I just, it just threw me and I had this big breakdown. I had lost so much time to do like other fault finding. And I got to the end of that, that time slot. They brought over all the judges and like the head guy was like, no, that, that is actually the wrong tool. Why is that? Even in this site, I've maintained this the whole time. You, I know. Oh, and it was so like, this is like another gender, like a gender thing. It was so funny cuz I was the only girl. There was a volunteer girl, um, who was helping enter the schools and stuff. But all the professionals. And all the competitors, they were all, all men. Yeah. Um, so I'm sobbing like yeah, 40 shaking like in hysteric and I have my mentor over there cuz So we all had, all the competitors have a mentor and that mentor goes over to internationals and judges the competition. So, okay. Everyone has like a buddy. Um, so they called over my mentor and they, they said to him, We think your competitor is upset. And I'm hysteric. I'm hysterics and I'm sobbing. Like, they're like, we think she's upset. Yeah. Yeah. He's like, yes. Good

observation.

Sorry. It was ridiculous. It's just one of those things that you're like, oh my God, how did that happen? Yeah. Um, but went through and they were like, no, it's wrong. We'll give her the points for that thing. But that kind of threw me because I, not only had I lost the points for that specific task, but all the other tasks that I would've done, um, if I hadn't. You didn't get to get 'em done. Yeah. Yeah. I didn't get 'em done, so I was like, Nope, I've lost it. Whatever. It's all over. Um, but we still had a few, we had a day and a half left, so kept on going. Just not feeling it at all, just. Miserable. Just not enjoying it as much as I like imagined that I would and like looking back like I wish I would have, but, um, you know, kept going and there were 16 countries competing. Um, and you know, we got, we did the. Big metal ceremony. It was kind of like a closing ceremony of the Olympic style thing. Yep. Um, everyone had their family and friends, so they do, you know, bronze, silver, gold. I didn't get any of those, and I was like, I've lost it, whatever. And then my mentor, he comes up to me after the ceremony, he finds me. He's like, Louis, Louis, guess what? And I'm like, what? And he's like, you come fourth. Like, he's like, he wasn't sure how the points were gonna add up. He's like, I wasn't sure if you were gonna tie third or come fourth, like, kind of thing. So it was pretty close. And I was like, what? After how I had been feeling, I was like, that is amazing. Like, I thought I was dead last and like, I'm, I'm fourth in the world. Like, that was different. It's kinda a big deal. Yeah. It's kinda a big deal.

That's kinda a big deal. Like you were kind of upset.

Yeah, I was just kinda upset about it, but no.

Oh my goodness. That's a beautiful story. Congratulations. Thank you. Um, and you know, the whole rollercoaster of emotions. I was in a national competition for plumbing, uh, and, and I didn't finish. Right? Mm-hmm. Like, I didn't finish my thing and, and I'd been a runner for, you know, most of my life at that time. And if you don't finish, you don't place. Mm-hmm. Right? Like you quit. And I didn't finish because I was cocky jerk. I had to take, I took cigarette breaks that I didn't need because I'm looking around and I'm like, shoot, I, I got this. I'm winning. I'm gonna win. I'm gonna go smoke a cigarette. Anyways, made a simple mistake that cost me time, ran out of time, wasn't able to get my thing finished so that they could test it. And very similar. I'm like, hell with this, right? This big. This is stupid. I just wanna go home. I failed, I lost. Um, and then at the awards ceremony, this, this is, so it's funny to me, I forgot to pack dress socks. So I had like, you know, white gym socks, the calf, high ugly gym socks with my best fanciest pair of khakis, right? And so it was the awards night, like, I don't want to go. My boss is like, no, we gotta go. You can't be a sore loser. Like whatever, let's go. And then they announced third place, uh, from San Antonio, Texas. And I'm like, Ooh, who else would, I thought I was the only one. And they called my name, right? I'm like, and the first thought I had was like, shit, I hope nobody sees my socks. But again, like just the whole, I remember I was destroyed. And then when I found out, I was like, wow, that's amazing. And then it was like, gosh, darn it, Jess, if you, if you just would manage your ego a little bit more, you would've Yeah. Right. Like that for me, that was my problem. So congratulations on that. That is, that is phenomenal. So, high achiever, competitive spirit. You don't mess around. You get an opportunity, you capitalize on the damn thing. How did you go from, from mechanics to life coach? What was, what was the connections

there?

just when it was getting good. I know, I know. I'm, I'm a party pooper. Uh, folks, this is part one. Next week we'll be releasing the second half of this interview, which you're gonna want to hear because our amazing guest has a amazing learning and misstep they're gonna share. And also the footprint they intend to leave on this Earth is moving. They always are. So come back next time and in the meantime you can listen to some of the older, previous episodes another thing you can check out between now and the next episode hitting is the blog. Go to depth builder.com. Go to the homepage. Up on the top there's like the menu bar, and you look for the blog and you click on the blog. Uh, and there's a bunch of stuff there for you to read. Appreciate your support very much, we'll see you soon. Peace. Man, you are one dedicated listener sticking with us all the way through to the very, very end. Please know that this podcast dies without you, and we invite you to share how the episode's impacting you, along with your thoughts, questions, and suggestions. You have been gracious with your times, so we added social media links in the show notes to make it super easy for you to connect with us. Be kind to yourself. Stay cool and we'll talk at you next time.