Why I left the RBA

I loved working at the RBA.

But I left because of this reason.

My time at the RBA was awesome!

It’s a place that attracts some of the smartest and kindest professionals you’ll ever meet.

I was surrounded by people who deeply cared about what they did and how they did it.

After joining the RBA, I aspired to work on the Trading Desk and ultimately advance to London or New York.

And two years in, I’d set myself up well.

I was performing strongly and getting the right feedback from the right people.

Then one day, the Head of the Aussie trading floor pulled me aside and told me something I’d been hoping to hear:

“Ben, we’ve got a seat on the floor lined up for you.”

I was stoked!

But then he added, “You just need to complete an 18-month rotation in another department first”.

When I heard this, something shifted.

Not because I was disappointed

But because I was clear.

In that moment, I realised that my real dream wasn’t to get a seat on the Trading Floor.

The dream I’d had since High School was to be a Fund Manager.

And I knew that 18 months in a different part of the Bank wasn’t going to serve that goal.

So there and then, I made the call to go after what I actually wanted.

And one month later, I was working as an analyst at a Fund Manager.

It was incredible how quickly my career pivoted with that one insight.

I have nothing but gratitude for the RBA.

It helped shape my thinking, gave me incredible experiences and it genuinely set me up for future success.

But sometimes the greatest clarity comes from getting what you thought you wanted.

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Ben and Bec have taken me through the QLA Framework over the past 12 months. They have a unique understanding of what twenty-somethings are seeking - clarity, purpose and systems to achieve what they want in life (to name a few). It is with sobering gratitude that I can reflect on the past year and say wholeheartedly that I've managed to gain all of the above with QLA’s help.

The Quarter Life Framework is so simple, yet so powerful. I tend to overcomplicate things and burden myself with a lot of different problems to make sure everything is working. The Framework allowed me to simply get clear on what I actually wanted. A lot of the things that were stressing me and bothering me fell away when I realised they didn't really matter or they didn’t affect what I was aiming for. It allowed me to be more laser-focused on the actions that would help me get to where I want to.

Initially, my goals for the next few years were fuelled by fear of running out of time, but through regular discussions with QLA surrounding my life plan, goals, passions and ideal lifestyle, I was able to pursue the right projects with purpose and clarity. QLA took away a lot of the pressure and stress I was feeling, and helped me understand if my interests were just whims or if they were the right paths for me to take.

Quarter Life Academy not only enabled me to gain clarity in what I want for myself now and in the future, but also empowered me and grounded me with a confidence that I can achieve all I set out to do. Ben not only provides his insights and thought provoking questions, but he is supportive and encouraging the whole way through. The structure was comprehensive and thorough and I felt inspired to lead the career journey with Ben's caring and considered guidance. For anyone who wishes to elevate their lives beyond where they’re currently at, I recommend the Quarter Life Academy wholeheartedly.

Working with QLA has enlightened the extent to which fear dominates me. Once I understood this, I’ve more easily considered and grown excited by the prospect of success, rather than focussing on the potential failure which my mind had decided would most definitely eventuate.

By following the steps outlined in the Quarter Life Framework, and with Ben’s help to consistently challenge my own thinking, I was able to map out what I really wanted my professional life to look like in the foreseeable future. For anyone who wants to take their career and life to the next level, I highly recommend Quarter Life Academy!