` All my employers were understanding and flexible – which is something I am very grateful for...

LAST week’s column ended with this thought: “A job is perfect when you’re chasing your dream job or starting up your own project or venture.” This week, I’m continuing on from that point.

I had a ‘career’ before sport which, had it not been for rugby, I could have still been in. I was a landscape gardener when I first moved to Sydney and joined the Bulldogs Rugby League Club and was in the Jersey Fled (under-20s) team. I absolutely loved it, so much so that in my brief stint I received 100 per cent in all of my exams.

But when I broke my leg in a game, and the boss had to let me go, which was fully understandable, I realised I had to prioritise things. If I continued to try and continue landscaping whilst also trying to pursue a professional rugby career (my dream job), then they would get in the way of each other.

So, I went and got some work at a bar, did some labouring on the side and went to university fulltime – that arrangement would allow me to be a lot more flexible with my scheduling.

I went from one labouring job to bar work, back to another labouring job, with all my employers being very understanding and flexible – which is something I am very grateful for.

Having a labouring job meant I could be somewhat choosey with my employers and only work with ones that were willing to be flexible. I wasn’t required to work every day, and knocking off at 3 meant I could go and catch up with the Waratahs’ academy coaches to do extra sessions, have meetings or do individual review sessions.

That worked out pretty well for me as the following year, thanks in part to the extra work I was doing with the academy coaches whilst a lot of the other blokes in the academy were tied up with their jobs, I found myself earning a professional contract.

The other time that a job turned out to be pretty handy was when I first moved up to Queensland to train with the Reds, for free. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday were big days with training, generally from 8 to 6, and during pre-season we often did Saturday mornings too.

Whilst most of the other boys went in for half a day Wednesday, I wasn’t required to do this. Thankfully, the Souths Rugby Club found me a job at a pub in Goodna. They set me up with a very understanding owner who knew my needs and fully supported me as I pursued my rugby career. Peter Falvey, who owns the Cecil out at Goodna, lays claim to putting me back on the map (jokingly), and whilst he mightn’t have put me on the map as such, he did help get me back in the mix.

I wouldn’t have been able to do it without their support and the flexibility they provided me with shifts. Wednesday was a day shift, I also worked Friday nights following afternoon training, and then I worked all day Saturday – day and night – allowing me to recover on Sundays. Anyway, that worked out pretty well for me...

So why is my current job working at the Commercial in Dubbo great for me?

First of all, they are flexible with their shifts for me, which is great because I can’t commit to Tuesday and Thursday nights, or Saturdays when the season starts and games are on, due to my role as the Director of Rugby at the Dubbo Roos Rugby Club. The pub is actually the major sponsor, so that’s a great fit.

Now that I am also an Action Coach Business Coach (www. beaurobinson.actioncoach.com) this job is quite appealing to me as I pursue that as my new dream job.

The majority of my shifts to date have been Friday nights, Saturday nights and Sundays. For 95 per cent of the population, this is the most unproductive part of the week. Have a think about what you were doing at those times last week!

This means that I can invest the majority of my time into my one passion, including writing this article on a Monday morning, when most people are at work.

We all know the number 1 reason new businesses don’t succeed – lack of profit or cash flow. If I were to work Friday and Saturday night from 6-12, and Sunday from 5-10, I make between $450-$500. Annually that’s $22,500-$25,000 a year.

In Dubbo, where the cost of living is a lot less than in, say, one of the capital cities, that goes a looooonnnngg way. This is something I would highly recommend people consider, especially if looking to pursue their dream job or project that doesn’t clash with these times, as many don’t.

I was also particularly excited to work at the Commercial as its clientele is very much my target market as a Business Coach, with it being very much the place to go and have a meal for professionals, business owners and members of the agricultural sector.

It’s also been very beneficial in seeing lots of people I otherwise wouldn’t have been able to catch up with had I been on a shovel or in an office.

It’s been a great opportunity to connect, network and build rapport. As well as keep an eye on the Roos boys drinking there, haha.

z Beau Robinson is an Action Coach Business Coach and former Super Rugby Champion and Wallaby. beaurobinson@actioncoach.com