Name: Kellie Adamson
Position: General Manager
Company: JLAB Property Investments
What do you enjoy the most, working in the field of construction & development?
I feel empowered knowing construction provides the fabric of economic strength creating jobs, injecting both funds and new life into a community and infrastructure being critical to keeping the country moving forward. The idea that I am creating a structure and something physical that will stand for years to come is meaningful to me as part of my legacy that will remain long after I’m gone. There’s also a heavy reliance on communication and enjoy cultivating strong networks. There is a dependence on each other to get the job done as a team whilst getting to experience change with each new project. There is little chance of job stagnation, never a dull moment and no end to learning. As for the end user, it inspires me knowing they will call the place home where love is harvested and the hopes and dreams of others are fulfilled.
Where do you see your life in the next 5 years, what possibilities are ahead of you?
I have a moral obligation to myself to be the best I can be, keeping abreast on new technology, inventions and coming up with solutions to enhance the lives of others. I have a keen interest in furthering my knowledge on how to use sustainability in existing and new builds and one of my professional career goals is to work on a project for non-profit. No matter what position I am in, I’m constantly seeking to evolve, and would like to see my skills used to benefit others by creating a training and mentorship program.
If you could write a letter to a 13-year-old ‘you’ what would you say?
When the time comes to chase your dreams, they may seem elusive but you won’t catch them all at once. Just one challenge at a time as life is not a destination and is more about the journey and creating moments along the way. Your life’s purpose may not come with scintillating clarity either – rather a feather that gently comes to you with subtle hints…..And you have no limits. If anyone tells you you can’t do something, they’re only exposing their self-imposed limitations. And when the unexpected and inconceivable intrudes in life, and it will, deal with life’s actual events. Don’t obsess about perceived eventualities.
Always re-evaluate the answers to the decisions you’ve made and don’t be afraid to change things. You will make mistakes and you will grow from these and learn they are only a mistake once they are repeated more than once.
Stop obsessing over what others think of you and stop making decisions based on what you think others want to hear. Understand that what others think or say about you is none of your business and when they’re cruel and unkind. Understand there’s something wrong with them (not you) and your empathy and understanding is what’s needed most. Others are going to constantly let you down. Don’t be disappointed in their actions… just be prepared.
Always stand in your own truth and approach life with rigour and bravery (even if your palms sweat and your voice shakes).
Try to always remain humble or the universe will do it for you. The world is a much bigger place and it doesn’t revolve around you. Don’t expect anything. No ones owes you a thing. If you want something, work for it (making self-development a priority).
Allow your self to love and be loved. It will open you up to a whole new world of possibilities and help create new heights of success (though the capability to truly love with all your heart and soul will only come when you discover self-love and acceptance of your ‘self’ in all your entirety). You are uniquely you and there is no one else in the world that can be ‘you’ . That’s your superpower.
What are 3 skills you have had to develop to get to where you are presently?
- Leadership: using the soft skills I’ve developed persuade others to do things they don’t want to do whilst inspiring them to achieve things they never knew they could
- Problem solving: this has enabled me to exert control over our environment whilst giving the mechanism for identifying and figuring out why they are broken and determine a course of action to fix them (systems and procedures are essential)
- Communication: is an essential tool in achieving productivity and maintaining strong, lasting working relationships at all levels of an organisation. Managers who invest time and energy into delivering clear lines of communication will rapidly build trust amongst employees, leading to increases in productivity, output, and morale in general.
