I saw, firsthand, what a bad job can do to a brilliant person.
My mother was an SEN teacher (or “special teacher” as we called her then), and my father was a social worker. They built their lives around selfless service raising four children, adopting two, and fostering others, all while juggling home renovations and setting up businesses. They did it without the generational financial or physical support many others rely on.
But I also saw the pressure cook the good out of them. I watched my Dad hate his job, burst into tears from the strain, and my Mum develop seiures from stress.
It was a painful lesson in the profound truth: A job is never just a job.
The Gift of Resilience and Purpose
Despite the immense strain, they were the best parents a child could ask for. They were there at my football matches, cheering me on, they built us a beautiful (if not entirely finished!) home, and they gave us a magical childhood every kid deserves.
They pushed through the pain and decided to build something for themselves that was better. That determination and drive to overcome the broken system and build a sustainable, better life is what drives Glass Octopus.
Their efforts showed me that the right job – the job that provides purpose, stability and fulfilment is the foundation of everything. It’s the difference between burnout and brilliance, the ability to live fully.
It’s the simple, critical things:
- Being present with your friends and family.
- Being on time for your children’s football match, and having the energy left over to cheer them on.
- Putting food on the table and ensuring your family has a safe, warm house.
- Creating time for loved ones and sparking conversations at the dinner table full of energy, laughter, and joy.
For me personally, the right role gave me the opportunities in my 20s to fly to New Zealand, gain permanent residency, go dune bashing, boating, and swimming in the sea (even in winter!). The right role gave me the passion and the freedom to travel, see the world, and help others.
Building a Legacy of Mentorship and Purpose
This leads directly to the core mission of Glass Octopus.
I’ve had the enormous privilege of learning from incredible mentors throughout my career, who put up with my ambition, fueling a trail of admin chaos, and my endless questions: from Matt, Paul and Sharni at Hays, my Marketing Mentor Amelia at Campfire, and my maverick Head of Recruitment Alex at UBT. They gave me the confidence and knowledge to operate from the C-suite to the shop floor in any industry.
This is the power of the right professional environment. This is why we exist:
“I want companies to be able to grow with purpose, and I want every person seeking a new role to find their purpose, too.”
We want to help the companies that are able to nurture them, to give them what they need to fulfil their potential. We want to help these types of companies grow with the right people, the ones who will help them deliver on their promises and grow with confidence, knowing they have the right talent on the bus at the right time.
The Recruitment “Tax” and Our New Model
This emotional insight is why I struggle so much with the traditional perception of recruitment as a “big tax just for sending a CV over.”
It’s a resentment I fully understand. When you pay a huge, percentage-based commission, it feels like a grudge purchase. The model is inherently built to make recruitment feel like a barrier, not a partnership.
Our Solution: A Transformational Partnership
At Glass Octopus, we refuse to be a tax. We are an investment in your sustained growth and the well-being of your future team, moving far beyond that transactional fee.
We dismantled the old system to create a Subscription-based RaaS Model that delivers predictable value:
- Fixed Investment, Predictable Outcome: Our costs are a fixed, predictable investment in your talent acquisition infrastructure, allowing you to budget and scale with confidence.
- Focus on System Fixes: We embed ourselves in your business, auditing your ATS and processes. We are incentivised to improve your systems, ensuring you hire better, faster, and more cost-effectively long after our engagement ends.
Glass Octopus isn’t a cost to avoid; we are an investment in the human capital that drives your business, enabling purpose for your people and growth for your company.
What’s Your Growth Story? Let’s Talk.
If you’re ready to move past the recruitment tax and partner with a team that views hiring as an investment in human potential and company purpose, we need to talk.
Book a free discovery call today to discuss your vision for growth and how Glass Octopus can help you get the right people on the bus.
Click Here to Book Your Discovery Call
