Behind Every No, There's a Yes - Kasey Lewis - Building Confidence - Episode 167

What if the career you really want takes two years of hearing "no" before you finally get your "yes"? In this episode of Building Confidence, I sit down with electrician and protection technician Kasey to talk about her journey from graphic designer to mature-age electrical apprentice, high-voltage field service technician, and now into the specialised world of protection testing. Kasey shares what it was like starting an apprenticeship at 30, staying determined through two years of unsuccessful applications, navigating significant health challenges during her apprenticeship, and eventually discovering just how valuable the skills she'd spent four years building had become. We also explore what happens after you qualify—the confidence shift from apprentice to tradesperson, choosing to leave the workplace where you completed your apprenticeship to continue growing, specialising within your trade, and why continuing to learn can open doors you didn't even know existed. In this episode, we discuss: - Changing careers and starting an electrical apprenticeship at 30 - Staying motivated through two years of apprenticeship applications - Completing an apprenticeship while navigating major personal challenges - The transition from apprentice to qualified tradeswoman - Moving into high-voltage field service and protection testing - Finding specialised career paths you didn't know existed - Being the only woman in a field service team - Some of the hidden realities of working underground - Why your trade qualification doesn't limit you to one type of work - Continuing to learn after you're qualified - Saying yes to opportunities and seeing where they take you Whether you're trying to get your first apprenticeship, considering a career change, or wondering what comes next after qualifying, Kasey's story is a reminder that there isn't one correct pathway through the trades. Keep learning, stay curious, and don't be afraid to say yes to an opportunity—you never know which door it might open.