Not Having Direction Was One of the Best Things That Ever Happened to Me

I remember how it felt not knowing where my life was heading. At first it was really scary and I honestly found it easier not to think about it. As time went on though I wanted to try something different and decided it was better to go all in on something I wasn’t 100% sure of than stay in a state of limbo. This is the story of how I went from no clue to working for one of the biggest tech companies in the world.

Early Beginnings

Growing up in a two-bedroom flat in South London with my parents and five younger sisters, life wasn’t always easy. My parents worked tirelessly to provide a better life for us, but there were times when our financial situation was tough. Sharing bunk beds with my younger sisters was a constant reminder of our reality. I wanted to help out financially and the allure of fast money became very tempting.

Trying to impress others to follow that path put me in a position that could have disrupted everything. I came dangerously close to being arrested - and even worse, there was a moment where I could have been stabbed for acting like someone my friends wanted me to be instead of who I really was. Those experiences taught me a hard truth: conforming to someone else’s idea of who you should be can come at an unimaginable cost.

Prelude to apprenticeship

By Sixth Form, I had distanced myself from past influences, but still didn’t know what I wanted to do. My love for video games like Call of Duty and Fortnite sparked an interest in technology, but I wasn’t sure where to start. After some research, I stumbled upon apprenticeships:

• A free degree
• Over three years of experience
• And they pay you???

It was a no-brainer.

The apprenticeship application process was tough! I remember how much I disliked Sixth Form because of all the late nights and early mornings I’d have balancing A level maths with an apprenticeship application sigh.

Nothing was the same

Luckily, after 25+ applications, I landed my dream apprenticeship at IBM. From the beginning, I was determined to make the most of it. Not knowing what I wanted to
specialise in, I delved into everything. I attended networking events, shadowed different roles, set up initiatives for early professionals whilst sharing my journey on LinkedIn.

Eventually, I found my fit as a Security Architect Consultant and discovered a passion for empowering others through public speaking. Today, I speak at organisations and events across the UK about lessons I’ve learned, like using perspective to persevere, managing fear, and finding purpose.

In 2025, I’m launching a Gen Z public speaking community with other speakers to connect, grow, and create a platform for the best voices of our generation.

My biggest lessons so far?

• Not knowing what you want is an opportunity to learn more about yourself and what’s out there.
• Your network is like investing – may not see the returns initially but over time it compounds massively.
• Stay in your lane – other people’s takes your eye off the prize.
• Collaboration with good people beats working alone every time

In Closing

I’m still not fully sure what I want from my future. The truth is, no one is ever 100% sure. That’s what makes life interesting. Think about how boring things would be if you knew the outcome of every decision you would ever make. I’d much rather take a risk and find peace in whatever the outcome is, knowing all things are working for my good.

To learn more about my journey or join the public speaking community, connect with me on LinkedIn (linkedin.com/in/nathan-jay-john) or visit nathanjohnenterprises.com.