Dean Anderson, CEO of Kernel Talks Advice for Success
Dean Anderson, CEO of Kernel, talks to M2 for the Man on the Street series.
What are the top three things on your bucket list?
My goals for the next year are:
Continue to grow Kernel, which is what absolutely drives me.
Purchase a home in Auckland, currently rentvesting
Re-book and complete a planned two week adventure across Japan that got cancelled with COVID.
What advice would you give your 20 year-old self?
When starting out in your career, you likely won’t have a clear goal in mind, but it’s important you voice to those around you when you are ready to take on a new challenge. A lot of managers and employers will be managing multiple staff, and they may not always be in tune to when you need a new challenge. Don’t be afraid to let them know and they can help you find that next step. I never had a clear vision of where I wanted to end up, but kept raising my voice and taking the opportunities and challenges that presented themselves along the way and that absolutely defined where I am today.
How do you stay motivated?
Over the years, I’ve found my own path and ended up falling into something that I am absolutely passionate about, so as much as it is a cliché, my work doesn’t feel like just another job.
Plus, financial services is a rapidly evolving sector and this creates an environment where endless ideas are spurred and seeing all of these opportunities ahead really drives myself and our team.
What is the secret to success?
Define what success means to you. Everybody has different values and objectives in their life, being clear on what they are for you and then making a plan to achieve those will ensure you are successful in reaching those goals.
What is your advice for people to fund their dream?
Find other individuals, businesses, or groups that have had similar dreams and goals and chat to them about what has and hasn’t worked for them. Any insights that you can get from those who have been on a similar path will be of immense value to help you fund your own dream.
What is the best bit of advice, or quote, that resonates with you?
The earlier you start, the easier it is. It’s much harder to take that leap when you have a mortgage, kids, or are settled in a corporate job with a steady income. Back your instincts and yourself.
What is the secret of living a longer, more successful life?
Learn how to balance the stress in your life. Stress isn’t all bad, and I personally thrive off it and the motivation it creates. However, it needs to be balanced with those switch off moments and ensuring you don’t hold onto it.
