16/10/2026
I am celebrating 20 years in SEO. What better way to do that than to reflect on some people who shaped and influence who I am today.
What’s the best—and worst—thing a boss has done that shaped your career?
I’ll start.
The worst: 2007. I was 19, building websites and adding SEO, still learning my craft.
My boss would scream and belittle me. I was paid $200 a week on an ABN, while he kept taking on projects we didn’t have the skills or resources to deliver properly.
Our clients deserved better. So did I.
I lasted 12 months. I came out more resilient, with a clear picture of the kind of boss I never wanted to become.
The best: Jeff Yang , 2011. Jeff set clear expectations and gave me the space to meet them.
His approach was simple: “This is the standard. This is the result we need. I’m here if you need help.
”When I made a huge blunder, he didn’t humiliate me.“ Fix it. You can do it.” He held me accountable and trusted me to put things right.
That combination mattered.
I felt like I was contributing to our clients’ success and the growth of the business.
I could see where I needed to improve, and I had the confidence to keep going.
Those experiences still shape how I work with people today.
Clear expectations.
High standards.
Room to learn.
Support when things go wrong.
When someone makes a mistake, your response can affect whether they bring the next problem to you early—or hide it until it gets worse.
What did a boss do, good or bad, that still shapes how you work today?
