They say you shouldn’t meet your heroes, but as a young man, I was a big fan of former Toronto Blue Jays manager John Gibbons. I enjoyed how he carried himself with the press; I loved how he stuck up for his team, but what I loved the most about John Gibbons was that he seemed genuine.
When I reached out to John to see if he’d be willing to sit down and do an interview for Job Skills’ Compass Magazine June edition, my expectations weren’t high. I reached out to many notable figures and learned that rejection and being ignored come with starting a new publication. I get it. When I contacted John, we had just released our second-ever edition. The front cover featured ‘Getting Sauced’ host Ryan Lindley. I hoped that Ryan agreeing to be on the cover would get the ball rolling. – When Gibbons replied to me and gave me his phone number to arrange the date, I was over the moon happy. However, I wondered if Gibbons would be the same guy I thought he was.
They say, “Don’t meet your heroes,” but then I met John Gibbons. I spoke to John on the phone, and then we spent about an hour on a video call the next day, and John Gibbons was everything I expected him to be and then some. Whatever version you have of Gibby, that’s exactly who he is. Gibby gave candid answers, was humble, and proved to be a great human being.
Below is my interview with John Gibbons for Job Skills’ Compass Magazine. Enjoy!
ABOUT JOB SKILLS
For 35 plus years, Job Skills has been delivering solutions to job seekers and moving people into sustainable, meaningful employment. Throughout their long history, Job Skills has recognized that not every job seeker is the same. There is no one size fits all employment program. That’s why the Job Skills vision is building an inclusive society where all people are ensured equitable opportunities to fulfill their career aspirations and participate fully in the community.
Job Skills’ employment specialists are there to answer any of your employment questions. Job Skills‘ staff offer solutions to all job seekers, including youth, newcomers, mature workers, persons with disabilities, and entrepreneurs. Job Skills’ knowledgeable team can help you make educated decisions, set goals, and create a strategy to help you become happier in your career. Job Skills works with local employers creating employment opportunities for Job Skills’ clients.
Thanks to government funding, Job Skills’ programs and services are free to all users. Job Skills have locations across Keswick, Stouffville, Markham, Brampton, and Mississauga. Job Skills also offers virtual services for community members unable to attend one of our offices for in-person activities.
Find your employment solution today. Visit www.jobskills.org
