My Story, Part 1

There’s a moment in life where you look around and realise you’ve been doing everything “right”, working hard, providing, showing up, yet something inside you is quietly saying, this isn’t it anymore.

My journey into coaching didn’t start with a grand plan. It started with a long, winding path through trades, sales, business ownership, personality discovery, and eventually… clarity.

I grew up in Matamata and went straight from school into Polytech, then into welding, heavy manufacturing, mining equipment, the whole lot. I did that for about five years before moving to Hamilton and bouncing between welding jobs, always looking for something that felt like a better fit, “I started to get a bit bored and looking for more variety or change” *.

A turning point came when I worked at a tow‑bar shop. I was managing staff, running the shop when the owner was away, and suddenly I found myself enjoying the people side of things, helping, problem‑solving, connecting. It opened me up to a new world.

That led me into sales, welding equipment at first, because that’s where my experience was. I learned the ropes, built relationships, and eventually took over the entire region. By the time I left, I’d grown the area from $30k to $60k a month on my own. But even then, something didn’t sit right. I liked the freedom, but not the product. I liked the people, but not the environment.

So I started asking myself: What if I ran my own business? What if I stepped into something that actually aligned with who I am? *

That question eventually led me into the audio‑visual industry. I had the mechanical skills, the interest in electronics, and the drive to build something. But then the 2008 recession hit, and by 2010 the business had nearly collapsed. “I practically didn’t have a business… I didn’t know how to manage my money or do anything like that” *.

I went back to welding for a year and realised very quickly that I never wanted to go back there again. I had kept the AV business alive in the background, so I rebuilt it and stayed in that world for over 20 years.

But over time, the spark faded. I tried switching industries, tried new trades, even looked at beekeeping. Nothing clicked. I was stuck in the mindset of “I’m a tradesman, so I must stay in trades.” * But deep down, I knew something else was calling.

That’s when I started digging into personality, DISC, Working Genius, Clifton Strengths, communication profiles, all of it. And suddenly, things made sense.

Why I lose interest in detail-heavy tasks. Why I thrive with people. Why I get bored easily. Why I’m energised by conversation, ideas, and helping others see clearly.

"Understanding my personality really helped me understand who I am and why I do things” *.

And that’s where Part 2 picks up — the moment everything shifted.

* Referenced from my podcast on Spotify and You Tube.