learning | lifedesign | leadership
How I went from in-debt "misfit" to helping hundreds of parents, educators and entrepreneurs start living with vision, joy and confidence.
Before Blueprint youth programs began reshaping the face of education. Before MAXIMISE Lifestyle Coaching began helping parents and professionals find their 'sweet spot' in life. Before the dream for 10,000 success stories was even considered - there was a man who didn't belong anywhere. . .
Often pushing too hard. Regularly misunderstood.
And scared.
Scared to let his family down and leave a legacy of hardship for his wife and 5 beautiful children.
Scared of what others might say.
But even more afraid of. . . being ordinary.
Beyond Ordinary
but nowhere special...
2013
I had quit teaching several times over the past 10 years.
I started several businesses. Stumbling in the dark, not sure what entrepreneurship was, and even less clear on how to make it work.
And several times I ended up back at school.
It was what I knew - and it was safe.
I climbed the ladder - intelligent leadership, exciting innovations and a delirious work-ethic cannot help but get noticed.
I was promoted.
Projects were launched and applauded.
Awards were presented and hung on the wall.
But the questions kept coming back . . .
Why does everything I achieve feel so unsatisfying?
What was I meant to be doing?
I TOOK A LEAP AND LEARNED... THE HARD WAY
2014
2015
2016
2017
I left mainstream teaching in 2014. I think I'd outstayed my welcome anyway. The next few years were a roller-coaster ride, and not in the;
"I'm-squealing-with-delight-because-this-is-so-much-fun" kind of way.
More like the; "hang-on-or-die" kind of way.
(HIGH) ● I established a satellite school program with a small number of kids who had failed or withdrawn from the mainstream setting and achieved 90%+ attendance rates (from kids who literally hated school)
(HIGH) ● I studied life coaching. Suddenly all the goal-setting, mindset, mental-health and mentoring work I'd been doing 'by accident' started to make sense!
(LOW) ● Started my coaching business. I remember my wife telling me excitedly that the op-shop gives away free, day-old bread and so that's another way we'll be able to cut costs on our grocery bill to make ends meet through this starting-a-business season.
(HIGH) ● I was asked to run the Tutorial Centre - a special unit for disengaged students. I was able to connect with struggling teens and help them and their families through some tough, complex times.
(HIGH) ● We found out we were pregnant again. (Number 6)
(LOW) ● Holy crap! How is this going to work?
(LOW) ● I tried to make more money day-trading (at-night). I spent my day at work then another 4-5 hours at night on the Forex trading platform. My wife wasn't happy about the hours we weren't spending together, but said she trusted I knew what I was doing.
(BIG LOW) ● A month later gold crashed and I'd lost $15,000 - on a credit-card - in 2 hours. I was in semi-shock. The same day - we went to the doctors and found out Sofia had lost the baby. I couldn't help but feel that it was stress-related - a byproduct of the lifestyle I had created. . .
(HIGH) ● I was asked to be the programming specialist for a special alternate school to be set up in the area to help troubled kids and their families. I thought hard about it and took the leap. It was a risk. I had to cash in all my long-service leave. It was an exciting but risky concept, but I felt positive about it.
(LOW) ● The school was a train-wreck. From Day 1 it was clear that the Head Teacher and Principal had no clue how to make it work and that I'd made a huge mistake taking the job. Every staff member resigned at the end of the first year.
(BIG LOW) ● I considered cashing in my life-insurance. I had a healthy premium paid up. I mulled over the question for weeks - "how much better off would my family be with the money instead of me?"
I was tired of this ride. It was making me sick.
I was tired of trying so hard - and falling so short.
I literally wanted out.
It was a pretty dark time.
But in conversations with others, I made a discovery.
I learned that I wasn't alone.
I learned that the challenges I was facing weren't just for me. That time and time again - my battles enabled me to connect with and help someone else.
With friends, with family, with students, with clients.
If my struggles could help someone else... I began to see the purpose and the beauty in it all...
Struggle as ministry. Coaching as prayer.
Connections that made this world just a little more like heaven on earth!
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2025
I decided to take action.
I drastically cut back to just 2 days at the college.
I used my passion for outdoor adventure + coaching + education to create the Young Hero's Adventure Quest program based on a hero's journey model.
(HIGH) ● It was an instant success.
(HIGH) ● I also used what I'd learned about starting so many businesses to create a business kick-start program for youth.
(HIGH) ● I was asked to present on the main stage at the Luminosity Youth Summit - expanding my impact from dozens to hundreds at one time! 💚
(HIGH) ● I was asked by TAFE NSW to run my business kick-start program for creatives who wanted to share their newly developed art skills - Passion to Profit was born. I left the college. 🥳
(HIGH) ● I rallied $10,000 of sponsorship for a youth business kick-starter launched at the Luminosity Youth Summit. I ran the workshop AND was given the honour of presenting the final wrap - culminating 3 days of the most incredible speaker line-up I'd ever seen! 😲
(HIGH) ● We went on to award 5 x $2000 scholarships starting 5 new businesses. 💰
(HIGH) ● I was asked to present my 'Be The Change' workshop again on the main stage at the Glasshouse, speaking to a packed auditorium of more than 350 delegates. 🎤
(LOW) ● The world went crazy. Covid panic. Despite supporting the launch of dozens of new businesses, I lost my job at TAFE because I was unwilling to get 'the jab'. 😔
(HIGH) ● My business continued to deliver amazing life-shaping experiences despite the lock-downs. I became a go-to authority and consultant on nature-based education and project-based homeschooling.
(HIGH) ● The world realised they over-reacted and that coercing an experimental vaccine was not a good idea. Sad stories still being told. Mandates rolled back. I was asked to come back to TAFE. (#noapology)
(HIGH) ● Published my book - Thrive By Design
(LOW) ● Our marriage was on the ropes. The battles had taken their toll. Not because life was bad, but because we were still broken inside. Sofia & I were struggling with mental health and future purpose.
(HIGH) ● We got help. We found Soul Care - it's own roller-coaster ride!
Found some much needed inner-healing - and then facilitated the Soul Care program for many others.
(HIGH) ● Turned 50. Wrapped up my youth programs.
(HIGH) ● Started a Not for Profit - Education Revolutions.
(HIGH) ● My experience has shaped me. Brought out the gifts. I focus primarily on business coaching and training everyday leaders and the MX Community...
![{9780645549508].jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/109259_0b0c8f1c59a444dda220b75034986c86~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_106,h_139,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/%7B9780645549508%5D.jpg)
COACHING IS DIFFERENT NOW
My training in design, marketing, education, coaching and all the ups and downs in my work, business, and family-life, combined with an in-built determination to help others grow has led me to develop a powerful coaching system. It's called Breakthrough coaching. You can learn more about it here.
The Soul Care journey has helped me to realise that I had been hard-wired to idolise achievment and equate that with love and acceptance.
I had tied my innate value to what I could 'DO' instead of 'WHO' I was.
I still help people to achieve great things - but it's no longer driven by a desire to prove my worth. My coaching rests firmly on the finished work of Christ and the unassailable goodness of God. I believe that no matter what's happening - there's a master plan afoot - one that is conspiring for my (and your) success! That helps me live and work with a profound confidence. You can read about my mission here.