When I cast my mind back to the 1970’s I well remember my decision to embark on a course of study at Victoria University that if I was successful would lead me to a career as a successful lawyer.

This period of time had been rather traumatic for me with my father who having been ill for some time had died during my seventh form year at Tauranga Boy’s College. My father’s passing had left me shell-shocked and without a strong male influence at a crucial time in my life.

I was no different from many school leavers at the time (and probably today as well) who were leaving the security of a secondary school environment with the expectation (often not their own) that they would be making the decision to embark on Tertiary Study – but to study what? I was ill-equipped to make any sort of informed and self-reflected decisions about my future – no surprises there eh!

My primary passions at the time was music and lying on the beach.

The education system had done little to prepare me for making such an important and life impacting decision. At the ripe age of 18 years I had no idea who I wanted to be, what I wanted achieve or more generally what life was all about!

A fellow musician whom had become a father figure to me had decided to offer me some guidance and advice when I told him that all I wanted to do was to either work in a bank like him or work in a music shop (I had been offered an opportunity in Wellington to do just that). My friend was horrified and made it clear to me that such options were ill conceived and that I should undertake tertiary study to gain a qualification that would help me to become financially successful and that would garner me with an appropriate amount of respect from those who were important to me.

Consequently I recall sitting on my bed with a University Calendar and flicking through the pages looking for some insight into a potential career direction. Eventually I recalled my conversation with my older friend and with a sense of pragmatism decided that being a lawyer sounded glamorous and would certainly produce a high level of financial reward and would also facilitate my entry into an elite club of people who appeared to have the respect of others, the answers to life’s problems and an in depth knowledge of the rules of the game of life which would provide me with the security that I craved.

So the decision was made!

I decided that Wellington was the place for me to undertake this course of study because of the vibrant music scene there. Only slack beaches though!

I was determined that I would not only work towards a law degree but that I would also (and probably more importantly to me) ehance my musical abilities and join a band…………Which I did! Truth be told that’s probably what kept me going through 5 years of study which for me proved to be more a labour than a “labour of love”!

After completing my degree and being admitted to the Bar in 1981 with a sense of relief and achievement my career path appeared to be set. I would obtain a position in private practice initially as a clerk and presumably then gradually move up the rankings until I became a partner at which point I will have made it! This all sounded good in theory however it overlooked the fact that the practice of law was in reality quite different to anything I had imagined and I had yet to develop a real assion for the law.

My first position as a law clerk with a well known Wellington Law firm was quite frankly an eye opener for me. For the princely sum of $12,000 pa I spent my working days attending to the stamping, registration and searching requirements of the firm. In those days much of my time was spent at the Land Transfer Office and the Companies Office as of course all legal records were centrally stored in hard copy.

There was no ongoing legal education or mentoring provided. The prevalent philosophy was one of “you either sink or you swim on your own”.

When I was asked to go down to the local District Court to appear for a client who I had never met for a matter I had no knowledge about except from what I could glean from the file I had been handed I was frankly terrified! Had it not been for the kindness and assistance of some well seasoned practitioners at the Court I may have then and there made the decision to “run for the hills and not return”.

I eventually secured another position with a general practice law firm in the Hutt Valley where I lived at the time. While initially the role was the same I eventually came to the realization that the only way for me to progress was to take the initiative and be pro-active in seeking work and to ask questions when I was in doubt about what to do. Much of what I was doing was simply a case of “faking it until I made it”! Very little of what I had learnt at university was practically useful.

One of the benefits of being a junior in those days – before faxes and emails – was that I got to meet many strategically placed and knowledgeable people who I could contact when I needed help! I also got to know most lawyers really well and enjoyed having to attend their offices to complete property settlements. This way I got to know them personally rather than just as a voice on the other end of the phone. I didn’t realize that at the time some of these relationships would become useful to me in future years.

One of the most important skills that I learnt during my apprenticeship was how to relate to many unique and often challenging individuals who were often seeking advice in situations of significant emotion and stress. This is not something that can necessarily be taught. It comes with experience and maturity.

As I developed a level of competence, experience and skill this was eventually recognized and rewarded with the conferring upon me of the title “staff solicitor”. I was on my way at last! I eventually spent 8 years with that firm and thereafter spent time with a number of local big and smaller firms. Achieving Associate and Partner status eventually, it never occurred to me that I should be doing anything different. Working longer hours and being stressed much of the time became the norm for me.

It was during my big “OE” that I had the epiphany that the career path I was on was not making me happy or fulfilled. My life was out of balance and I needed to do something about it. So I made the decision to set up my own legal business and work from home.

Sometimes when we make these big decisions there is often a lot of fear and resistance to change. However, this decision proved to be ‘just the tonic’ and over a short period of time I was up and running and developing a growing client base. Everything about this decision was easy. I was in the flow!

The decision to work from home was the best thing for me – I was producing a six figure income while spending quality time with my young family. The flexibility of being able to work at hours that suited me also allowed me to pursue other interests. In short order I became as happy as a “Sandboy in May”!

I realized that what I enjoyed most about the law wasn’t the cut and thrust of the legal game but more importantly was creating relationships with clients, other professionals and local businesses and helping them achieve success. I was fascinated by and keen to learn as much as I could about inter-personal dynamics and psychology. I discovered that the key to running a successful business was to understand my clients’ needs, desires and frustrations and to develop rapport with them early on in the relationship.

Over a period of ten years (which including a stint at Massey University studying for a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Performance) I built up a successful legal practice acting for a number of high profile local clients but more importantly had found that niche that I had been looking for so long.

However, as we all know life has a habit of deciding that we’ve had too much of a good thing and requires us to face unexpected changes.

My “Mac truck experience” arrived! Life as I had known it had come to an end. My family disintegrated in front of my eyes and I was in need of a good family lawyer – fortunately for me I knew a few!

Dealing with the end of a 20 year marriage while it brought me close to the edge it also acted as a catalyst for me to arrive back at the beginning of myself so to speak. This proved to be an opportunity to rise from the ashes and reinvent myself. Where would I go, what would I do! However, I was not to discover this potential for some time yet.

I felt the need to surround myself with something familiar and predictable. It was therefore not surprising that I found myself back working for another law firm doing what I had always done but hadn’t particularly enjoyed up to then.

As is often the case with major life changes I was forced to re-evaluate everything I had up to that point taken for granted. I embarked on a journey of self-discovery which continues to this day. It was during this process that for the first time I had some clarity about who I was as a person and what was important to me.

I recall reading a book entitled “Love the Life You Live” by well known Coach and author Anne Hartley. While reading this book the germ of an idea took root in my mind. I distinctly remember an “aha” moment when I thought how fantastic it would be to do what she did – to coach people and write inspiring books that helped others to live more fulfilling and satisfying lives. This idea led me to contact Anne and to say how much I appreciated her book and that I would love to do what she did. Her response was –“why don’t I do just that?” That one question altered the course of my life.

The rest is history now. As it turned out Anne also coached people to become coaches and she offered me a place in her programme. I had no hesitation in taking up that offer. Unlike my legal studies, I found my study with Anne to be exciting, illuminating and life altering. I developed an unquenchable thirst and passion for exploring the connundrum of the “human condition”. That is to say what is the “meaning of life” and why do we do the things we do particularly when they don’t give us what we want. As they say “success and happiness are inside jobs”. So I read, read, read……… and continue to read……. and study. After all we don’t know what we don’t know.

After receiving my Coaching Diploma I established my own coaching company and started to coach part-time while still working as a lawyer during the day.

One positive side-effect of my coaching was that I found greater energy and enthusiasm for life and this spilled over into my legal career. I discovered that I had the enthusiasm, skill and experience required to mentor young lawyers. I eventually secured roles with law firms which required that particular skill.

Meanwhile my goal was to grow my coaching business to a point where I could sustain it full-time. This proved to be a significant challenge given that I had a family to support with all the usual trappings including a mountain of debt.

It wasn’t until I joined “Red Hot Business Coaching” that I achieved the dream of being a full-time coach. Its funny how when we do finally achieve our dreams we discover that what we had dreamed of in reality is quite different. Sure I was coaching which I love, providing value and being of service but at the same time there were a whole different set of concerns to deal with.

I soon realized that I was spending more time be a salesman than a coach and I also missed my regular pay cheque!! This time round growing a new business was a far bigger challenge as it required me to do things I had previously avoided – such things as joining business networking groups, selling myself and my newly acquired coaching skills and developing business contacts as a primary focus. I found that there was so much pressure on me to get clients on board that I eventually lost the focus of why I was coaching in the first place. Coaching actually became secondary and I stopped enjoying the coaching sessions.

I struggled financially to make ends meet. The 2009 recession had significant impacts on what business owners were prepared to spend money on and business coaching while it was something business owners saw the value in and knew they deserved, didn’t see it as a necessity during tough economic times. It was only a matter of time before I had to bite the financial bullet and find alternative full-time work.

During my time with “Red Hot” however I gained a lot of confidence, knowledge and experience in business coaching. I also met and developed important relationships with a number of individuals who have since become members of my Mastermind team.

The latter part of 2009 became a period of consolidation. I was now coaching and working with a major Wellington law firm. This position afforded me the opportunity to offer my coaching skills to a legal firm and to coach the partners and junior solicitors.

I had at last found a unique niche for myself – one that enabled me to use all my legal and coaching skills together. I now knew who I was professionally and what I could offer.