One year on New Year’s Eve, I met an active duty special forces general who presented me with a situation – he asked what I would do if I found myself in the freezing cold of the Artic with little to no resources except the clothes on my back with a group of individuals whom I did not know. My response was as follows: I would work towards building a shelter and encourage the other individuals to assist while I found out who they are, their expertise and experience, to identify how each person might contribute to our survival – He nodded and smiled. Similar to the scenario presented, it is my ambition to work with my clients to understand who they are in the situation they find themselves in and to have them identify their expertise and experiences that could effectively address their situation.
My life has been filled with opportunities, some of which I have taken and most of which I did not realize the value of at the time and passed on. However, what I can say is that I have lived my life as I saw fit.
While I have lived well and worked hard to make my way through life, I have always believed in being there for family and for the community I live in. This included caring for my mother in the final years of her life and assisting my father now in his advanced age. I have done so with the belief that whatever has been provided to me from family and community I need to put back into the family and the community either in terms of my time, my experience, or my support in whatever form that might take for their benefit and the benefit of others.
I do so from the experiences that had me journey to the Micronesian island of Yap to live and fish with Thor Heyerdahl’s island navigators. Experiences that include participating in the shooting of one TV mini-series, and 2 movies, acting in one. A life that has included being a disc-jockey and a male model.
In a professional capacity I’ve been registered on two continents and currently active on a third to provide advice and support in investing whether for individuals or institutions, which has included the establishment and development of a financial advisory practice on one continent. Furthermore, I have worked with an NGO to provide services to return displaced East Timor refugees back to their homes. Needless to say, my experiences are diverse and the term jack-of-all trades would be one that definitely applies to me.
I enjoy coaching, mentoring, and consulting with clients to identify solutions and develop action plans that will take them where they want to go. The satisfaction that comes with this is fulfilling to say the least.
In moments of contemplation I reflect upon my 60 years on this world and ask myself how I can make a difference with the perspective I have gained throughout my life.
My realization has been that like throwing a pebble in a pond - being part of the change in the life of one person can have a ripple effect on many others as the change is manifested.
And so, in whatever small way I can improve the human condition I believe greater outcomes can occur, some obvious and immediate and others more subtle and discreet.
My ambition is to better appreciate and understand my client’s needs and aspirations while working with them to bring about change and desired outcomes, and as such improve upon the human condition one person at a time.
