Zero to 60
Approaching age sixty the phrase ‘Zero to 60’ takes on new meaning. It’s become a measure of the past 58 years – where life’s taken me, the tough experiences and the incredible wealth of learning.
At age 17, I entered the full-time world of work where an entry level job in steel fabrication led to a career as a boilermaker and high-pressure welder.
The free wheeling world of construction rewarded initiative and chutzpah. I was given opportunities to supervise small crews and before long was managing my first new boiler project: constructing three boilers and overseeing all the complexities of a large site with diverse trades, contractors and multiple unions.
By age 34 I was a project superintendent and budding project manager with an earned reputation for running truly successful projects – on or under budget, on or ahead of schedule, safe and trouble-free (no labour disputes).
Grieving my father’s death and the break-up of my first marriage pulled me in new directions, awakening a passionate interest in meditation, Buddhism and esoteric studies. I read books from across the metaphysical and spiritual spectrum and launched myself into a great variety of personal development workshops.
These awakenings lead me in 1989 to the Findhorn Foundation in the North of Scotland: a charitable, educational trust committed to a model of decision making and governance based on alignment with the highest spiritual principles.
I thought I was there for a two-week stay but it proved to be a life-changing three and a half years.
While at Findhorn I worked first as a gardener, then successively as head of the maintenance department, manager of facilities, and member of the senior management group.
Entry into the community was through a series of personal development courses that included group facilitation, psycho-synthesis training and leadership development.
In addition to the daily work program I engaged in a facilitators training with Stanislav Grof (Holotropic Breathwork) and a ‘World Works’ training by Arnold and Amy Mindell (Process Oriented Psychology). I subsequently facilitated large group ‘Breathwork sessions’ as well as numerous week-long guest workshops for Findhorn.
Vipassana (insight) meditation fostered the ability to witness ‘things as they are’ and has become an integral part of daily life. I taught basic meditation classes within the Findhorn Foundation.
I met and married a lovely Canadian woman and it was with her that I returned to Canada in 1994.
In Vancouver I trained and certified as a mediator and negotiator at the Justice Institute of B.C. and was invited to stay on there as an on-call coach assisting with conflict resolution training.
In 1995 my wife and I brought a gorgeous baby girl into the world. This wonderful occasion highlighted the need for an increased income and I once again re-entered the construction industry.
There followed numerous successful undertakings including projects with Cominco and BC Hydro, and culminating with me taking on the Construction Managers’ position with a large international construction firm.
At the invitation of a friend and colleague I jumped at the opportunity to once again pursue my love of consciousness transformation, working overseas in Britain and Europe delivering leadership development seminars.
Along with my British colleague I co-designed one, two and three day seminars which we delivered to clients ranging from insurance brokerages and breweries to such icons as Danone Dairies, Deutsche Bank, and Orange Telecom.
This work was designed around key deliverables as indicated by the clients, focusing on awakening leadership, building commitment, creating clear distinctions, alignment versus agreement, and team development.
Currently I’m working with a variety of organizations and individuals. I find the work rewarding and fulfilling, bringing together all of my life experience and interests and providing an opportunity to be of service to others. Clients appreciate the mix of grounded spiritual perspective and practical let’s get things done wisdom which I bring to every project.
In my day-to-day life I endeavour to live the values I wish to see in the world – sharing equally in the joys and the responsibilities of raising a child and running a household: being a respectful and caring partner/husband and father: being a good friend and member of my community.
