Max's Island

Tait Oliver embraced an early career direction working in retail. It meant he moved locations across New Zealand as he progressed up through the ranks … until he realised that climbing that corporate ladder wasn’t the thing that drove him.

A desire to impact on other people through a role in “service” led him to stretch himself outside his comfort zone and take on a role, still in retail, as a People Performance Coach. He quickly discovered his “boots on the ground” experience and the desire to “service” others, made him a natural in this role. He described his relationship with his co-facilitator Geoff, as …” I was bringing the electricity … Geoff was bringing the light bulb.”

This job was doing what he loved … he was in the business of growing people. He describes this role as like a Thermos filled with the warmest, silkiest, smoothest hot chocolate you could think of … something that warned his soul.

But life is never always straight forward, so when Tait’s wife Kat became pregnant, a desire to be near family meant he needed to leave that Thermos behind and take on a new job in the city of Auckland. But this job was just another “cup” to drink from … it was not his Thermos. With various circumstances occurring and subsequently being made redundant, Tait looked at his “being” for future motivation.

A realisation came that as a family they could actually live on one healthy salary … even with a baby. So, with Kat taking a full time role … Tait was released to follow his dream.

Raman Moodley’s life started in a separated Indian community in a tough South African neighbourhood. After a challenging start to life … and leaving school at grade 7 … he amazingly had a meaningful career in finance and banking.

But he was unfulfilled, so with his wife and two young children, they moved to the USA.

In his first job at “Home Depot”, meeting the public, he realised “when white people worked through the door I was petrified to help them”. From then, he and his wife challenged themselves to change this.

Ultimately, a meeting with a school teacher called Josh totally changed his direction in life. Josh invited him to began working with kids who had experienced tough upbringings and after the initial 1 hour meeting … that went for 3 hours … a passion was released.

Raman is writing a book about his life experiences … it’ll surely be inspirational and have a positive impact on many others.

“One moment of Fate” was all it took to change the lives of 3 guys.

Nick Lim openly admits at the start of this podcast, he’s been someone who’s fairly afraid of being caught out … of not knowing enough. He also says … “I’m always looking for endorsement, authority … someone to say you’re the right person”.

Yet he is recognised around town as a hustler, someone who connects people and gets things done. In fact, I first met Nick during the organisation of a massive design thinking event he was leading.

Justin Davies has spent his career continually trying to “keep off the rocks” whilst learning as it goes. Starting one business within weeks of the Tech Wreck in the early 2000’s and then setting up his current business Emergination in 2008 … right in the middle of the 2008 financial crash.

As a pioneer in tech innovation in WA, Justin has played a pivotal role in shaping the local business scene and in a way that involved “just having a go” in an ever changing business environment. And, much of this coming from a chance opportunity of sitting next to an international visitor to WA at a Tech Conference in the 90’s.

During his career, seasoned TV personality Simon Reeve traveled too many places around the world presenting television shows…but it was Africa, especially South Africa, that really captured his heart.

From the moment he first visited Zimbabwe in the 1990’s, he was captured by the smells, the air … the charms. So much so, that in the late 1990’s he moved his family to Botswana and formed a production company attached to a safari operation.

It’s not uncommon to discover a purpose in life when you have strong beliefs, an unwavering faith and the drive to always look for a better life.

Nevellene and Amy are two women with a strong foundation to their ideas and thoughts on how to achieve the best for themselves, their families and others in general.

In this second of our current summer series on Max’s Island, we will revisit their personal experiences and understand what makes them see the world in a way that may be a little different.

What happens when you’re living the dream and achieving your goals … and then you are struck down with a devastating illness. And what if this happens when you are in your early thirties.

Natalia and Jacinta both know what it takes to face a challenge like this and how too mentally and physically deal with it. They are both strong willed women, who’s stories will inspire.

Story 1:

Natalia was living the dream in NYC and soaking in all that amazing city has to offer. But it all came crashing down when a mystery illness appeared and changed her life forever.

Story 2:

Jacinta was warned about the possibility of a genetic condition having an impact of her life…but this was something she thought may only happen when she was older. However, a check up, after being nagged by her dad, showed she had cancer and immediate surgery was required.

Enjoy the excerpts from their stories and to listen to the entire episode, look back through the library of episodes on the home page.

David Maddocks loves music … even his car rego plate is the name of one of his favourite artists from the 70’s.

So it was no surprise in 2019 when he travelled to the USA for three weeks, just to see artists, performers and bands … almost every day.

He says travelling alone as an Aussie in the US was easy. Whilst driving around in his classic American car … a Hyundai Elantra … to places like New Jersey, New York, Chicago, Des Moines and many more, David’s trip featured just going to concerts, staying in Flag Inn’s, meeting "‘real’ Americans and discovering the culinary delicacies of “slider burgers” in White Castle fast food outlets. On this classic tour, David got to see Billy Joel, Bob Seger, Paul McCartney, Cheap Trick … and even the NSW group The Teskey Brothers.

David’s interest in music and live performances is captured by his music memorabilia collection that features about 200 tee-shirts from concerts and Hard Rock Cafes from around the world. In this episode, he also gives us a sneak peek into what goes on a “Kiss Cruise” … not all the secrets are revealed as what happens on cruise, stays on cruise.

Katrina Mirco works with people who have experienced trauma in their lives, but to embrace a native Australian canine … dingo Marlee… who also had a difficult start to life, is testament to someone who values all life.

Providing a safe and loving home for this challenged little dingo was an example of genuine love. But it wasn’t easy, especially when it meant being part of a family that included two older, and sometimes cranky cats, and a young, enthusiastically welcoming cattle dog.

The household has now settled over the past 6 months and Marlee has begun to live her best life.

Born in Zimbabwe but with an Aussie passport, Julie Ann Chapman (Jac) has lived in many places around the world, but her decision to leave her entire family behind in Zimbabwe and move to Australia in 2007 gave her the sense of “being home”.

On her arrival in Perth and a visit to the beautiful Cottesloe Beach she encountered “that” feeling which confirmed she had made the right move. Additionally, the strong ancestral connection to the beginnings of WA and the University of WA was compelling. In her own words: “My great grandfather started UWA … Hackett Hall named after him”.

And then finally feeling she had found her tribe when attending her first Pride Parade in Perth, during that first summer, confirmed it all…Perth is Jac’s home.

David came into Adam Brown’s life at time when he was facing the challenges of being a self-confessed alcoholic.

What happens when he did, changed it all…for both of them.

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Adam is now focussed on helping change the lives of others … check-out his work at :-

Advancing human consciousness through Science, Spirituality and Business

www.sparqpath.com

PART 1

This is the first part of a double episode. Two distinct parts to an amazing story…you won’t be disappointed.

Adam Brown says he was a full blown alcoholic. His San Franciscan lifestyle was full of fun, friends … but also booze. AND lot’s of it.

Once he was confronted with the reality of the consequences of this lifestyle for the second time … that included possible death and a DUI costing a “good 12 grand” , he realised - “I was not paying attention to me … my growth”.

Adam’s story will confront you, but you’ll also understand how his resilience and striving for a better life made the difference … and also how another person was part of this recovery - but that’s in episode 2.

Enjoy this story of personal growth, inner strength and understanding the value of “real” human connection.

Check out Adam’s work at:-

https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamrbrownldn/?originalSubdomain=uk