How I went from in-debt "misfit" to helping hundreds of parents and teens 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.
But 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...
I 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 - innovative projects and a delirious work-ethic cannot help but get noticed.
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...
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(HIGH) ● I established a satellite school program with a small number of kids who had failed or withdrawn from the mainstream setting and had 90%+ attendance rates (from kids who literally hated school)
(LOW) ● My wife telling me excitedly that the op-shop gives away free, day-old bread and so that's just 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.
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.
(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 the ride. I was ready to puke my guts out.
I literally wanted to get off.
It was a pretty dark time.
But I made a discovery. . .
I learned that I was here for a reason.
And the BEST way of helping the people who needed me most, was to stop second-guessing myself and to start living the life I was called to...
So now 'maybe' was no longer an option.
I knew that hundreds of families out there were overwhelmed and hurting - and while I was stuck in my own fear and inadequacy, I wasn't helping.
I got hungry. I took courses. I got coaching. I read books.
● I learned the Number 1 factor in any success story was Mindset. A clarity of purpose followed up with an aligned set of positive lifestyle habits that breed success.
● I learned how to find the win/win opportunities in my own life.
I created a suite of fun, educational coaching programs that allowed me to spend time with my kids and watch them fall in love with learning again.
● I learned how to blend all my life experience - the good, the bad and the ugly into a suite of positive lifestyle design programs that would allow others to learn from and leverage my mistakes without having to make them themselves.
● And I learned I was not alone - there are hundreds of parents stuck in a 'social script' and doing more of what they thought they "should" be doing and not enough of what they were born to do.
And built on all that learning...
I started seeing results!
Slowly, but surely, one by one, I began to co-create change.
Change in the lives of parents (just like you!) who KNEW life had more to offer than routine, sacrifice and overwhelming to-do lists.
And change in the hearts and minds of teens who felt misunderstood and disconnected their family and longed for a sense of purpose and worth.
How did I do it?
STEP BY STEP
Over the years I have become known for my ability to take complex life problems break them down into easy-to-apply processes.
My training and experience in design, in education, in coaching, all the ups and downs in my work, business and family life combined with my determination to help others, has led me to this point. . .
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Clarity & Vision
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Mindset Training
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Ideas & Inspiration
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Creative strategy - that works for YOUR circumstances
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Lifestyle Habits - aligned with YOUR goals for the future.
I now have a suite of programs that I have tested in trenches and I KNOW they get results.
If you like what you've heard so far and want to get started right away - grab one of my FREE lifestyle design resources!
A bit more about me...
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I have studied, taught and co-authored 6 textbooks on design and the creative process.
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I was awarded (twice) for my 'Outstanding Service to Public Education' - mainly linked to my innovative work developing Personalised Learning Systems for disengaged students.
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I grew up playing in the bush. I have never lost my lost for nature and the outdoors.
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I love 'The Matrix - best movie of all-time, but also any inspiring true stories - The Blind Side, Remember The Titans and Freedom Writers all make my top 10 list.
SOME OF THE ORGANISATIONS ANDREW HAS HELPED
