1. I
started
my
work
career
in
the
construction
industry
over
10
years
ago
with
a
career
path
unlike
many.
My
first
real
job
out
of
High
School
was
Landscaping.
I
found
that
I
loved
working
outdoors,
with
my
hands
and
that
I
was
a
bit
of
a
tree
hugger.
However,
this
became
a
means
to
an
end.
I
saved
enough
money
to
pay
for
a
two-­‐
year
full
time
volunteer
missionary
service
and
was
assigned
by
my
church
to
go
to
Sydney
south
when
I
was
only
19
years
old.
This
experience
was
invaluable
that
very
little
people
in
this
world
would
ever
get
to
do.
The
beliefs
and
values
that
evolved
in
me
as
a
person
and
the
leadership,
interpersonal,
and
communication
skills
were
increased
100
fold,
given
that
I
had
pretty
much
none
before
hand!
I
fell
in
love
with
the
area,
I
moved
back
in
April
of
2004
to
work
with
a
close
friend
concrete
rendering
bridges
for
the
new
M7.
I
found
I
was
going
nowhere
and
that
even
though
I
was
earning
good
money
I
quit.
I
had
a
group
of
mates
that
worked
on
the
railway
as
labourers.
Even
though
I
enjoyed
working
with
them
I
felt
trapped
again.
Thankfully
amongst
this
‘transition’
I
found
that
special
someone
(ohhhh).
At
the
time
I
got
a
job
with
a
friend
working
in
a
glass
factory.
I
soon
tied
the
knot
and
9
months
later
had
my
first
son
(yep).
It
was
then
I
had
my
epiphany,
I
needed
further
education.
I
decided
to
move
back
to
NZ
and
do
a
diploma
in
Landscape
Design
at
the
University
of
Technology
in
Auckland,
NZ.
After
one
semester
I
found
that
it
was
too
easy
and
not
enough
to
get
ahead
so
I
upgraded
to
a
degree
in
Landscape
Architecture
to
which
was
readily
accepted
for.
After
four
years
of
hard
yakka,
and
two
more
kids
later,
I
graduated!
My
wife
felt
homesick
and
wanted
to
spend
some
time
living
in
Master
ton
and
also
had
two
brothers
in
laws
that
were
enrolling
to
do
a
Certificate
in
Carpentry
so
I
jumped
on
the
bandwagon.
It
was
here
I
actually
fell
in
love
with
building.
I
enjoyed
every
moment
of
it.
My
wife
and
I
always
talked
about
our
dream
home
and
how
I
could
design
and
build
it.
When
the
year
2011
was
up
and
after
applying
for
numerous
jobs,
and
even
freelancing
as
a
Landscape
Designer,
we
packed
up
our
not
so
little
family
and
moved
back
to
Sydney
where
I
went
back
to
my
glazing
job.
The
boss
who
really
enjoyed
me
there
promoted
me
to
installer
and
then
to
measurer
working
in
residential
and
commercial
development.
In
2012
I
convinced
my
sister
and
her
family
to
move
over
(the
great
kiwi
movement)
but
she
went
to
QLD
so
I
did
too.
My
first
real
job
in
sunny
QLD
was
as
a
CAD
drafter
for
a
glass
company.
They
closed
down
as
at
the
time
the
economy
was
struggling
as
some
of
us
might
remember
and
instead
of
sitting
on
my
backside
feeling
sorry
for
myself
I
started

2. my
own
business
as
a
Landscape
Designer.
This
was
exiting
for
me
and
I
learnt
invaluable
skills
and
information.
At
the
same
time
I
found
work
with
a
small
landscaping
company
A&R
Evergreen.
I
then
moved
onwards
to
land
a
small
contract
with
a
global
company
AECOM
as
a
Graduate
LA.
Here
I
found
that
I
was
too
old
and
had
too
much
experience
to
start
from
the
‘bottom’.
I
was
naturally
a
leader
and
had
valuable
practical
experience
in
vast
areas
of
construction.
I
grabbed
a
job
working
for
Horizon
Housing
as
a
Project
Coordinator.
I
excelled,
I
found
my
true
calling.
Being
involved
in
the
whole
process
of
development
was
exiting.
Having
the
trade
background
that
I
had
not
only
helped
me
understand
the
facets
of
construction
but
also
enabled
me
to
make
informed
decisions
with
consultants
and
contractors
about
design
and
construction.
This
is
one
of
my
greatest
strengths
in
my
career.
My
greatest
strength
however,
is
my
values.
I
believe
integrity
and
honesty
is
ALWAYS
the
best
policy.
I
have
very
strong
family
values.
Just
like
the
turning
point
in
my
career
and
my
life,
after
having
my
first
son,
my
family
motivates
me
to
a
point
where
I
become
very
determined
to
excel
in
all
aspects
of
life
not
only
my
career.
So
as
you
can
see
even
though
I
started
my
work
career
in
the
construction
industry
over
10
years
ago
it
has
been
a
very
different
career
path
unlike
many.