Born in Brantford ON into a middle-class family. I was raised in a Christian home but as a teenager walked away from everything I was taught to believe.
I dropped out of high school at 16 and wasted many years pursuing things that didn’t bring any satisfaction, only grief, pain and despair.
Eventually I completed grade 12 and even went on to college and graduate school where I earned a Master of Divinity degree, with a major in counselling.
I have served as a therapist in private practice and pastored 3 churches over 15 years as well.
I married Kathy in 1989 with the understanding that they would not have children. But 6 years later, our daughter Megan came along, then 2 years after that, our son Alex. Both unexpected and unplanned. This eventually led me to write “Unplanned Parenthood: How to Successfully Raise the Children You Didn’t Ask For.”
I have an entrepreneurial spirit and in 2015 opened Em’s Café in Coldwater ON with my wife Kathy. We also own and operate a chocolate factory, co-owned with their daughter and son-in-law.
I love being a grandpa of 2 wonderful babies and I’m grateful that my desire not to have children wasn’t achieved. I couldn’t imagine my life without my family.
I am an avid reader, love most sports including football, golf, and hockey, but spend much of my free time exercising and riding my motorcycle with Kathy, my passenger most of the time.
I believe life is about stewardship and managing all I has been given, including my time and resources. One of my greatest passions is helping others discover theirs, so they can live meaningful lives on purpose.
I am an author, life coach, entrepreneur, husband, father, and grandpa. With years of business, pastoral and private practice counselling experience, I bring practical wisdom to everyday challenges we all face. I live in Coldwater, Ontario, with my wife Kathy.
Why life coaching?
To help me process these and other questions I enlisted the help of a life coach. And for the past eighteen months she has been coaching me through this process. It’s been an incredible journey together.
As we considered my personality, skills and passions she suggested, “Why don’t you do what I am doing.” That is when I began to explore the world of life coaching.
Then a detour. Early this year, my wife and I left our jobs to open a cafe – Em’s Cafe in Coldwater, Ontario. Operating a cafe was something we began talking about 15 years ago; it was only now that the pieces were coming together for it to become a reality. And May 1, 2015, we opened Em’s Cafe and we are 5 months into this new adventure.
Perhaps you are at a place of transition or possible change. I’ve been there…and I know what it’s like to
- ask hard questions about the future,
- consider making changes while others question it
- believe that change was needed but uncertain about where to start or what it would mean for my family
- leave the security of a job and paycheque to follow after a dream.
- face the fear of the unknown
My passion is helping others find theirs. I believe each one of us is uniquely gifted through our personalities, abilities and passions, hopes and dreams and that it’s never too late to make the changes necessary to live your life to the fullest.
That’s what this site and life coaching is about. Helping you overcome the barriers and obstacles and taking the steps necessary to live the life you want to live. I’m in my 50’s and I believe my best years are in front of me and I believe they are for you as well.
If that is you, then you’re in the right place. Welcome.