What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given?
It has to be “There’s no such thing as failure, there’s only feedback”. This statement really inspired me on many occasions to give something a go, and even if it doesn’t work out as desired, the lessons learned usually stand me to great use.
Who’s your hero/inspiration in life?
My wife Ali. I’m in awe of how many spinning disks she manages to successfully manage – from looking after our three girls to her admin work for The Massage Centre. She gets things done and is my rock.
How would you describe yourself?
I describe myself as someone who has had to work incredibly hard to master things that other people seem to find easy, but once I grasp it I tend to master it.
What’s your worst trait?
If I’m not careful I can get sucked into the detail, lose sense of time and get nothing completed. I find that I’m way more successful when I step back and see the full picture.
Your favourite food/book/movie?
It’s funny because I don’t really have a favourite anything. I enjoy all food, particularly Asian and visiting Saigon Saigon is a real treat! I love dabbling in history & self-growth books and occasionally light fiction when on holiday. I’m hopeless to find time to read but am a great listener to audiobooks.
What is your greatest passion in life?
Massage, how it works and how it can help people was and probably still is my dominant passion. But I do love traveling, talking to interesting people, investing in the development of staff and am in awe of the wonderful beings that children can be.
Tell us about the area you live.
I live in the rural countryside of County Wexford in Ireland, just a couple of miles from the house I was brought up in. It’s a farming area with neighbour’s homes dotted sporadically along the roads. The landscape is beautiful with rolling hills and I never appreciated how green it was until I moved away.
What do you miss most about Chiswick?
Luckily I travel back to Chiswick once or twice a month for work. I do miss cycling around and constantly bumping into friends and clients along the high road.
What do you look for in a massage?
Ah, you had to bring me back into work mode. For me, massage is all about the connection. Bliss is being treated by a therapist who is present mentally, with a good heart and isn’t afraid to use their elbows – my tension melts away.
Where has been your favourite place you travelled to?
I’ve been lucky to travel to many great countries but there was something special about South Africa.
What do you do in your spare time?
Ha, spare time? With three young children and two businesses that are open 7 days a week there isn’t much of that at the moment. We’re in the process of creating a garden – I do love planning, building and digging so I’m happy with this as a pastime.
You just turned 40, what will the next 10 years bring?
I’m looking forward to the adventures that unfold along the way. I’m keen to grow professionally in the massage sector and expand into other work areas. I’m also excited to see how our children grow, being dad and getting back to more adventurous travel.
What one piece of wisdom/advice would you share?
Apparently only about 5% of people have clearly defined work and personal goals for the next 1-5 years. I’d love it if more people challenged the realms of normal to design and create the life of their dreams. It all starts with the vision of a goal.
