Let's begin

My daughter Niki was the driving force in encouraging me to publish my lifetime experiences as she believed I had a story to tell.


For the greater part of my life I had been a more than successful farmer, businessman and innovative entrepreneur before financial disaster struck later in life. Falling from a position of achievement and community respect to perceptions of failure destroyed my self love and respect. The love and support of my wife and partner, Lilian and my daughters Niki and Tracy were the catalysts that enabled me to once again regain my belief in myself.

I have received so many emailed responses from people whose lives and attitudes have been altered by my own experiences in coming back from the wilderness that I considered publishing this story as an e-book. The final catalyst to go ahead were the responses received from two people whose lives I am privileged to have touched. One, a person considering suicide and the other a man whose life had been scarred by financial misfortune and family disputes.

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"Thank you so much for sharing your story with me. Although I have come across some tough stages in the past few years they are nothing compared to your story.

This time last year I was on the verge of ending my life. Today things have changed. I have a fantastic job, I have just bought my first property and I am placing pieces back in place step by step.

Have I thanked you for your blog again?"
- Taiwo

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"Your personal story in real life can make a huge difference to others!

I am the lucky one as I have had the privilege of sharing real life issues with you. Like yourself I have flown with eagles and been frustrated with being amongst the chickens. It takes a huge dose of self love and respect to soar again especially when your wings are clipped.

I understand what depression is like and what dark thoughts it attracts in the middle of the night.

I understand the strength of love for your family and friends that can support you through depression.

I understand the voice of self-doubt and insecurity that loves to play its tune over and over again in your head at full volume.

I understand the necessity of support from dear friends when you face such adversity on your own.

I understand that stirring of self belief that stays with you even when all seems totally lost and hopeless.

I understand that finally recognizing and acknowledging self love is such a powerful insight to learn from adversity.

I now understand that SELF LOVE and self respect is the first step on the road home again.

In understanding this, Alec, I have not lost my drive to succeed in the financial world. You can be spiritually enlightened without money. And I know which one I choose.

WHEN A PERSON ACCEPTS THAT ANY LIFE SHATTERING EXPERIENCE OR LACK OF MONEY ARE OUTWEIGHED BY THE LOVE OF FAMILY, FRIENDS AND LOVE OF SELF, THIS WILL OVERCOME ANY ADVERSITY.

SUICIDE SIMPLY CANNOT EXIST WHEN YOU ACCEPT THIS."
- Charles

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I sincerely hope that by sharing my own failures and successes in real life that you can gain the perspective that life is an adventure between birth and death. You can choose to think of the inevitable misfortunes in life as personal failures or you can learn from them as part of the steps of opportunity on the adventurous road of future success.

Alec