A holistic approach
my story
For as long as I can remember, I have been fascinated by human development and have been on a quest to answer two key questions: "What makes for a successful life?" and "What makes people change?"
I thought I had all the answers as I spent two decades of my life traveling the world and rapidly gaining "success" and recognition across various business, creative, and spiritual spaces. Little did I know that I was slowly breaking apart inside and losing myself to unhealthy coping mechanisms and addictions, particularly workaholism and pornography.
When I was finally able to confront the unhealthy signs in my life, I discovered that my view of success had been severely narrow, and a new approach was required.
After a multi-year, multi-layered, transformational change that started with confronting my unhealthy coping mechanisms, I learned a totally different way of living. A life that includes intentional commitments, redefined whole-of-life success metrics, self-care and self-discovery without self-indulgence, a matching of my inward reality with my outward reality, and a thoughtful and purposeful relationship with the world around me.
Having had the opportunity to “life-test” these postures and tools, I decided to start LiveHolystic Coaching, to commit myself to supporting others in their own journeys of transformation. My mission is to help people redefine what a truly successful life looks like and guide them towards an alternate, more holistic approach to living.
Drawing from my extensive experiences as a coach, consultant, and advisor to individuals, teams, and organizations across various spheres and contexts, I assist individuals in stepping off the familiar "treadmill of life" and embracing a new vision of flourishing, adventure, and impact. Together, we will unlock your potential and create a life that is rich with meaning, purpose, and positive influence.
behind the name
Throughout my life, I have been pulled in what has felt like two distinct directions. On one side, the desire to bring things together, to integrate, to find a holistic approach to life. On the other, pressure to be set apart, to be true to myself, my values, and to what has sometimes felt like divine calling — to be holy.
What did it mean to “be myself” in vastly different contexts — church, work, family, relationships, cultures — and in situations where being true to myself meant swimming against the tide? How could I then bring these “different” selves together into an integrated whole? How could I contribute well to the flourishing of others and of communities, while holding true to my uniqueness?
“Live holystic” is a term I coined to describe my discovery that the holistic and the holy can, and I think should, be held together, that being integrated and set apart are necessary to being fully human. I hope you will join me in exploring and experiencing this holystic path to a transformed life.
Experiences & HIGHLIGHTS
Some higlights on my journey that have shaped me include:
Feeling caught between belonging and not belonging (including experiences of racism), growing up in Sydney, Australia, as the son of Malaysian-Chinese migrants
Growing up in a non-religious home and then experiencing a “spiritual awakening” as a 16 year old
Receiving a top academic achievement award from the Prime Minister of Australia and offered a 4 yr actuarial studies scholarship
Winning a top Australian company’s “Shark Tank” and going on to pioneer and launch a tech startup in NZ backed by a $100bn financial services company
Navigating the good, bad and ugly of corporate-life for two decades as a leader in top multinational companies like Ernst & Young
Working as a Youth Director at global and local levels and helping nurture their explosive creative energy and ability to overcome mistakes
Learning the values and practices of a diversity of cultures through living with different people groups, e.g. remote communities in Australia and Kenya and a community in a typhoon-stricken region of the Philippines
Composing, recording and releasing original songs that have been played from pubs to to radio to stadiums, both locally and internationally - all while experiencing extreme bouts of imposter syndrome
Surviving 5 days in the blistering Australian outback with an ex-SAS soldier with nothing but a 20kg backpack of gear
formal training
My formal training covers the areas of coaching, psychology, business and theology enabling me to provide clients the needed competencies and holistic tools to help bring about real sustainable change
Certified Transformation Coach
Theological Approaches to Wellbeing
Actuary Qualifications
Bachelor of Commerce Scholarship Program