I am a Teacher and a Fitness Instructor with a passion for surfing and learning languages. 

In a past life I was a Certified Practicing Accountant CPA, you can read about my career change here, this set me up to be a rather proficient secondary maths teacher with plenty of real-world experience. As a secondary education teacher, I have also been able to share my passion for language with the next generation having rolled out courses in Spanish as a second language across the two high schools that I have worked at in the years following 2016. 

Teaching has involved many long nights planning curriculum material, the interesting world of working with managers who resist change and love the word “no”, negotiating with parents, endless marking and trying to inspire teenagers to open their minds to the exciting possibilities that exist beyond the classroom walls.  All while raising children of my own and trying to find time to achieve my goals.

As my 30th birthday came bearing down on me and with some inspiration from Anthony Robbins’s 30 day personal power presentation, I decided it was time to set some goals. I then created this website as a way of documenting my progress towards the attainment of those goals.

This is a place where I share my progress as well as any adventures and funny stories that occur along the way. I also publish tips, techniques and resources that have helped me to achieve my results.

Here is a short list of a few of my personal development goals to give you an idea of the types of articles you could expect to find on this site.

Learn Mandarin Chinese: This has been a long slow journey and one that I started back in 2009 with a trip to China where I couldn’t speak more than a few basic phrases and missed out on a world of exciting conversational opportunities. I am a lot better now but I still have a way to go before I will be satisfied that I have achieved this goal to the best of my ability.

Improve my Spanish: This has been a passion of mine since I had a Spanish speaking friend back in the 3rd grade. The best part about this journey has been the people I have met along the way. From my language exchange partner and his family in Colombia to the numerous teachers and surfing buddies that have helped me to achieve as much as I have. Now as a secondary Spanish teacher I have the opportunity to pass on my knowledge and passion for the culture, people and music to my students.

Learn Portuguese: I was teaching English at SPC back in 2017 when I met a student from Brazil, his name was Leonardo, and he really wanted to have a conversation with me in Portuguese. This language had been on my goals list for a while, and I decided that it was time to get started. One day Leonardo and I will have that conversation in Portuguese!! 

Learn Italian: Remember how I said I had a Spanish speaking friend back in the third grade. One set of his grandparents were from Italy and listening to them converse in Italian sparked the desire within me to learn this beautiful language. I got started in July of 2015 and have been working away on this journey ever since. I really knuckled down after some encouragement from Alma, one of my Italian English students, when I was teaching English at SPC back in 2017. 

Learn French: Having learnt Chinese, Spanish, Italian and Portuguese to a reasonable level. I have decided it is finally time to get started on French. This has been on my goals list since 2009, and I finally got started in September of 2020.

Dance Salsa: Ever since I was a teenager, I have wanted to learn Latin Dancing. I finally got started back in March of 2022 and have been slowly working my way through the Salsa and Bachata levels over at Gold Coast Salsa. I have even managed to pass on my newfound knowledge to some of my Spanish students by incorporating Salsa into the Spanish course.

Be a great Dad: This goal has certainly changed over the last few years. When the kids were young it revolved around spending time with them kicking footballs, playing tag, surfing, helping with their schoolwork and generally just being present. As the kids have grown and become more independent, it is now more a case of being a mentor, guide and available when needed.  

Improve my Yoga proficiency: Yoga has played a significant part in my life for a long time now. I am constantly looking for ways to incorporate it into my every day.

Improve at Surfing: Becoming proficient at surfing is one of my goals and I have been working on it since December of 2009. Most Sundays we load the surf boards on the roof racks of the car and make our way down to the Gold Coast to see what we can catch. The Kids didn’t stand a chance of avoiding this one and have spent the majority of their lives surfing.

Develop Bipyfit:  If I had more time Bipyfit would be a thriving personal training business with a website at www.bipyfit.com and a small training studio located just south of Brisbane, a place that would be full of fun and fitness where you would find awesome healthy recipes, workout videos that use minimal equipment and that could be done in the comfort of your living room.

Play Piano: With this goal I am going to start by listing specific songs that I want to play and play well, that way It will make it far easier to call success so here are my songs.

Fur Elise full version

Billy Joel Piano Man

On the wings of a Dove

Play Guitar: Same as with the piano I am going to get specific here

Green Day’s – Time of your Life

Wish me luck,

Blake

Life is for living, define your mission.