Ene | Manukau

“My work life is my experience. I’m a hard worker. I have worked for a long time. I just finished being self-employed last week. Now, I’m just debating on where I’m going. I’ve had a couple of offers, and it’s just sitting down and wondering what I’m going to do.

It’s a hard road. You think that you work hard for so long. Bills still keep coming, funnily enough, but I’m coming to the realisation that you’ve got to keep working. You’ve got to keep paying those bills. I’ve just hit 50. I’m hitting 51 this year. Where am I going? I’m staying in the same industry. It’s all I know. I’m really good in this industry and I don’t know anything else. In terms of finance, what’s the point of starting again when you’re already somewhere on top in your own industry? So, you might as well stay there. I guess it’s just a matter of slowing down and knowing what you know, and then getting in there and staying in there. 

Church values are huge. Huge for myself and my family. I guess showing them that a man can fail you, also being a father can fail you, can fail your children, so I’ve taken them to church to show them that God is real, and after I go, they’ve got someone still to depend on, and that’s the Holy Spirit and God, and also working hard. You need to work hard, in order to achieve and don’t complain, and don’t moan. Just get out there and get your hands dirty, and work hard, and just to teach them all the values that you need to learn and do out there. As an example, my daughter had her 21st two years ago. On her 21st, my speech was I gave her 12 months’ notice to leave the home, the nest, because I couldn’t teach her any more, she needed to go out there and learn more. So, she’s out there, and she’s doing well. I’m really proud of her.

I was born and bred in Onehunga, which is not too far from here. Just over the bridge and over at Māngere. It’s a hard upbringing. Dad was a hard man. Mum was a hard worker. Learned everything ourselves, I guess. Life experiences and as I grow today, still learning. Still adapting to what society is, and who I am, and what I can provide and give, and understand where I fit in, and also getting the dream, which is a home, family, a job, some toys like cars and a bike and a few of those things, but just enjoying life. For an example, this morning, I’ve got the week off just to decide on where I’m going, and I guess I’m in a good place. A lot more fortunate than a lot of other people, I had a hard upbringing, but it is what it is, and I guess my past has built who I am today.

I value working hard, not only physically but mentally. Working smarter, learning for yourself. That way you don’t have to blame anyone or anybody for the failures that possibly society, the Government or anything that come in front of you. At least you know you’ve built that foundation and you’ve got things behind you that can lift you and uphold you and keep you through that struggle, whatever struggle it is. Money is important, but there’s a lot of other important things as well, but working hard and having that hard working ethic, can bring you through anything, really.”