Early in his life, Old Boy Ray Armstrong (1970) saved enough funds to embark on a solo trip across the world. From London, on a second-hand Triumph motorbike, beckoned Europe and beyond. Broke and begging in Italy, hitching through the Middle East camping alone under the stars, swimming to try to save a life in Kashmir and being nearly eaten by a roaming Sumatran tiger were some experiences that saw Ray transition into a different soul who could have a good crack at enduring virtually anything life threw at him. Back in Australia, from running marathons to a black belt, captaining Rugby representative teams to sales management and state management roles he became quite successful. What had changed?

“After being erroneously “freed up” from my first three jobs, I jettisoned my career to travel overseas for two years to find why everyone else had a problem. Subsequently over a forty-year career I discovered a specific set of learned skills which I then transformed into a values-based formula resulting in every team I managed breaking all previous performance records. But even more importantly I established an environment where staff were required to focus on character development concepts as the key driver for success resulting in higher production outcomes amongst all staff.

Four years ago, being personally concerned about the unprecedented levels of anxiety, depression and worse being revealed in today’s youth, I volunteered to facilitate eight mentoring sessions with the Year 10s at a local private High School which resulted in an overwhelming positive response from a median of 84% of students requesting pro-active ongoing discussions including the Headmaster having Teachers sitting in too.

A product of those talks is my book The Universe Loves A Trier which is an attempted entertaining narrative based on my own ‘growing up’. The book offers actual strategies and actions to build a confident and competent life of purpose, more particularly creating character in teenagers. After each chapter there is a Summary and Action Plan, enabling the reader to identify and implement the character or resilience skill recommended. The manuscript is deliberately relayed in an attempted humorous narrative with many personal anecdotes, some harrowing, entertaining experiences from someone who has lived the actual trauma and not from a textbook.

Personally had someone shared these character values with me from fourteen my high school life would have launched with a whole new meaning and purpose. However as I learned these skills my life became so much more enjoyable and productive hence promotions were forthcoming. Both my children graduated from University and most importantly I am blessed with a wonderful wife and most fortunate life.  I would sincerely ask any other Old Boys to click on the Hyperlink and consider for their families.”