Indulge Speaker Collective speaker Max Mason. Photo/supplied
Indulge Speaker Collective speaker Max Mason. Photo/supplied
Businessman turned ultra-distance hiker Max Mason is one of three speakers at the first indulge Speaker Collective of the year, along with businesswoman and shoe designer Kathryn Wilson and parenting expert Jenny Hale.
Last year, former Tauranga Chamber of Commerce chief executive Max spent six months walking the Appalachian Trail. Each year around 3000 people attempt the journey along the crest of the Appalachian mountains between Georgia and Maine but it is so challenging that only 25 per cent make it.
The urge to do something so challenging was born of his love of nature.
"As a youngster I spent a lot of time in the bush and in recent years I felt a yearning to immerse myself in nature again. The trail was a great way to do that and undertake a great enterprise at the same time."
He also admitted a hankering to escape the ease of his fifty-something life and what he calls "developed-country complacency".
"Everything's comfortable. Everything's nice. Everything's easy. Life isn't supposed to be like that. It's too easy. I wanted to go back to a more elemental existence for a while.
Also, I wanted to become incredibly fit and strong, and I did."
It wasn't so much of a mid-life crisis but a mid-life taking stock.
"Several of our similar age group friends have died in recent years and that reinforces how precious every moment is.
I believe that living our lives to the very max is a way of honouring those who have died too young. When I die I want to have nothing left in the tank.
Luckily his wife Helen, who is chief executive of the Bay of Plenty District Health Board, and their son Mungo were both very supportive.
"A few people thought I was mad, but most were delighted and gave me incredible support. I couldn't have done it without them, especially the 100 per cent commitment from Helen and Mungo."
Before the walk, Max did three months of training around Tauranga and climbs up Mauao and Mt Te Aroha but he found the trail was as much a mental challenge as a physical one.
"Resilience in any long-term endeavour is both mental and emotional as well as physical.
The trail taught me to become aware of and manage my emotions. I learned this skill to keep going when I just wanted to give up, and this can be applied to any part of life, by anybody."
Max Mason. Photo/supplied
His previous leadership experience in the chamber proved invaluable in making connections with others on the trail.
"The chamber taught me the importance of really listening to people and being non-judgemental about their viewpoint. Like the chamber there are all types of characters on the trail and I'd say I pretty much got on well with all of them."
Along the way he learned a lot about himself, and about motivation, more of which he will speak about at the indulge Speaker Collective.
"I learned that I really need people. I didn't like that I wasn't as independent as I thought I was, and I'm now aware that I am more vulnerable.
"Completing the trail greatly increased my sense of self-worth and gave me an unshakeable conviction that people are far more capable than they dare to imagine. Part of my life's purpose is now to enable others to come to that realisation themselves."
Max returned from his journey with a deep sense of gratitude for his life in Tauranga and has been working at Priority One in a consultancy role, aiming to attract businesses to the region.
My role is to attract businesses to Tauranga to create more job opportunities for locals. I'm a salesman with a product called Tauranga and I'm the luckiest person alive.
He and Helen moved to Tauranga from their native Zimbabwe.
"Twenty years ago Tauranga chose me because that was the first place I could land a job. We could have moved elsewhere but didn't because this city has been so kind to us. This is home in a very deep sense."
With Helen and Max in high-powered roles, the couple have managed to balance career and family well.
"Good communication is the secret to most things in life, and especially families. We are both reasonably tolerant, have the ability to see other's point of view and have similar values.
"We are a good team and each plays to their strengths. I admire Helen tremendously and am very proud of her. Our son Mungo is studying law in Hamilton so it's pretty quiet around the house now, and he was really easy to raise. We are just a typical working family."
Max is quick to point out his contribution to the daily grind.
"I do most of the cooking (and eating!) and we share the housework. For some reason after 26 years of marriage I still never notice when the laundry basket is full, though."
There are rumours about Max standing for council and even Mayor but for the time being he is remaining tight-lipped as to specific plans. What is clear is his positivity about the city and desire to make things happen.
Speaker Collective speaker Max Mason. Photo/George Novak
"I think right now there is a real sense of optimism about our city's prospects. I hope we can as a community carry this on confidently, and not be influenced by fear of the future, especially with a council election coming up."
At the indulge Speaker Collective, Max will talk more about his transformational journey and how he stayed motivated, and illustrate how the challenges he faced can be applied to life and leadership.
the details: WHAT: Indulge Speaker Collective is a night of insight and inspiration, with well-known speakers covering a broad range of topics, including business, parenting and leadership. An event for men and women of any age, you are sure to walk away feeling empowered and motivated by the stories you hear. WHEN: Thursday, May 5. Doors open 6pm, speakers start 6.30pm. WHERE: Baycourt Community & Arts Centre. TICKETS: VIP $40 - includes priority seating and VIP gift. General admission $30. SUPPORTED BY: Tranquillo Beauty Clinic, Bay of Plenty Polytechnic, Baycourt Community & Arts Centre and Fletcher Print. WHO IS SPEAKING: Parenting expert and family coach Jenny Hale, businesswoman and shoe designer Kathryn Wilson and businessman turned ultra-distance hiker Max Mason.
