From Global Founder to 'Complete Toast': My Journey Back to Well-being

Finding Clarity: The Journey Behind the Parihoa Re-Connect Retreat

It’s such a delight to publish this interview with Begum. For those of you who don’t know, Begum is one of my dearest friends. We met on a dance floor in New Zealand—both from other worlds, finding our way in a foreign country that would eventually become home. Our connection through music, well-being, and shared goals has created one of those truly blessed friendships.

Sometime ago, we decided to actualise a concept I have been very passionate about: how do I bring my world to New Zealand for some essential time out? I've noticed for a long time that when my friends and network visit, I get to see the best versions of themselves—especially when they take time to slow down, disconnect, and work on their purpose.

Here, my friend Begum interviews me to go deeper into the story and vision behind our upcoming retreat:

From Middle Earth to My Home

There's something about New Zealand. It feels like it’s in the middle of nowhere—it’s not called Middle-earth for nothing. When I lived in Singapore, I always heard about New Zealand. It was mystical, well-regarded by everyone, and ultimately, it would become my home.

Fast forward to 2025, and we have the Parihoa Re-Connect Retreat. I am co-organising this with Begum because, of all my friends, she is the one helping make this dream happen. If you’ve been following my well-being journey and the Parihoa story, this is the personal journey that led us here.

From Global Success to Burnout

I became an entrepreneur through my people skills and ability to solve complex global human resource searches. That skill grew into a reputable global search business, ChapmanCG, which I founded in 2008. From there, I pivoted into more HR businesses, hospitality with the co-creation of Bawah Reserve, and then Parihoa in New Zealand from 2013.

The world felt like it had no limits. Despite my high energy—being able to run ultra-marathons and criss-cross the globe endlessly for business—I began to burn out.

I saw the early signs, but I kept going until I had the foresight to get out of everything I had created. This took as much work as founding them; not just finding successors to buy the businesses, but also creating succession in my teams to run them. Finally, by 2022, I was out of most things and ready to live my dream in New Zealand.

However, I was complete toast. I could barely tie my own shoelaces.

The Path to Restoration

The last three years have been a progressive exercise in restoring my well-being. It was challenging to reshape my purpose from "going hard" to simply stopping, but my energy levels dictated it. I focused on one thing at a time, most importantly my health and fitness. Surrounding myself with well-being experts and developing a formula to get myself back on track became my new purpose.

As a single guy in a new country, I was humbled by how much I was on my own. My employees and friends helped where they could, but putting on my own oxygen mask became essential. Previous business partners and many people I had supported left me to sort myself out. It was humbling, but I pointed forward.

The last bastion of simplification was the realisation that I still had too many “things” causing stress. My beloved car collection became too much effort. Parihoa, my home, would need to go. I simply lost interest in my “things.”

Like with my ultra-running career, I found the answer lay in getting back to my body and defining life by what I truly have: my physical and mental health. I bought a van. I camped a lot. I spent time with people who had little. I learned that true happiness transcends wealth and is about experiences and connection.

A New Chapter: Edge of the World (EOW)

Fast forward to today, and I am left with my legacy project, Edge of the World (EOW).

EOW is not necessarily simple—it has been a gigantic project built by many hands—but it has brought me great purpose. It will be the centre of my network, a place I will share with my most special talent and friends. EOW is about ecological restoration, with "Telepathy" (a modern-day cave) at its centre. It’s the sum of my “life one” work, to be used in a “life two” way. What’s signature about this place is that there will be as few “things” as possible. The energy here will be about peace, reflection, and incredible people.

I give special thanks to PK, my dear friend and right hand, who has helped make all this happen.

Are You Ready to Re-Connect?

This journey is what has led to the creation of the Parihoa Re-Connect Retreat. It's a vehicle for those in my network, and beyond, to work on their own purpose.

If you’re someone with great influence in your own network or community, but feel like you need to tune your purpose, get in touch. We are moving into an era where clear habits and goals are crucial to staying on track, especially for leaders. We must ensure our own well-being is in check before we can grow teams and build healthy cultures.

This is the entry point for "Well-being Custodians" to enter the story—a vision I am passionate about creating.

If this resonates with you, please get in touch. We are keeping interest open for a few more weeks, after which we will interview and select participants to finalise the cohort. We haven’t decided the future of the Parihoa Re-Connect; we’re describing it as a one-off for now, but I am sure if it works, the legacy will live on.

A special thanks to Begum for her incredible support, to my close friend Sebastian who will lead the nutrition, and to the many other wonderful friends who have been part of my journey.