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What does a day in Manawatū look like to you?
Mornings are my quiet time to get sorted and start the day with intention. I’m up around 5.30am for a walk or run, either on the streets or along the Manawatū River. After that I usually get straight into some work before breaky. I’m lucky to have a great home office, meaning I can work in my sweatpants and hoodie – without judgement – until breakfast. Mid-mornings are for coaching local business owners or meeting people in town at my go-to café and second office, Barista on George Street. Damo and the team there always look after me! As a Business Coach my preference is to work with clients in person where possible so it’s great having both my office, which is more private, and a central spot, that makes better coffee than me, to meet them.
After lunch I try to reset with a walk or fresh air before getting back into it. From 2pm-ish onwards it’s no more coffee and I am back in the office to tidy up the day and prepare for the next. My days can change quite a bit depending on what is on. I can jump between coaching clients, running workshops, speaking at conferences, and networking — like catching up with Nick Gain at The Factory (and grabbing the best chai latte from Ray at Coffee HQ). I also assist organisations with projects, advocate for Te Au Pakihi, and co-host the Above The Line podcast with my good mate, and, in my opinion, one of Palmy’s top real estate agents, Charles Allen. To finish off my day I’ll head to the gym for a workout and sauna at Art of Combat. The lads there, Jake and Marty, are top blokes and have a wealth of knowledge and experience when it comes to BJJ (Brazilian Jiu Jitsu), boxing, Muay Thai and MMA (Mixed Martial Arts), so it’s a great place to train. Then I do my best to get to bed early for a solid sleep before I’m up and doing it all again!
Sounds like you’ve got a great routine in place for your workdays! What does your ideal weekend in Manawatū look like?
An ideal weekend involves keeping active and catching up with friends for coffee… a lot of my life revolves around coffee! The usual spots include Café Cuba in the CBD or Bees Knees in the Hokowhitu Village. I like to get out for a round of golf when I can at either Manawatū or Palmerston North Golf Course, both are great courses.
Can’t say I blame you on the coffee front, there are so many great spots around town. Apart from the coffee, what makes you want to live in Manawatū?
The people, the opportunities and the lifestyle. There’s a strong sense of community here and it’s the kind of place where you can build some awesome connections - both personally and professionally. From a business point of view there’s a lot of growth happening and it’s a great place to work with some amazing businesses. Overall, I enjoy the ease of living - the beautiful surroundings and the ability to jump from a meeting to the golf course, gym or a café in minutes.
You talk to so many different people around town, what do you think is a common misconception about Manawatū?
That it’s too small to grow a business here. Some assume you have to be in the major cities to grow a successful business. While there is a smaller population here, Manawatū has a strong business community, is positioned well in the North Island and has some great support.
Another misconception I hear is that there’s a lack of talent available to employers. I think the reality is there are incredibly skilled and driven people in Manawatū - but attracting them can be competitive. As a business or employer, it’s important to have a strong and appealing proposition, otherwise, you can struggle to stand out and secure the right people. It’s something I work with my clients closely on.
You absolutely can have a thriving business here.
When you are hosting friends and family, what’s something you always recommend they do while they’re in town?
I always recommend people check out the wide range of walks that we have here including Te Āpiti - Manawatū Gorge, He Ara Kotahi walkway out to Linton or the many bush walks around Massey University and on Summerhill. I’ll also get them to check out Te Manawa, Museum of Arts, Science and Heritage and see what’s happening event wise around the place or just visit some of the local cafés and restaurants.
If you are looking for some guidance or support in your small business, get in touch with Scott. When Scott takes on a client, he’s passionate not just about helping your business grow, but helping build a life that aligns with your goals, family, and community.
Palmerston North City i-SITE
The Square, Palmerston North
0800 MANAWATU
(626 292)
[email protected]
Feilding and District
Information Centre
Feilding Railway Station
61 Aorangi Street
+64 6 323 3318
[email protected]
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