国产午夜福

They say the average person will change their career up to seven times during their working life.

Dan Batchelor (9549) certainly fits that description, taking several different paths since finishing as a boarder at 国产午夜福鈥檚 College in 1983.

First up he worked on a neighbouring farm before heading to Massey University to study agriculture and commerce followed by a Post Grad at Lincoln, then off to Auckland as a meat trader for an exporting company. OE was next on the list, an experience of wild contrasts from being an accountant in London to travelling extensively in Africa and skippering sailing boats in Turkey and Greece.

Three years later, Dan decided it was time to get serious about life, returning to New Zealand where he spent seven years at Shell Oil with a similar stint at Skellerup. He also completed his MBA to give him more insight into the different aspects of a business.

鈥淚 then took the plunge to work for myself as the timing felt right and I considered I was only going to reach middle management at best. To be honest, I needed something to give me more enthusiasm and drive. There鈥檚 nothing like your backside on the line to motivate you. I also hoped that being in charge of my own destiny would be financially better,鈥� Dan recalls.

With wife Jo, he bought a company called Urban Paving and spent the next 17 years expanding the business and product range.

鈥淣ot everything worked, there was some mistakes 鈥� at times trying to do too much for too many. If you鈥檙e going to add something into the business, it takes full commitment and some patience.鈥�

In 2020, Dan realised his enthusiasm had dulled and he wanted to try other opportunities, so decided to sell.

鈥淚 had an 18 month sabbatical, looking for something, keen for a partnership, but nothing came along. But it gave me time to pursue other interests in flying, sailing, cycling and golf.鈥�

Dan had seen bike tours specialist PureTrails advertised for sale and while passing over it initially, his passion for the outdoors and cycling meant it caught his attention a few months later. Now the company organises about 40 bike tours each year for all ages and fitness levels to the South Island鈥檚 most popular cycle trails. Dan usually leads five or six of those tours.

鈥淲hen I鈥檓 out in the open country, and it鈥檚 a glorious day, I can鈥檛 help but send a mate a photo of 鈥榤y office鈥� for the day. And the clients are all great 鈥� like-minded and out there doing it.

鈥淚 possibly nearly left it a little late getting into a totally new business and industry, but I鈥檓 enjoying it. There were lots of things to learn and I now understand why the administration aspect of tourism is usually done by younger smarter IT minds,鈥� Dan says.

鈥淢y wife, Jo, is also involved which works very well. She does some guiding and makes sure each tour has all the required food, yummy home baking and health and safety equipment.鈥�

When he鈥檚 not guiding, Dan lends his expertise as a director to Workdek, a modular fall protection system for builders, which is co-owned by a former colleague.