About your coach
Eventually, I made the difficult decision to leave my apprenticeship under medical discharge. It was a frustrating and uncertain period. In early 2024, I travelled to Bangkok, Thailand, for medical treatment. Over three months, I completed my personal training qualification online.
I started coaching clients for free in exchange for testimonials and quickly helped a few committed young men achieve impressive transformations. When I returned to New Zealand, I signed my first paying online client at $50 per week. It wasn’t enough to live on, so I needed a job fast. After applying for every position imaginable (including CEO roles for which I was clearly unqualified), I landed a personal training position at my local gym.
By then, I had been training for Four years and had developed a strong physique, along with a solid understanding of training and nutrition. I worked with in-person clients while growing my online business through transformations and testimonials.
I scaled up to 25 hours per week of personal training, which allowed me to focus on my online coaching in between sessions. I spent 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the gym daily, building the foundation for what would become my full-time career.
After my second year in the gym, a friend convinced me to hire a coach so I could make the most of my effort. That was the turning point. For the first time, I had both my training and my nutrition dialled in, and my results accelerated.
At the time, I was midway through an electrical apprenticeship. It quickly became clear that this wasn’t the right path for me. During my third year, I dreaded waking up early to crawl through ceilings and under damp house foundations. I promised myself I’d give it one more year - and if I still hated it, I’d find something that excited me.
Halfway through my fourth year, I took a leap of faith and enrolled in an online personal training course. It was one of the toughest years of my life. I was also battling topical steroid withdrawal (TSW), and the combination of physical discomfort and the irritants I encountered at work made every day a challenge. I knew personal training was my way out - a chance to build a career that didn’t worsen my autoimmune condition.
I remember the first time I stepped into a gym.
I walked straight over to the bench press and attempted to press 30 kg. I failed.
From that moment on, I made it my mission to build something of myself - not for anyone else, but for me.
In my early years of training, I spent a lot of time observing the bigger guys from afar. They clearly knew something to build the physiques they had. Like many beginners, I started inconsistently, only training when I felt like it or when friends dragged me along.
Over time, I began to notice real improvements - not only in my physique but also in my mental health. I became addicted to the dopamine rush that came with completing each workout. I started training multiple times per week, following the classic “push, pull, legs” split that most beginners use.
To grow my online presence, I posted content on social media every day. It took a full year before I had a single video break 5,000 views, but I stayed consistent. Slowly, I started gaining online clients.
In mid-2025, I was scammed into using a so-called “100% natural” Chinese cream that was meant to “cure” my TSW and eczema. Instead, it caused a severe setback, forcing me to stop working again and go back on welfare. Physically and mentally, it broke me. I kept this quiet out of fear of judgment, sneaking into the gym at midnight to train when no one was around.
With extra time on my hands, I doubled down on building Stratos. I focused on delivering life-changing results for my online clients. We’ve since helped countless young men and women transform their bodies, build confidence, and improve their quality of life - all while looking and feeling their best.
Stratos was built from personal struggle, relentless consistency, and a genuine passion for helping others unlock their potential. What started as one client has evolved into a thriving community of individuals transforming their bodies and lives through proven systems and unwavering support.
Whether your goal is to build muscle, get lean, or develop unshakable confidence, Stratos exists to guide you every step of the way. Your transformation starts with a single decision.