Gerald Davies, of Dunedin, does not want to reach the end of his life and regret missing out on every challenge and opportunity presented to him.
The recently appointed general manager of Superior Minerals, Mosgiel, is proud of his varied work history, which has included working in a circus, as a butcher, frying burgers, running a cut-flower business and acting as chef de mission for New Zealand's team of Paralympians when they attended the Winter Paralympics in Turin, Italy, in 2006.
He said although his work history had been diverse, he treated every career move as an opportunity and good experience.
''I do not wish to end up saying: `I wish I had done that when I was younger','' Mr Davies said.
''It is not about not sticking to something, it is about trying new things and new experiences.''
Brought up in Dunedin, he attended Otago Boys' High School before training as a butcher.
Encouraged by his father, he and his sister Julie volunteered for the Dunedin-based Disabled Skiing Otago.
''I have spent 25 years involved with it off and on,'' Mr Davies said.
At 19 he joined a circus for five weeks, travelling around New South Wales and the Gold Coast as a labourer, erecting tents and cleaning up after performances.
''It was crazy but a fantastic experience.
''One of my jobs was as a gorilla in a bikini and I had to scare the kids.''
He studied to be a chef at Otago Polytechnic, Dunedin, then worked for the Wellington Park Royal for two years as a commis chef before retraining in landscape design and construction, while at the same time operating a landscaping business from the back of his car with a mate.
''The day the course finished I took six months off and went skiing at Bozeman, Montana.
''I bought a big American car and had a fantastic time.''
From there he toured around America and Canada before going to Europe, and spent a couple of weeks sleeping under someone's kitchen table in a London flat.
He sold advertising for a computer magazine and worked for the Dresdner Kleinwort bank and the HSBC bank as dividends administrator for three years in London and the Channel Islands.
''My sister Julie started having babies and I wanted to get home.''
After exploring New Zealand for three months he worked for Disabled Snowsports New Zealand as national manager, and the New Zealand Freeski Association, as well as volunteering for the Winter Games in Queenstown and Wanaka in the early 2000s.
''I ran the freeski open international ski events for a couple of years.''
In 2006 he was the chef de mission for the New Zealand Paralympic team.
''I had an amazing time and being involved with that industry changed my life.''
He also helped set up the Wanaka-based community nursery, Te Kakano Trust, with friend Nick Mills.
He also worked as project manager for a residential eco-development and then in 2011 worked in sales and marketing for a cut-flower company.
''Once I got over the fact I was selling cut flowers, I embraced it and it was an amazing job.
''The prices changed daily and it was very competitive, right down to the last cent.''
As he and partner Ruth Vaughan had young children, Emerson and Arlia, he wanted to return to Otago for the better lifestyle.
Now based in Dunedin he is pleased to be involved with Superior Minerals as it is a growing and expanding business.
When not working, he enjoys skiing and mountain-bike riding as well as ''hanging with his family''.
- by Yvonne O'Hara