Watch this short clip and see how the railroad changed history. Brainstorm some ideas for new forms of transportation you would like to see developed. Be creative!

Milestone

Find out how railroads impacted history. 

Go to a museum, sculpture garden, or another place with public art to find large public sculptures. Make drawings of them and observe the different styles you see. Try designing a unique sculpture! 

Career

Find some sculptures and public artworks near you.

Try your hand at pottery by enrolling in a class at your school, a community college, or a local business. 

Education

Take a pottery or ceramics class.

Potters

Operate production machines such as pug mill, jigger machine, or potter's wheel to process clay in manufacture of ceramic, pottery and stoneware products.

Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.

Realistic

Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.

Artistic

Second Interest High-Point

Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.

Conventional

Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.

Investigative

Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.

Enterprising

Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.

Social

First Interest High-Point

Third Interest High-Point

Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed

Potters, Manufacturing

Miscellaneous Production Workers

Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic

Production Occupations

Other Production Occupations

Press thumbs into centers of revolving clay to form hollows, and press on the inside and outside of emerging clay cylinders with hands and fingers, gradually raising and shaping clay to desired forms and sizes.

Adjust wheel speeds according to the feel of the clay as pieces enlarge and walls become thinner.

Mix and apply glazes, and load glazed pieces into kilns for firing.

Position balls of clay in centers of potters' wheels, and start motors or pump treadles with feet to revolve wheels.

Raise and shape clay into wares such as vases and pitchers, on revolving wheels, using hands, fingers, and thumbs.

Prepare work for sale or exhibition, and maintain relationships with retail, pottery, art, and resource networks that can facilitate sale or exhibition of work.

Smooth surfaces of finished pieces, using rubber scrapers and wet sponges.

Design clay forms and molds, and decorations for forms.

Move pieces from wheels so that they can dry.

Pull wires through bases of articles and wheels to separate finished pieces.

Examine finished ware for defects and measure dimensions, using rule and thickness gauge.

Perform test-fires of pottery to determine how to achieve specific colors and textures.

Maintain supplies of tools, equipment, and materials, and order additional supplies as needed.

Verify accuracy of shapes and sizes of objects, using calipers and templates.

Operate drying chambers to dry or finish molded ceramic ware.

Start machine units and conveyors and observe lights and gauges on panel board to verify operational efficiency.

Adjust pressures, temperatures, and trimming tool settings as required.

Operate pug mills to blend and extrude clay.

Operate jigger machines to form ceramic ware, such as bowls, cups, plates, and saucers.

Air cleaners

Air compressors

Ball mills

Banding wheels

Carving spatulas

Carving tools

Ceramics kilns

Clay cutters

Clay extruders

Clay mixers

Clay presses

Cleanup tools

Conveyor feeding systems

Dial calipers

Digital scales

Dipping tongs

Drying ovens

Dust masks

Electric kilns

Fettling knives

Gas kilns

Grinding wheels

Hake brushes

Handheld sprayers

Hole cutters

Insulated gloves

Kick wheels

Kiln glasses

Kiln gloves

Lace tools

Laptop computers

Layout templates

Mold trimming knives

Oxyprobes

Personal computers

Portable pottery wheels

Pottery molds

Pottery wheels

Precision rulers

Pug mills

Pyrometers

Raku tongs

Safety glasses

Scoring tools

Slab rollers

Slip trail applicators

Spray booths

Spring scales

Texturing brushes

Thickness gauges

Tile cutters

Triple beam balances

Inventory control software

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Outlook

Potter/Railway Engineer

(MALE) THE MOST EXCITING THING ABOUT LIFE IS CHANGE.  (FEMALE)  I JUST WANT TO SEE  AND MEET EVERYONE.  (FEMALE)  WHERE WERE YOU AT OUR AGE? DID YOU EVER HAVE THIS GRAND VISION THAT THIS WOULD ALL COME TOGETHER? THIS IS SUCH A CRUCIAL TIME IN MY LIFE IN DEFINING WHO I AM.  (FEMALE)  I KEEP CHANGING MY MIND  ABOUT WHAT I WANT TO DO.  LIKE, I REALLY WANT TO FIGURE  IT OUT AND GET GOING WITH IT. IF IT'S SOMETHING I BELIEVE IN, WHY CAN'T I DREAM IT? (MALE) I DON'T EVEN WANT TO LOOK BACK AT MY LIFE AND GO "I WISH I'D DONE THIS."  (MALE)  WE'VE GOT THE ABILITY TO DO  WHATEVER WE CHOOSE TO DO. [CHANTING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE] (RAY) IT WAS INTENSE, LIKE--EYE-OPENING. I DIDN'T REALIZE HOW EXTENSIVE THE CULTURE WAS.  (ALLISON)  I THINK I'M ALMOST LEARNING  EQUAL AMOUNTS FROM THE LEADERS  AND JUST THIS  NEW ZEALAND CULTURE THAT I'M IMMERSED IN RIGHT NOW.  CAN I GET A STEAK  AND MUSHROOM PIE?  THESE NEXT INTERVIEWS  ARE JUST GOING TO BE LIKE  ASKING THE SAME QUESTIONS,  JUST GETTING MORE POWER  BEHIND WHAT PEOPLE  ARE SAYING.  RIGHT NOW, YOU'RE  EXECUTIVE CHEF AND CO-OWNER  OF TWO RESTAURANTS AND HOW DID  YOU GET FROM WHERE YOU WERE  AT OUR AGE  TO WHERE YOU ARE RIGHT NOW? (FEMALE) I SUPPOSE AT YOUR AGE, I LEFT SCHOOL AND REALLY THE SAME THING, I WAS TOTALLY UNSURE OF WHAT I WANTED TO DO. I HAD A BURNING PASSION, WHICH WAS NOT TO COOK, MINE WAS TO TRAVEL. WENT TO ISRAEL AND WORKED ON A KIBBUTZ FOR 6 MONTHS 'CAUSE I'D MET AN ISRAELI GUY AND THOUGHT, "OH, THIS IS QUITE COOL." AND STARTED COOKING IN THE KITCHENS THERE AND I WAS COOKING WITH A COUPLE OF WOMEN WHO SAID TO ME THEN, "MY GOD, YOU'VE GOT SUCH A GOOD TALENT FOR THIS." THEN CAME HOME AND THOUGHT, "YEP, "THIS IS WHAT I'M GOING TO DO. "I CAN SORT OF LIVE AT MOM AND DAD'S AND SAVE AND GO THROUGH UNI." AND THEN JUST STARTED FROM THERE. I WAS THE ONLY GIRL IN AN ALL-MALE CLASS. SO, JUST HAD TO TAKE A LOT OF--YOU KNOW, YOU READ ABOUT THINGS ABOUT WOMEN IN KITCHENS ARE ABUSED. YOU JUST HAVE TO HAVE A REALLY GOOD QUIRKY SENSE OF HUMOR SO YOU CAN ANSWER BACK PRETTY FAST AND NOT BE WORRIED ABOUT SWEARING OR DIRTY COMMENTS OR ANYTHING. JUST LET IT GO OVER THE TOP OF YOU. WHAT KEPT YOU FROM JUST GOING OUT AND DOING SOMETHING ELSE? BECAUSE I KNEW THAT I COULDN'T DO ANYTHING-- I DIDN'T WANT TO DO ANYTHING ELSE. I KNEW, NO MATTER HOW HARD IT WAS GOING TO BE, I HAD TO JUST KEEP GOING. I JUST HAD TO KEEP GOING. 'CAUSE YOU REALLY--THE WHOLE THING IS YOU'RE FOCUSING ON WHAT YOU WANT TO DO. IT'S ON FOOD. (FAWNA) SHE'S SO CONFIDENT.  (ALLISON)  I KNOW. AND I WONDER IF LIKE SHE DID HAVE TROUBLE, BUT SHE DIDN'T SEE IT AS-- TROUBLE BUT MORE LIKE A CHALLENGE? (FAWNA) I AM A CONFIDENT PERSON IN GENERAL, BUT I AM FEARFUL OF A LOT OF THINGS. LIKE GRADUALLY AS THIS YEAR HAS GONE BY, I'VE STARTED GETTING MORE AND MORE NERVOUS AND A LITTLE MORE ANXIOUS ABOUT WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TO ME. I GO TO UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND. I'M A FRESHMAN. I FEEL LIKE I CAN DO ANYTHING I WANT TO DO, BUT I JUST HAVEN'T FIGURED IT OUT. I'M JUST SORT OF STARTING AT, YOU KNOW, THE FIRST SQUARE BECAUSE THE THING THAT YOU THOUGHT THAT YOU ALWAYS HAD, LIKE MY PASSION IS ART, BECAUSE I'M GOOD AT IT AND PEOPLE TELL ME I'M GOOD AT IT. SO THEREFORE, THAT IS MY PASSION. AND THEN, DISCOVERING THAT YOU DON'T ACTUALLY KNOW WHAT IT IS AND YOU DON'T THINK THAT'S IT IS KIND OF SCARY. YEAH, I DON'T KNOW HOW PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY FIGURED OUT THEIR LIFE'S PURPOSE. HOW DO YOU DO THAT? APPARENTLY EVERYONE KNOWS THE SECRET EXCEPT FOR ME.  (RAY)  WE'RE GETTING READY  TO INTERVIEW TIKI TAANE  RIGHT NOW, AND HE'S THE NUMBER  ONE MUSICIAN IN NEW ZEALAND.  WE'RE ACTUALLY SUPPOSED TO  INTERVIEW HIM ON THE BEACH BUT  THE WEATHER ISN'T LOOKING  TOO GOOD RIGHT NOW.  (FAWNA)  STOP RAINING.  (ALLISON)  EVERYWHERE WE'VE BEEN-- (FAWNA) WE HEAR HIS SONGS ALL OVER THE PLACE. ON THE RADIO, LIKE IN THE COFFEE SHOPS-- (RAY) I'M STARTING TO GET THIS LIKE LARGER THAN LIFE FEEL FROM HIM. YOU COMBINE THAT WITH WE DON'T HAVE A SPOT NOW. IT'S RAINING. THIS IS GOING TO FALL APART, MAN! (TIKI TAANE) IT'S BAD WEATHER, HUH? IT'S COOL. THE ELEMENTS, MATE, IT'S GREAT, WELCOME. IT'S FREEZING, RIGHT? ♪♪ MY PARENTS SEPARATED WHEN I WAS EIGHT. YOU KNOW, IT WAS LIKE ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE SECURE WORLD I WAS BROUGHT UP IN WENT BANG! AND I SUPPOSE FROM THAT POINT ON, I WENT, "WELL AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU KNOW, I NEED TO LOOK AFTER MYSELF." AND YOU KNOW, I WAS JUST THIS YOUNG 13-YEAR-OLD STANDING PRETTY CLOSE TO BEING GOING DOWN THIS PATH WHICH WAS GANGS, VIOLENCE, PRISON, ET CETERA. AND YOU KNOW, MY PARENTS SAW WHAT THE GUITAR AND WHAT MUSIC DID FOR ME, SO THEY NURTURED THAT. I THINK AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU'VE JUST GOT TO FIND WHAT MAKES YOU WANT TO LIVE, WHAT YOU CARE ABOUT. 'CAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT'S ALL ABOUT YOUR SOUL. AND WE CALL IT WAIRUA. WE CALL IT SPIRIT. THE WAY I LOOK AT MY WAIRUA IS THAT I TRY AND TREAT MY SOUL, MY SPIRIT, LIKE IT'S SOMEBODY THAT I KNOW. AND THE MORE I RESPECT IT AND THE BETTER I TREAT IT, THEN THE BETTER I AM, IF YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? AND THEN ALSO THE BETTER THINGS ARE AROUND ME. AND IT'S, YEAH, IT'S AN INTERESTING-- I'M STILL WORKING IT OUT, YOU KNOW? I'M STILL TOTALLY WORKING IT OUT.  (FAWNA)  I DO HAVE  A LOT OF INTERESTS,  AND I'LL JUST DABBLE IN EACH  OF THEM AND NEVER ACTUALLY GO THROUGH--LIKE PICK ONE AND JUST GO FOR IT.  AND SO, JUST HEARING  HIM TALKING ABOUT IT,  IT JUST--IT KIND OF MAKES ME  A LITTLE MORE CONFIDENT  THAT YOU FIGURE IT OUT  EVENTUALLY. AND WHEN I DO, I HAVE TO GO FOR IT.  I CAN'T TAKE A STEP  BACK OR ANYTHING. ♪♪ ♪♪ WOO! OH GOD! TOO FAST, TOO FAST. OH, I STALLED.  YEAH. WAS YOUR FOOT ON THE CLUTCH WHEN YOU WENT TO SECOND? YEAH, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN TELL BUT I'VE ONLY DRIVEN STICK TWICE BEFORE THIS. LOOK AT THOSE SCONES.  (FAWNA) WE ARE IN COROMANDEL--  COROMANDEL? COROMANDEL, AND WE ARE GOING TO DRIVING CREEK POTTERIES LATER,  TO INTERVIEW  BARRY BRICKELL.  HE OWNS A POTTERY  AND A RAILROAD.  HE'S ALSO AN ENVIRONMENTALIST  AND HE OWNS A BIG FOREST  OF KAURI TREES. (ALLISON) WE MIGHT BE LATE.  (FAWNA)  COME ON, RAY.  COME ON. SO HOT! WE HAVE 4 MINUTES UNTIL OUR INTERVIEW. YOU CAN DO IT!  (FAWNA)  JUST TAKE THE BOWL  AND DRINK IT, MAN. IT'S TOO HOT, TOO HOT.  ♪ WHERE I'VE BEEN,  WOULDN'T YOU LIKE TO KNOW? ♪  ♪ GO, GO, AUTOMOBILE GO ♪  ♪ WHERE I'VE BEEN,  WOULDN'T YOU LIKE TO KNOW? ♪  (ALLISON)  THIS PLACE IS AWESOME.  (RAY)  OH WOW. ALL THE TEAPOTS. [BELL RINGING]  (FAWNA)  SO, HOW DID YOU GET  FROM MAYBE OUR AGE  TO WHERE YOU ARE NOW?  (MALE)  I STARTED MAKING  POTTERY AT AGE 14,  RIGHT THROUGH UNIVERSITY.  IN SCHOOL DAYS,  I WAS MAKING POTS.  AND I'M NOT  A VERY GOOD ACADEMIC.  BUT I WAS TOLD BY MY MOTHER  AND FATHER I'VE GOT TO GET A DEGREE FROM THE UNIVERSITY, SO THAT I CAN HAVE A SUCCESSFUL CAREER. I DIDN'T WANT THAT.  I WANTED TO BE  A POTTER, MAKE POTS.  MY FATHER WAS HORRIFIED,  THE SHOCK. HE SAID, "OH, YOU'LL NEVER BE ABLE TO BRING UP A FAMILY, "HAVE A NICE WIFE, GIVE ME LOTS OF GRANDCHILDREN IF YOU'RE GOING TO BE A POTTER." I SAID, "I DON'T WANT A NICE WIFE. "I DON'T WANT TO MAKE LOTS OF GRANDCHILDREN FOR YOU. I WANT TO MAKE POTS!" ♪♪ (ALLISON) YOU MENTIONED YOUR DAD WANTING YOU TO GO OFF TO THE UNIVERSITY AND DID YOU EVER FEEL PRESSURE WITH THAT? OH, I FELT THE PRESSURE, ALL RIGHT. OH YES, YES-- OH DEAR, OH DEAR. I WENT THROUGH HELL WHEN I WAS YOUR AGE, TRYING TO RETAIN MY OWN LIFE, YOU KNOW? I GOT MY DEGREE AND DECIDED TO BE A SCHOOLTEACHER, YOU SEE? BUT I HATED THE JOB, AND I DIDN'T EVEN LAST A YEAR. AND I RESIGNED TO BECOME A POTTER IN A LITTLE TOWN LIKE THIS, IN COROMANDEL, YOU SEE?  I USED TO GO AROUND  IN RAGS, YOU KNOW.  I DIDN'T HAVE MUCH MONEY.  THE LOCAL PEOPLE SAID, "BARRY,  YOU'RE AN EDUCATED MAN. "IF YOU GO BACK TO TEACHING, YOU DON'T HAVE TO LIVE LIKE THIS." I SAID, "I PREFER TO LIVE LIKE THIS. "I'M FREE! "I DON'T HAVE TO WEAR SUITS AND TIES AND SHOES AND SOCKS AND THAT STUFF."  I HAD A LIFESTYLE  THAT I ENJOYED.  MY OTHER INTEREST  WAS RAILWAYS.  I'VE ALWAYS BEEN FASCINATED  BY THE BEAUTY OF RAILWAY. NOT JUST TRAINS, THE WAY A RAILWAY CURVES THROUGH THE LANDSCAPE, YOU SEE? SO, I SAID TO MYSELF, "I'VE GOT TO BUY SOME LAND  AND BUILD  A REAL RAILWAY ON IT." [BELL RINGING]  AND EVERYBODY SAID I WAS MAD,  MY FATHER, MY ACCOUNTANT,  MY BANK MANAGER.  THEY SAID, "HOW STUPID,  IT'S GOING TO COST YOU A VAST AMOUNT OF MONEY AND JUST FOR A TOY TRAIN." I MEAN YOU REALLY CAN'T CAPTURE THIS.  (BARRY BRICKELL)  SO, I WASTED AS MUCH MONEY  AS I COULD BUYING RAILS AND TIMBER AND STEEL BEAMS FOR BRIDGES AND STUFF LIKE THAT. THAT WAS DAUNTING I CAN TELL YOU, BUT YOU STICK AT IT.  YOU GET UP EARLY  IN THE MORNING,  A COUPLE OF HOURS  BEFORE BREAKFAST OF HARD MANUAL LABOR. TRY AND SPEND THE DAY IN THE STUDIO. IN THE EVENING, I'D TAKE A BOTTLE OF WINE AND SOME CHEESE UP THERE AND GET TO CRACKING AND DO SOME MORE SHOVELING. [LAUGHING]  YOU'LL SEE QUITE A LOT  OF EMPTY WINE BOTTLES  UP THE LINE.  AND PEOPLE WOULD ARRIVE  IN THEIR DROVES  WANTING A TRAIN RIDE.  WE COULDN'T FIT THEM ON.  THEY HAD TO WAIT FOR  AN HOUR OR 2 HOURS, 3 HOURS.  I HAD TO DRIVE TRAINS AND MAKE  POTS AND DO THESE COMMISSIONS  ALL AT ONCE.  SO, I'VE GOT FOUR DRIVERS NOW  AND I DON'T HAVE TO DRIVE  ANY TRAINS. I CAN NOW STAY HERE IN MY ASYLUM, MY STUDIO, AND MAKE POTS AND SCULPTURES AND THINGS LIKE THAT AND DO PAINTINGS, WHICH IS ALWAYS WHAT I'VE WANTED TO DO. NOW MY FATHER, UNFORTUNATELY, IS UPSTAIRS IN HEAVEN NOW, UP THERE OR UNDER THE GROUND, WHEREVER. IF HE COULD SEE THIS SETUP NOW, HE WOULD--HE'D DO A DOUBLE-TAKE, WOULDN'T HE? WOW, OH MY GOSH!  (ALLISON)  OH MY GOSH. I JUST WANNA FLY.  (BARRY BRICKELL)  I HAVEN'T MADE ANYTHING  LIKE WHAT I WANT TO MAKE YET.  I'VE GOT IDEAS.  I WANT TO WORK  ON 'EM, YOU SEE? I'M TALKING TO YOU NOW, I SHOULD BE MAKING THEM. WHAT AM I DOING TALKING TO YOU NOW WHEN I CAN BE MAKING POTS?  THE ANSWER IS HAVING  THE PASSION AND THE VISION.  NOT KOWTOWING TO FASHION,  STYLE, OR VOGUE. THOSE ARE ALL THINGS I DON'T WANT ANYTHING TO DO WITH.  THE HUMDRUM WORLD OF BANALITY,  OF MANUFACTURED ITEMS, PEOPLE WANT TO GET AWAY FROM THAT.  I THINK THE REASON WHY THIS  PLACE IS SO SUCCESSFUL IS  THERE'S NOTHING ELSE LIKE IT.  THAT MIGHT BE SOMETHING WORTH  CONSIDERING AND COPYING. IT'D BE ORIGINAL, YEAH? THANK YOU, BARRY. THANK YOU. (RAY) BARRY BRICKELL SHOULD JUST BE LIKE A FAIRYTALE OR LIKE "LEMONY SNICKET'S" PART TWO OR SOMETHING LIKE-- (FAWNA) HE'S SORT OF LIKE THE PURE ARTIST, YOU KNOW, WHAT A LOT OF PEOPLE TRY TO BE.  (RAY)  WHEN YOU'RE LIKE,  "WELL, AREN'T YOU WORRIED  "AND WEREN'T YOU SCARED?  WHAT ABOUT WHEN PEOPLE SAID  YOU COULDN'T DO THIS?" HE WAS LIKE, "I WANTED TO MAKE POTS!" AND IT WAS JUST THAT SIMPLE.  YOU KNOW, THAT'S ALL IT WAS  IS "I WANTED TO MAKE POTS."  AND I FELT LIKE IF  YOU'RE GOING TO BE DISCOURAGED  BY WHAT SOMEBODY SAYS ABOUT  SOMETHING THAT YOU LOVE TO DO,  IS IT REALLY YOUR PASSION? OKAY RAY, CAN YOU GIVE ME A--OKAY, GAS ON THE VERY RIGHT. (RAY) IT'S JUST LIKE A CAR. YEAH, BUT I HAVEN'T DRIVEN IN A LONG TIME. WHERE'S THE CLUTCH? I CAN'T EVEN FEEL IT. IS IT HARD? [LAUGHING]  ♪ LOOKING OUT THE WINDOW  ONTO FAIRBANK STREET ♪  ♪ WIFE ON THE COUCH  AND CHILDREN AT MY FEET ♪  ♪ NEVER THOUGHT OF MYSELF  AS A FATHER-- ♪ (FAWNA) AND WE'VE STALLED.  (ALLISON)  WHY DID I STALL?  SORRY, GUYS.  (FEMALE)  WHEN YOU'RE IN THE ZONE,  IT'S THE GREATEST MOMENT,  I THINK, WHEN ALL YOU CAN  THINK ABOUT IS THAT MOMENT AND ALL THAT MATTERS IS THAT MOMENT.  SOMETIMES IT HAPPENS  WHEN I'M INSTRUCTING  AND I'M HELPING SOMEBODY  AND I JUST COMPLETELY  GET FOCUSED ON A PERSON  AND THE HORSE.  SO WHEN I'M WORKING WITH A  HORSE OR PLAYING WITH A HORSE, ALL THAT MATTERS IS THAT MOMENT HERE AND NOW. AND THAT IS THE MOST FULFILLING. THAT'S THE COOLEST THING IN THE WORLD. ALRIGHT, GUYS, NICE MEETING YOU. GOOD LUCK. ♪♪  ♪ IN THE BACKYARD,  I HAVE A CHERRY TREE ♪ ♪ WHEN I WAS YOUNG, YOU CLIMBED TO THE TOP WITH ME ♪  (MALE)  HEY!  HOW YOU GOING? THIS IS NOAH. WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE, NOAH? ASK NIC WHAT BROUGHT HER TO GISBORNE. WHAT BROUGHT YOU TO GISBORNE? I WAS SICK OF BEING SINGLE, AND I TOLD MY MUM, "I'M OFF TO GISBORNE TO MEET MR. RIGHT AND HE'LL BE A WINEMAKER." AND IT'S A TRUE STORY. AND SO, 16 DAYS AFTER I ARRIVED, I MEET GEOFF, WHO WAS MR. RIGHT AND HE WAS A WINEMAKER. (ALL) WOW. BUT IN THE VISION, IT WAS LIKE AN ESTABLISHED FAMILY VINEYARD, WHICH I DIDN'T HAVE TO DO ANY WORK IN. [LAUGHING] ♪♪ I LIVED OUT OF A SUITCASE FOR 10 YEARS UNTIL I CAME TO GISBORNE, AND I FINALLY UNPACKED. AND IT WAS--YEAH, I MOVED. I LIVED IN THE COOK ISLANDS, AND I WAS AN ACCOUNTANT, I WAS A LAWYER, I JUST KEPT JUMPING AROUND. AND IT WASN'T UNTIL I STOOD STILL, AFTER I MET GEOFF, IT WAS LIKE, "OH, YEAH, THIS IS--" IT WAS THERE ALL THE TIME 'CAUSE YOU'RE SEARCHING FOR SOMETHING, BUT THE ANSWER'S ACTUALLY YOU.  I THINK MAINLY HERE NOW,  IT'S A COMBINATION OF DREAMS BETWEEN GEOFF AND I. HE WAS THE REAL VISIONARY. HE'S THE ONE THAT SAID, "I WANT A VINEYARD.  I WANT TO MAKE  MY OWN WINE."  (GEOFF)  YOU KNOW, I WAS,  YOU KNOW, QUALIFIED AS  A CHARTERED ACCOUNTANT  AND I WAS WORKING IN THAT ENVIRONMENT AND JUST SOMETHING DIDN'T FEEL RIGHT, YOU KNOW? AND SO THEN, I WAS INTERESTED IN WINE AND THEN SORT OF THOUGHT, "JEEPERS, YOU KNOW, "WOULDN'T IT BE AMAZING ONE DAY TO, YOU KNOW, "HAVE YOUR OWN VINEYARD, MAKE YOUR OWN WINE  AND LIVE OFF THE LAND?"  AND I THOUGHT,  WELL, WHAT AM I HERE,  TO WORK IN A JOB I'M GOING  TO MOAN ABOUT, YOU KNOW,  MONDAY TO FRIDAY,  OR GRASP THE LIFE THAT I HAVE AND GET OUT THERE AND GIVIN' IT MY BEST SHOT? SO, WE'VE COME TOGETHER AND WE, YOU KNOW, SHARE  SOME OF THOSE SAME DREAMS  AND ARE WORKING TOWARDS IT.  (NICOLA)  AND BEING A TEAM HAS  DEFINITELY HELPED, I THINK,  'CAUSE USUALLY ONE OF US  IS PRETTY REASONABLE AND RESPONSIBLE AT ONE TIME, AREN'T WE? AND THE OTHER ONE'S KIND OF GOING, "OH, THIS IS JUST NEVER GOING TO WORK." SO, I THINK THE STRESS IS TEAM WORK AND YOU JUST-- DETERMINATION, GEOFF IS REALLY STUBBORN. (RAY) WHAT WAS LIKE THE VERY FOUNDATION WHERE YOU FIRST STARTED?  (GEOFF)  UP ON THAT HILL ACTUALLY.  THAT WAS  THE FIRST ONE WE DID.  ME AND MY WIFE, WE THOUGHT  MAYBE WE'LL PLANT GRAPES  ON THE HILL.  AND SO, WE JUST STARTED  WITH A SPADE  AND WE JUST DUG IT OUT.  YEAH, IT WAS  A BIG JOB THOUGH.  I REMEMBER, ONE DAY,  I WAS QUITE UPSET. WE'RE WORKING ON THIS HILL DOWN THERE AND NIC GOES, "MAN, MAYBE WE SHOULD SELL THIS PLACE." AND WE'RE NEARLY THERE, YOU KNOW?  (NICOLA)  IT'S SO EASY  TO BE IMPATIENT,  BUT YOU'VE JUST GOT TO ENJOY  WHERE YOU'RE AT,  WHICH I THINK IS  THE HARDEST THING.  YOU KNOW, THERE'S A SAYING,  "YOU'RE A HUMAN BEING,  NOT A HUMAN DOING."  (GEOFF)  AND ONE THING THAT I'VE  NEVER FORGOTTEN, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES YOU'VE GOT A VISION AND A DREAM AND IT SEEMS SO FAR AWAY, LIKE WAY UP IN THOSE HILLS.  BUT IF YOU,  EVERY DAY, YOU KNOW,  YOU JUST TAKE ONE STEP CLOSER  TO ACHIEVING IT EVERY DAY,  EVEN IF SOMETHING'S OFF COURSE  BUT YOU'RE STILL GETTING  ONE STEP CLOSER,  YOU KNOW? OVER TIME, YOU'LL GET ONTO THAT HILL. YOU KNOW, MY DAD USED TO SAY THIS. YOU KNOW, I USED TO HEAR HIM AT NIGHT SOMETIMES. YOU KNOW, HE'S TALKING TO HIS WIFE, "YOU STOPPED ME FROM, YOU KNOW, BEING THIS BECAUSE OF THIS." AND IT'S LIKE--YOU KNOW, FOR ME, IT'S LIKE, YOU KNOW,  I NEVER WANT TO LOOK  BACK ON MY LIFE AND GO,  "I WISH I'D DONE THIS." IT'S LIKE, YOU KNOW, IF I WISH I'D DONE SOMETHING, THEN I'M GOING TO DO IT. WHAT ARE YOU GUYS DOING FOR LUNCH? YOU SHOULD COME AROUND TO OUR PLACE FOR LUNCH IN TOWN BEFORE YOU GO OFF, IF YOU'VE GOT TIME. THAT'D BE TERRIFIC. OH, THIS IS ENOUGH WORK FOR TODAY, JEEPERS.  (ALLISON)  I THINK JUST SEEING  THEIR WHOLE PRODUCTION, THEIR FAMILY AND THEIR LIFESTYLE AND THEIR FARM AND THEIR DREAMS ALL COMING TRUE, JUST SEEING THAT IN ADDITION TO THE INTERVIEW  WAS REALLY MEANINGFUL FOR ME  BECAUSE THEY REALLY DO LIVE  BY WHAT THEY SAY.  AND THAT MAKES IT A LOT MORE  BELIEVABLE THAN SOMEONE  YOU SHAKE HANDS WITH SITTING  IN AN OFFICE FOR AN HOUR,  TALK TO AND THEN LEAVE.  YOU CAN REALLY TELL  THAT THEY'RE LIVING OUT  WHAT THEY SAY THEY LIVE OUT,  AND THAT'S--I DON'T KNOW, IT'S JUST PROOF THAT PEOPLE ARE DOING THIS AND NOT JUST SAYING THAT TO US TO MOTIVATE US.  ♪ NOTHING LIKE  GOOD TIMES ♪  ♪ IT'S JUST  THE WAY WE ROLL-- ♪  (ALLISON)  THIS IS THE FIRST PLACE IN  THE WORLD THAT THE SUN RISES,  SO I'M STAYING UP ALL NIGHT  SO I DON'T MISS THAT.  ♪ NOISY BIRDS,  NOISY BIRDS ♪  ♪ SINGING AT  THE BREAK OF DAWN ♪ (FAWNA) IT'S INTERESTING TO THINK ABOUT THAT EVERY DAY YOU COULD CHANGE YOUR ENTIRE LIFE COMPLETELY, AND IT'S TRUE IF YOU THINK ABOUT EVERY SINGLE DAY FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE. I MEAN SO MANY THINGS CAN HAPPEN TO YOU, AND IT'S SUCH A GOOD WAY TO THINK ABOUT EACH DAY, YOU KNOW, EVERY DAY IS ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY. EVERY DAY IS A CHANCE TO START OVER AGAIN, AND I GUESS IT'S KIND OF REFRESHING TO HEAR THAT BECAUSE IT KIND OF GIVES YOURSELF LIKE A RESTART BUTTON EVERY DAY, WHICH IS NICE.  ♪ THESE NOISY BIRDS  GOT IT ALL WRONG ♪  ♪ YOU GOTTA HANG  YOUR HEAD LIKE ME ♪♪  (ANNOUNCER)  "ROADTRIP NATION"  EXTENDS BEYOND THE PROGRAM  YOU JUST WATCHED.  IT'S A MOVEMENT THAT EMPOWERS  OTHERS TO CREATE THEIR OWN  ROADTRIP EXPERIENCES.  HERE'S A QUICK SNAPSHOT  INTO THAT MOVEMENT.  (FEMALE)  I'M FINISHING MY PH.D.  AND I SPENT A DECADE IN SCHOOL  TO DISCOVER THAT I DIDN'T REALLY WANT TO DO WHAT I WAS SUPPOSED TO DO WITH MY SCHOOLING. (FEMALE) I CAME ON THIS ROADTRIP TO FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH THE FACT THAT I DON'T NEED TO COMMIT TO SOMETHING RIGHT AWAY. ♪ I, ALIENS ASIDE ♪ ♪ SURLY, SOFT,  FOCUSED LIGHT ♪ (MALE) IF YOU'RE DOING SOMETHING THAT YOU LOVE, YOU'LL MOST LIKELY BE BETTER AT IT THAN OTHER PEOPLE. IF YOU REALLY LOVE AND INSPIRED BY SOMETHING, YOU MAY NOT MAKE MUCH MONEY IN THE BEGINNING. I MADE, I THINK, $8,000 A YEAR WHEN I STARTED IN THIS FIELD. OF COURSE, TO ME, I WAS LIVING IN A LITTLE LOG CABIN IN MEIGS COUNTY. ME AND MY WIFE, WE THOUGHT WE HIT THE BIG JACKPOT AT $8,000. PEOPLE TOO MANY TIMES CHASE THE DOLLAR. JUST DO WHAT YOU LOVE AND THE MONEY WILL FOLLOW. PEOPLE WHO DON'T LOVE THEIR JOBS DON'T PUT THE TIME AND ENERGY INTO IT TO BE REALLY GOOD AT IT. SO IF YOU'RE DOING SOMETHING YOU LOVE, YOU'RE GOING TO GET REALLY GOOD AT IT. AND WHEN YOU'RE REALLY GOOD AT SOMETHING, OTHER PEOPLE NOTICE AND THEY DON'T WANT YOU TO GO AWAY AND THEY PAY YOU. AND SO, THE REWARD COMES. IT MAY TAKE A LITTLE LONGER TO GET THERE, BUT THAT'S A MUCH BETTER WAY TO LIVE OVER THE LONG HAUL. SO, I WOULD ASK PEOPLE, "WHAT INSPIRES YOU?"  (ALLISON)  IT'S BEEN SUCH A JOURNEY  SO FAR AND LIKE  WE STILL HAVE 10 DAYS. (MALE) YEAH, WE'RE ONLY HERE FOR WHAT, 90 YEARS OR SOMETHING? AND ENJOYING WHAT YOU DO, I THINK, IS SO IMPORTANT.  (ALLISON)  I THINK I'M TAKING A LITTLE  BIT AWAY FROM EVERYTHING. (MALE) I'VE ONLY EVEN SCRATCHED THE SURFACE OF WHAT A DOUBLE AMPUTEE CAN EVEN DO. SO, HOW CAN ANYONE ELSE KNOW?  (MALE)  I DIDN'T REALIZE HOW FAST  MY WHOLE LIFE WAS  UNTIL YOU HAVE TO STOP.  AND THEN WHEN YOU GET TO  STARTING IT, YOU JUST GO POW!  (ANNOUNCER)  CHECK OUT MORE ADVENTURES  AND INTERVIEWS FROM THE ROAD.  VISIT ROADTRIPNATION.COM.  ONLINE YOU CAN APPLY TO TAKE  A ROAD TRIP OF YOUR OWN  OR BRING "ROADTRIP NATION"  INTO YOUR CLASSROOM.  THE "ROADTRIP NATION"  SERIES IS AVAILABLE ON DVD  FOR $32.99 PLUS SHIPPING.  TO ORDER CALL THE PHONE NUMBER  ON YOUR SCREEN OR VISIT  ROADTRIPNATION.COM/STORE. ♪♪  ♪ WE WATCHED IT ALL  IN DISBELIEF ♪  ♪ AT THE TRAIN STATION  ON CHRISTMAS EVE ♪  ♪ A TRAGIC TALE,  A GRUESOME SCENE ♪  ♪ A BITTER END FOR  THE CHIEF OF POLICE ♪  ♪ IT WAS A BLESSING  AND A CURSE ♪♪ 

<p>The team visits a Maori museum and executive chef Kate Fay before interviewing dub and hip-hop musician Tiki Taane. On the way to Coromandel, the team interviews potter and railway engineer Barry Brickell, and horse trainer Tina Fagan. Finally, they head to Gisborne, where they spend time with organic winemakers Geoff & Nicola Wright.</p>

Auckland - Gisborne

I started making pottery age 14. Right through university and school days, I was making pots and I'm not a very good academic. But I was told by my mother and father, I've got to get a degree from the University so that I can have a successful career. I didn't want that. I wanted to be a potter, make pots. My father was horrified and shocked. You'll never be able to bring up a family, have a nice wife and give me lots of grandchildren if you're gonna be a potter. I said, I don't want a nice wife. I don't want to make lots of grand children for you. I was to make pots. [LAUGH] [MUSIC] >> You mentioned your dad wanted you to go off to university and, like do you ever feel pressure with that? >> Oh, I felt the pressure, all right. Oh, yes, yes, dear oh dear. I went through Hell when I was your age trying to retain my own life. I got my degree and decided to be a school teacher, you see. But I hated the job, and I didn't even last a year. >> [LAUGH] >> I resigned to become a potter in little town like this in Coromandel. You see, I use to go round in rags, I obviously didn't have much money. The local people said, Barry, you're an educated man, if you go back to teaching you don't need to live like this. I said I prefer to live like this, I'm free. I don't have wear suits and ties and shoes and socks and that stuff. >> [LAUGH] >> I had a blast and I enjoyed it. My other interest was railways. I've always been fascinated by the beauty of railways. Not just trains, the way a railway curves through the landscape you see. So I said to myself, I've got to buy some land to build a real railway on it. [SOUND] And everybody said I was mad, my father, my accountant, my bank manager. They said, how stupid. It's gonna cost you a vast amount of money and just for a toy train. I mean you really can't capture this. >> So I wasted as much money as I could buying rails and timber and steel beams for bridges and stuff like that. That was daunting. I had did it. Why don't you stick your head in. Yep early in the morning, a couple of hours before breakfast or hard manual labor. Just try and spend the day in the studio, in the evening, I'll take a bottle of wine and some cheese up there and get cracking and do some more shuffling. >> [LAUGH] >> You'll see it's quite a lot of empty wine bottle up the line. >> [LAUGH] >> And people would arrive in their drove, wanting a train ride. We couldn't fit them on, you had to wait for an hour, two hours, three hours. I had to drive trains and make pots and do these commissions all at once. So I've got four drivers now, I don't have to drive any trains. I can now stay here in my asylum. >> [LAUGH] >> My studio and makes pots and sculptures and things like that, and do paintings, which is was what I wanted to do. And my father unfortunately, who's upstairs in heaven down, up there or underground, where ever, if he could see this setup now. He'd do a double take, wouldn't he? [LAUGH] >> Oh my gosh. Oh my gosh, I was gonna fly. >> I haven't made anything like what I want to make yet. I've got ideas I want to work on them, you see. I'm talking to you now, I should be making them. >> [LAUGH] >> What am I doing talking to you now when I could be making pots? [LAUGH] >> The answer is having a passion. And the vision. Not kowtowing to fashion, style, or vogue. Those are the things I don't want anything to do with, the humdrum world of banality, of manufactured items. People want to get away from that. I think the reason why this place is so successful is there is nothing else like it. That might be something worth considering. [MUSIC] Don't copy, be original here. [MUSIC] 

Family

Hard Work

Individualism

Money & Financial Security

Negativity

Passion

Pressure

Interview

[Barry] [New Zealand accent] I started making pottery at age 14. Right through university. In my school days I was making pots. And I...was, I'm not a very good academic, but I was told by my mother and father I've got to get a degree from the university so that I can have a successful career. I didn't want that. I wanted to be a potter, make pots. And my father was horrified and shocked. He said, "Oh, you're never gonna bring up a family, "have a nice wife, give me lots of grandchildren if "you're only gonna be a potter." I said, "I don't want "a nice wife, I don't want to make lots of grandchildren for you, I want to make pots." [laughs] The answer is having the passion and the vision. Not kowtowing to fashion, style, or vogue. Those are the things I don't want anything to do with. 

Barry Brickell

Potter/Railway Engineer

Videos

Barry Brickell

Milestones

Education

Career

Career Roadmap

My work combines:

My work combines:

Art

Engineering

Building Things

Interviewed By

Falling Forward