High Performance Coach - Personal Development Strategist - Developmental Theorist - Published Author

Meet Max:

The Personal Development Strategist Chosen by Industry Leaders

High Performance is a strength, but it's also a double-edged sword.

I am here to ensure it's a gift you embrace, not a burden you bear.

Max Stephens

Hi, I'm Max Stephens.

I know what I do works.

And you'll find no more dedicated to you than me.

I'm a personal development strategist dedicated to helping ambitious individuals make their mark in the world.

Life coaching is surface-level nonsense—it’s motivation without depth, advice without expertise, and structure without strategy.

My work goes far deeper.

I don’t deal in vague positivity or generic frameworks. My work is grounded in extensive research, formal consciousness training, and an integral understanding of human behaviour.

Max Stephens has really helped me grow in confidence, especially when it comes to navigating tough situations. One of the most valuable things I’ve learned from him is how to communicate through civil discourse—staying calm, respectful, and focused on solutions, even when things get challenging. Max has also taught me the importance of compassion. He’s helped me better understand and connect with others, which has made a big difference in both my professional and personal relationships. Honestly, his guidance has been invaluable in shaping how I handle myself and work with others

Dominic Tayco
Managing Director - Thaddeus Martin

Max’s innate ability to connect with people and truly understand the root cause of their behaviour is amazing. His flexibility and willingness to go to places where most coaches fear, sets him apart from the rest. If you want a coach that cuts through the fluff and gets to the root cause with ease and at pace whilst staying present and holding the space, Max is your man! If you are an athlete, CEO, high performer or someone creative, Max can definitely help you with any area of life. Everything he teaches and the tools he provides transcends any normal coaching session.

Craig Jervis
Property Investor - Freedom Property Investors

I have worked with Max extensively as a high-level performance coach, but his input as an Ontological coach has been his most important role in our family. Max has an amazing ability to listen, and to summarize what you are thinking. Sometimes hearing your thoughts read back to you is all you need for clarity. If needed, Max will then carefully guide you toward your decision. He will not make the decision for you, but rather, give you the mindset and confidence to make this decision. If we were to begin this journey again, Max would be in our team from the beginning and he will continue to help our family into the future.

Jason Jones
International Airline Pilot - Virgin Australia

Max Stephens' comprehensive coaching programs

Your journey is unique.

Here are three ways we can work together:

What No One Talks About:

High performers are NOT happy. Common symptoms that are always reported to me in my work are:

Deep Discontent

Crazy Imposter Syndrome

Highly Strained Relationships

Not to mention, they have almost no one to turn to...

How I work

I don’t follow formulas. I don’t do surface-level coaching.

I design every engagement based on YOU.

Data driven insights.

Full access + On-call support

We go way beyond "goal-setting."

Max Stephens

Vision

I believe in a world where human beings operate at a higher level of consciousness, decision-making, and mastery.

Everything they seek is already within you, that the "kingdom of heaven" is not external, but a restructuring of their own psychological architecture.

When individuals wake up to this, they stop chasing external validation, shallow achievements, or predefined paths and start operating from true self-mastery.

This shift doesn’t just change one life, it transforms entire systems.

Mission

My mission is to wake up the world’s greatest thinkers to this truth.

Transformation isn’t an isolated event, it ripples outward. Scientifically, the impact that we have on others spreads through 3 to 5 degrees of separation, affecting entire ecosystems.

This is why I don’t just work with anyone.
I work with leaders, visionaries, and innovators, people whose transformations don’t just improve their own lives, but permeate through their industries, communities, and missions.

Through deep thinking partnerships, my work is to restructure the thinking of those who shape the world, so they don’t just play bigger games, they create new ones for the rest of the world.

Max Stephens

UNIQUE DIFFERENCES

My work integrates hundreds of perspectives philosophy, psychology, and performance science to upgrade clients' entire mental framework.

I work with industry leaders all over the world who operate at the highest levels. My approach is battle-tested in the real world.

Every engagement is custom-built. I don’t follow trends, I don’t use templates, and I don’t believe in surface-level coaching. This is deep, strategic, and tailored to you.

"The greatest risk isn’t failure. It’s stagnation. And stagnation is the slowest form of death."

MAX STEPHENS

Your biggest challenge isn’t external. It’s the way you think. High performers don’t need motivation; they need a sharper lens to see reality. My life's work is about solving this problem.

Max’s innate ability to connect with people and truly understand the root cause of their behaviour is amazing. His flexibility and willingness to go to places where most coaches fear, sets him apart from the rest. If you want a coach that cuts through the fluff and gets to the root cause with ease and at pace whilst staying present and holding the space, Max is your man! If you are an athlete, CEO, high performer or someone creative, Max can definitely help you with any area of life. Everything he teaches and the tools he provides transcends any normal coaching session.

Craig Jervis
Property Investor - Freedom Property Investors

Max has a preternatural balance of intelligence and heart. He listens carefully and prepares a program tailored to your goals and quirks. He studies your words, phrases, choices of response and finds references and language that is tailored exactly to effect growth and change.

Michael Rymer
Film Maker - Battlestar Gallactica, Hannibal, American Horror Story, etc.

Max is skilful in helping people to shape and articulate their thoughts and feelings in a way that promotes constructive perspective and reflection. It has been invaluable to have Max provide an objective view and sounding board. He can handle delicate topics and certainly promotes self-awareness in his clients. I particularly like the way Max is focused on measurable outcomes.

Simon Mills
Executive Director - Morgan & Stanley

WHY YOU SHOULD WORK WITH ME:

Show me a “life coach” who isn’t an ex-corporate or ex-athlete burnout.
Show me one with deep research, real-world results, and a track record of working with top industry leaders.

I have over a decade of experience in high-performance coaching, a background in deep philosophical study, and a level of expertise most "life coaches" won’t touch.

Beyond coaching, I’m a guest university lecturer, researcher, and strategist, helping some of the world’s most driven individuals sharpen their thinking.

This isn’t about generic self-improvement.
This is about mastery.

Certified Ontological Coach from Talking ABOUT Pty Ltd from the previously accredited Australia & New Zealand Institute of Coaches (ANZI).

Practitioner & Masters in Neuro-Linguistic Programming certified by The Complimentary Therapists Association.

Accredited Diploma in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy certified by The International Association Of Therapists.

Accredited Diploma In Professional Psychotherapy certified by The Complimentary Therapists Association.

Accredited Diploma in Sports Psychology certified by The Virtued Academy International.

Federation University Guest Lecturer in Personal Development

Training in Core Concepts in Systems Thinking from Systems Innovation Pty Ltd.

Author of 'What The F*ck Do You Really Want - The No-Nonsense Guide To Finding a Life With Purpose' (Released June 1st, 2025)

100+ Research Articles Published on Personal Development for High Performers.

6000+ Hours Of Meditation & Formal Consciousness Training.

Bachelor of Arts - Focus on Narrative, Human Storytelling, and Creative Performance.

Masters in Philosophy of Human Rights (Candidate) – Focus on Meaning, Systems of Power, and Collective Human Potential.

Questions?

Extraordinary praise
from extraordinary people

We have had the pleasure of working with Max for the past 18 months. During this time we made some bold family decisions, home school our children, continue to grow and contribute to two growing companies remotely, move to Manly Beach Sydney, and expand our accommodation company which our daughters have had full emersion in from the onset, we encourage a business and entrepreneurial mindset, a customized process of learning business and relish in the abundance of questions of what they show individually show interest to. It’s been a beautiful experience and quite daunting at times, it’s been a process of elimination for what feels right for the family and what we are about and seeking moving forward. It has been a pleasure to share with Max and somewhat parallels with his coaching practice, business decisions we are making, and decisions to work with Max. One of our family values at the forefront is having deep meaningful relationships and the opportunity of time, conversations, and many questions. This is something we have come to experience with Max and respect and admire. We always look forward to a mutual relationship where we all grow and contribute to one another. We are firm believers that the right people turn up at the right times. A quote within the family and our business at the moment is, ‘When the student is ready the teacher appears’. Max has an innate ability to ask great questions and gives firm honest opinions also.  An attribute that we admire and respect very much. Max needs to be on your team. It has been an awesome experience that is only just scratching the surface!

Ben Tindall
Founding Director - Follo & Villager Property

Max’s innate ability to connect with people and truly understand the root cause of their behaviour is amazing. His flexibility and willingness to go to places where most coaches fear, sets him apart from the rest. If you want a coach that cuts through the fluff and gets to the root cause with ease and at pace whilst staying present and holding the space, Max is your man! If you are an athlete, CEO, high performer or someone creative, Max can definitely help you with any area of life. Everything he teaches and the tools he provides transcends any normal coaching session.

Craig Jervis
Property Investor - Freedom Property Investors

I’ve known and worked with Max for many years. I’ve deeply appreciated his consistency and tailored support of my family. He has a great natural sense of reading people’s mind and seeing what’s behind the conversation between us and him. He has the strength of capturing the small details that might affect largely to the issues, as well as getting down to the central point of problems straight away which makes his coaching very effective and efficient. He has supported both me and my sons in our development and always makes himself available to us whenever we have needed. I’m very grateful for all of Max’s coaching and see myself working with him indefinitely.

Henry He
Chief Executive Officer - Medigate Medical Supplies

Craft A profound life.

Are you seeking Self Mastery?

Book a free private consultation.

What happens on this call?

✔ We’ll get straight to the heart of what you truly want.
✔ You'll experience deep insight as to what is holding you back.
✔ If we’re the right fit, we can talk about working together. If not, you’ll still walk away sharper.

Let’s have a conversation.

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