Guiding You to Your version 2.0
Hi, I’m Mark Tredway, Your Certified Coach and Hypnotherapist
My Story – From Broke in Johannesburg to Paying It Forward
Growing up in Johannesburg, I was that kid bouncing between homes, hitting 13 different schools, and fighting off bullies, until karate gave me my first win, a black belt and regional gold.
At 17, I was broke, ambitious as hell, but totally lost. I found a life coach who could’ve changed everything, but he said, “Pay upfront first.”
I had nothing, how could I pay for a coach???
Years of scraping by dragged on until I discovered The Law of Attraction, and it hit me like lightning—it stopped me blaming the world and flipped my mindset.
Then The Richest Man in Babylon cracked open money’s code.
Mixing that with Law of Attraction and devouring books on leadership, influence, and discipline, I broke free from South Africa, landed in Europe, bought my own home, became 100% debt-free, and built real financial freedom.
I’ve walked your path, the hunger, the roadblocks, the breakthroughs.
Now I’m paying it forward through 12 Forge, helping underprivileged youth like you become the leaders you’re meant to be with the exact tools that transformed me.
FOR FREE - No Strings Attached
12 Forge – Complete Course Overview & Core Principles Guide
Program Purpose & Vision
12 Forge is a 12-week, pro bono leadership and career-readiness program for underprivileged but high-potential young people.
Purpose:
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To transform overlooked, under-resourced youth into confident, employable, values-driven leaders.
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To bridge the gap between raw potential and workplace readiness.
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To create a reliable, work-ready talent pipeline for employers who care about social mobility and diversity.
Core Outcomes for Students:
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A forged identity: from “I hope” to “I take ownership.”
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Practical business literacy and understanding of how organisations work.
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Leadership presence, communication skills, and emotional intelligence.
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Interview mastery, salary negotiation confidence, and a 5-year career roadmap.
Core Outcomes for Partners:
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Access to a curated pool of motivated, pre-trained entry-level talent.
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Authentic social impact aligned with DEI/ESG goals.
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Opportunities for staff to mentor, guest speak, and develop their own leadership.
Structure at a Glance
Duration: 12 weeks
Format: 1 x 90-minute group sessions per week (11 lessons total) + individual RTT/coaching in Weeks 1, 5, and 9.
Cohort Size: Designed for small, high-touch groups (e.g., 10 students).
Pillars: Mindset & Identity, Business Literacy, Leadership Presence & Career Readiness.
Mini-Course Library: Each week includes a supplementary 2-4 page mini-course based on classic leadership and personal development books, assigned as homework to reinforce weekly themes.
The curriculum is organised into three phases:
Phase 1 – Foundation & Inner Transformation (Weeks 1–4)
Week 1 – Individual RTT & Coaching
Focus: Deep belief work and personal blocks.
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One-to-one RTT/hypnotherapy and coaching sessions.
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Identify limiting beliefs around worth, success, money, and opportunity.
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Begin reprogramming towards ownership, confidence, and possibility.
Mini-Course: The Power of Now – Presence & Emotional Mastery
Why this mini-course: Students are doing deep inner work and need tools to manage their thoughts and emotions. The Power of Now teaches them to observe their limiting beliefs without being controlled by them, complementing RTT by helping students stay present during their transformation.
Purpose for business: Students start the program with a cleaner mental slate and a stronger sense of self, which increases coachability and resilience.
Week 2.1 – Introduction to the Law of Attraction
Summary:
- Introduces the Law of Attraction in practical, grounded terms.
- Students explore how thoughts, emotions, and actions shape outcomes.
- Exercises help them notice current patterns of thinking (scarcity vs. possibility).
- They begin crafting a simple personal vision and daily practices (gratitude, visualisation).
Why it matters: Builds a foundation of agency and responsibility: students see themselves as active creators, not passive victims of circumstance.
Week 2.2 – Advanced Law of Attraction & Vision Mapping
Summary:
- Deepens the Law of Attraction work into concrete vision mapping.
- Students design a 3–5 year life vision across key domains (career, finances, relationships, health).
- They translate this into near-term goals and daily habits.
- Emphasis on alignment: thoughts, words, and behaviours pointing in the same direction.
Mini-Course: Think and Grow Rich – Desire & Purpose
Why this mini-course: Perfectly aligns with Law of Attraction principles. Teaches the power of burning desire and definiteness of purpose, reinforcing vision mapping with Napoleon Hill’s philosophy. Students learn that thoughts become things when combined with purpose and action.
Why it matters: Students learn to articulate a clear future and connect their current role to long-term growth.
Week 3.1 – Digital Discipline & The Attention Crisis
Summary:
- Explores how constant notifications, social media, and distraction erode focus and performance.
- Students audit their current digital habits and attention leaks.
- Introduces simple tools: screen-time limits, focus blocks, notification management.
Why it matters: Increases reliability and productivity; students learn to manage their attention in a digital-first workplace.
Week 3.2 – The 5 AM Challenge & Elite Morning Routines
Summary:
- Presents the concept of an “elite morning” (not necessarily 5 AM, but intentional).
- Students design a realistic morning routine that supports energy, focus, and discipline.
- Emphasis on small, consistent habits rather than perfection.
Mini-Course: The Compound Effect – Discipline & Consistency
Why this mini-course: Reinforces the importance of small, daily disciplines. Shows how morning routines compound into massive results over time. Teaches tracking and accountability systems, complementing the 5 AM Challenge with the science of consistency.
Why it matters: Builds consistency and self-leadership—traits employers value in any role.
Week 4.1 – Digital Discipline & Attention Management
Summary:
- Builds on Week 3 by introducing time-blocking, MITs (Most Important Tasks), and deep work.
- Students learn to prioritise, plan their week, and protect focus time.
- Practical exercises in scheduling and saying “no” to low-value activities.
Why it matters: Students become more organised, punctual, and able to manage workloads.
Week 4.2 – Building Elite Habits & The Power of Consistency
Summary:
- Introduces habit stacking and the “1% better each day” principle.
- Students identify keystone habits that will move their life and career forward.
- They create simple tracking systems and accountability commitments.
Mini-Course: Atomic Habits – Habit Formation & Execution
Why this mini-course: Perfect alignment—this is exactly what the week is about. Provides the 4 Laws of Behavior Change framework. Teaches habit stacking, the 2-Minute Rule, and environment design. Gives students a complete system for building and tracking habits.
Why it matters: Employers receive candidates who understand discipline, follow-through, and incremental improvement
Phase 2 – Business Literacy & Strategic Thinking (Weeks 5–8)
Week 5 – Individual Coaching + Group Sessions
Alongside individual coaching in Week 5, students begin structured business literacy.
Week 5.1 – Introduction to Business Thinking & The Language of Success
Summary:
- Demystifies how businesses work and make money.
- Introduces basic concepts: value creation, customers, revenue, costs, profit.
- Students learn key business terms so they can follow conversations in the workplace.
Why it matters: Reduces intimidation and helps students integrate quickly into professional environments.
Week 5.2 – Business Functions & How Organisations Work
Summary:
- Explains core functions: sales, marketing, operations, finance, HR, customer service.
- Shows how these departments interact to deliver value.
- Students explore where their strengths and interests might fit.
Mini-Course: The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People – Personal Leadership
Why this mini-course: Bridges personal leadership with professional effectiveness. Teaches proactive thinking and prioritization (critical for business). “Begin with the end in mind” aligns with strategic business thinking. “Think win-win” prepares students for workplace collaboration.
Why it matters: Students can see real career paths and understand how their role contributes to the bigger picture.
Week 6.1 – Financial Literacy – Understanding Money in Business
Summary:
- Introduces simple financial statements (revenue, costs, profit).
- Explains concepts like margin, cash flow, and ROI in plain language.
- Connects personal financial habits to professional responsibility.
Why it matters: Builds financially literate employees who respect budgets, targets, and commercial realities.
Week 6.2 – Strategic Thinking & Problem-Solving Frameworks
Summary:
- Teaches structured thinking tools: SWOT, root-cause analysis, simple decision frameworks.
- Students practice breaking down messy problems into clear, solvable parts.
- Emphasis on proactive problem-solving rather than waiting for instructions.
Mini-Course: The Richest Man in Babylon – Money Principles
Why this mini-course: Teaches timeless money principles (pay yourself first, make money work for you). Complements business financial literacy with personal financial wisdom. Simple, story-based lessons that reinforce Week 6’s concepts. Students learn both business AND personal money management.
Why it matters: Employers gain junior talent who can think, not just execute tasks.
Week 7.1 – Professional Communication & Executive Presence
Summary:
- Focus on body language, tone, and clarity in professional settings.
- Role-plays: introductions, meetings, speaking up respectfully.
- Students learn how to “command the room” without arrogance.
Why it matters: Directly improves how students show up in interviews, meetings, and client interactions.
Week 7.2 – Personal Branding & Professional Networking
Summary:
- Students craft a personal brand statement and simple “elevator pitch.”
- Learn the basics of LinkedIn and professional online presence.
- Practice networking principles: give first, follow up, stay in touch.
Mini-Course: How to Win Friends and Influence People – Influence & Relationships
Why this mini-course: Perfect for networking and relationship-building. Teaches how to make people like you, win them to your thinking, and be a leader. Reinforces professional communication with Dale Carnegie’s timeless principles. Complements personal branding with authentic influence strategies.
Why it matters: Helps students build social capital and relationships that lead to opportunities.
Week 8.1 – Strategic Thinking & Problem-Solving Frameworks (Reinforcement)
Summary:
- Reinforces and deepens strategic thinking skills.
- More complex scenarios and group problem-solving exercises.
- Students practice presenting their thinking clearly.
Why it matters: Consolidates critical thinking, a key differentiator for entry-level hires.
Week 8.2 – Negotiation, Influence & Persuasion Mastery
Summary:
- Introduces basic negotiation principles and ethical influence.
- Covers how to negotiate respectfully (including salary later in the program).
- Role-plays: asking for clarity, resources, or support without fear.
Mini-Course: Start with Why – Purpose-Driven Leadership
Why this mini-course: Strategic thinking starts with clarity of purpose. “Start with Why” teaches how to communicate vision and inspire action. Complements negotiation by teaching how to influence through shared values. Students learn to lead with purpose, not just tactics.
Why it matters: Students become more confident communicators who can advocate for themselves and collaborate effectively.
Phase 3 – Leadership Presence & Professional Readiness (Weeks 9–12)
Week 9 – Individual Coaching + Leadership Focus
Students receive another round of individual coaching to align their inner work with their emerging leadership style.
Week 9.1 – Building High-Performance Teams & Leadership Culture
Summary:
- Explores what makes teams effective: trust, clarity, accountability.
- Introduces simple models of team development and leadership behaviours.
- Students reflect on how they want to show up in teams.
Why it matters: Graduates enter organisations with a team-first mindset and basic leadership awareness.
Week 9.2 – Emotional Intelligence & Influence
Summary:
- Covers self-awareness, self-management, empathy, and relationship skills.
- Students learn to recognise and manage their emotions under pressure.
- Practice difficult conversations and giving/receiving feedback.
Mini-Course: Leaders Eat Last – Servant Leadership & Team Building
Why this mini-course: Teaches the Circle of Safety and servant leadership. Reinforces emotional intelligence with the biology of trust. Students learn that great leaders put their people first.
Why it matters: Emotional intelligence is a core predictor of long-term success and leadership potential.
Week 10.1 – Professional Communication & Executive Presence
Summary:
- Builds on earlier communication work with more advanced scenarios.
- Students practice leading parts of meetings, presenting ideas, and speaking with confidence.
- Feedback on posture, tone, and clarity.
Why it matters: Partners see candidates who can represent themselves and the organisation professionally.
Week 10.2 – Professional Writing & Digital Communication
Summary:
- Teaches email etiquette, messaging norms, and basic report/summary writing.
- Students practice writing clear, concise, respectful messages.
- Emphasis on reliability: confirming actions, following up, closing the loop.
Mini-Course: Extreme Ownership – Responsibility
Why this mini-course: Executive presence requires taking full ownership of your actions and words. Teaches accountability, leadership under pressure, and no excuses. Complements professional communication with the mindset of a leader. Students learn that true presence comes from owning every situation.
Why it matters: Reduces friction for managers; graduates can communicate clearly in writing from day one.
Week 11.1 – Interview Mastery & The STAR Method
Summary:
- Breaks down common interview formats and questions.
- Teaches the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result).
- Live practice with feedback to build confidence and structure.
Why it matters: Increases the likelihood that graduates perform strongly in partner interviews.
Week 11.2 – Salary Negotiation & Career Strategy
Summary:
- Introduces fair salary research, total compensation, and negotiation basics.
- Teaches students to never give a number first and to negotiate respectfully.
- Connects negotiation to long-term career planning and strategic moves.
Mini-Course: The Obstacle Is the Way – Resilience
Why this mini-course: Interviews and negotiations are high-pressure situations that require resilience. Teaches how to turn obstacles (tough questions, rejections) into opportunities. Reinforces the mindset that challenges are growth opportunities. Students learn to stay calm and confident under pressure.
Why it matters: Graduates enter the workforce informed and confident, reducing exploitation and increasing retention.
Week 12.1 – Your 5-Year Vision & 90-Day Action Plan
Summary:
- Students refine a detailed 5-year life and career vision.
- They reverse-engineer this into a concrete 90-day action plan.
- Includes obstacle planning and accountability structures.
Why it matters: Partners get candidates with direction, not just “looking for any job.”
Week 12.2 – Graduation & Commitment Ceremony
Summary:
- Public commitment to their 90-day goals and identity as leaders.
- Celebration of progress and transformation.
- Introduction to the alumni community and ongoing support.
Mini-Course: Rich Dad Poor Dad – Financial Intelligence
Why this mini-course: Students are planning their future—they need financial intelligence to build wealth. Teaches assets vs. liabilities and making money work for them. Complements career strategy with financial freedom strategy. Ensures students leave the program with both leadership skills AND financial literacy. Perfect closing lesson: “Leaders don’t go broke.”
Why it matters: Reinforces long-term commitment and creates a growing pool of alumni talent for partners to draw from.
Across all 12 weeks, the program is built on a few non-negotiable principles:
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Ownership over Victimhood – Students are guided to move from blame and excuses to responsibility and action.
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Identity First, Strategy Second – We work on who they believe they are before pushing tactics and skills.
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Small, Consistent Actions – Transformation is framed as daily 1% improvements, not overnight change.
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Workplace Reality, Not Theory – Every concept is tied back to how it shows up in real organisations.
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High Expectations + High Support – We hold a high bar while providing coaching, community, and practical tools.
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Mutual Value – The program must work for students and for employers; it is designed as a bridge, not a charity.
Core Principles Underpinning 12 Forge
With 12 Forge, my aim is to:
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Break the cycle where talented young people are excluded simply because they lack guidance, networks, or polish.
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Prove that underprivileged does not mean under-capable – given the right tools, these students can become some of the most loyal, driven, and impactful hires in an organisation.
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Build a repeatable model where each cohort of graduates feeds into real roles, creating a sustainable talent pipeline for employers and a life-changing pathway for students.
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Create an alumni community of forged leaders who support each other, return as mentors, and become living proof that transformation is possible.
What I Hope to Achieve (For Businesses, Mentors & Partners)
For businesses, mentors and partners, this guide is an invitation:
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To help refine and strengthen the curriculum.
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To open doors for internships, apprenticeships, and entry-level roles.
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To co-create a program that doesn’t just talk about social mobility, but delivers it in a structured, measurable way12
Forge is where raw potential is forged into leadership. This overview is designed to show you exactly how we do it, week by week, and why it matters for the young people we serve and the organisations we partner with.
Ready to Transform Lives and Build Your Future Talent Pipeline?
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12 Forge isn't just another youth program—it's a proven system for turning overlooked potential into exceptional talent. Every cohort we run creates a new generation of work-ready, values-driven leaders who are hungry to prove themselves and loyal to the organisations that give them a chance.
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If you're an employer looking for motivated entry-level talent with real leadership potential, a mentor who wants to make a tangible difference, or a partner organisation committed to authentic social mobility, I'd love to explore how we can work together.
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Whether you're interested in hiring graduates, sponsoring a cohort, providing mentorship, or simply learning more about how 12 Forge can support your DEI and social impact goals, let's start a conversation.
For more information or to become a partner:
📧 Email: vip@marktredway.com
📞 Call: +420 722 800 882
Let's forge the next generation of leaders—together.