Introduction - Why should anyone listen to me?

Why should anyone listen to me?

You shouldn’t…. and you should…

I’ve adventured through the corporate and small business worlds over 20 years. I’ve chased the dreams, skipped up and slipped down the career-ladder. I’ve been an institutional misfit and a shining example of the ‘company man’. I’ve been told I’ve achieved ‘career success’, but have been well and truly humbled by my own failings…

Success - everyone has a definition. Money, power, title, flexibility, values... for the purposes of my comment, career success is:

“Professional progress, in line or quicker than 90% of peers - with professional enjoyment more often than not”. That second phrase matters a lot to me.

Enjoyment, well that’s very personal. I’ve been lucky enough to have fun along the way. Much of the time I’ve been ‘professionally fulfilled’, at others I’ve been resentful and tired from the slog. I’ve survived and benefited from corporate restructuring, global travel and expatriate assignments, the birth of my kid (and the dazed year following) and the inevitable ‘redundancy’. I’ve been in businesses as they grew, plateaued, lost their way and shuddered to a painful stop via the inevitable series of ‘downsizing’ or ‘turnaround’ programs. I’ve been made redundant, promoted, moved sideways, won awards (Industry and Internal), targeted by internal-politicians, slammed in public/social forums. Though this I’ve generally enjoyed myself, met a bunch of fascinating people and still smile most of the day!

By 38 I had my ‘dream job’ on the leadership team of a global multinational business with all the perks and trimmings! I drove a work car, lived in the company villa and traveled the world in first class (on staff tickets). All sounds fantastic - and to be honest I’d be lying if I didn’t also say ‘I bloody loved it’! But then I chose to move home for my family - some things are more important than careers!.

I’ve never dodged a tough assignment and I’ve had some truly fascinating gigs but I’ve also never met a job that couldn’t bore me rigid or become mundane. Over time I’ve found that the more energy and humour I bring to work the more fun I get out of it.

With a smile on my face, and an apology for my language, he’s what I learn along the way....