Introducing Michael Ryan

Hello and welcome to my own LinkedIn Newsletter. I decided to launch a Newsletter to focus on my way of working and the experiences gained over the years as an independent Consultant and lately as a 'Chief Marketing Novice' for Finance Transformation UK.

The other Newsletters for Finance Transformation Consulting and our Consultancy Website Finance Transformation UK will continue separately. You can still Subscribe to both and they will both continue to be regularly updated. The format for this will just be text as all material can be found on the Website.

Why write it? Firstly, because quite simply I have so many ideas, experiences and contacts in the average week that I want an easy way to share them, no fuss, just sit down and type.

Secondly, because like most Irish people to write is quite natural and is the easiest and fastest way for me to share experiences. I also firmly believe after much experimentation that people prefer to read.

Check out my new Podcast website Transform Finance with Michael Ryan

Although I explore Video quite extensively, at the moment, I am still convinced that the average Business Leader will read something before they watch a Video.

Finally, as an Interim Consultant for 12 years and a LinkedIn 'Marketing Novice' for the last 5 years I thought I would share the learnings. There are many nuggets I have picked up along the way and as everyone job hunts, looks for Project support or needs some reassurance to keep going it will all work out in the end, I thought the easiest way to share that is to write it.

I will also highlight the road blocks, the dead ends and the pointless detours you can be side tracked by as you try and build an online Business. I told you 'Chief Marketing Novice' still wearing the L plates, everyday.

I am not going to put endless Links into this, where I name check people or services it won't take you any longer then a 30 second detour to the Search bar to find them, if you really want to, so I will leave that with you.

Do not Subscribe just because of my other Newsletters, be clear on who I am and what I offer before you Click Subscribe.

The basics...I am an Irishman, a Dub and a diehard Man Utd fan with a sense of humour. I should point out I always had the sense of humour the 7 0 at Anfield just reinforced the need for it. But I am still dining out on the 4:3 ;) That will be the only emojis in this Newsletter as they go over the heads of most of 40.

I love Football, GAA and Athletics though in what order can vary with the results. I also am addicted to Politics and Current Affairs but seldom refer to them in any LinkedIn Post.

I have written a Book (fair to middling), hosted Podcasts, being on TV, appeared in the Newspapers, spoken at countless Conferences - I am an introvert but no Irish person can walk past a Microphone, in the 2010 Guinness Book of Records and once stood in the General Election.

I am as you can tell by now independent minded with the 'completer finisher' streak so beloved of behavioural psychologists. When I set out to create a LinkedIn Profile in 2010...I still know today the first 100 Connectors, indeed I still work with one of them.

On a whim in 2015 I decided the create as many Connections as possible, and this probably is the bedrock of the 21K Connections today. That's where it really took off and from which I would say LinkedIn have possibly made that process more of a challenge today. My views on how to do that I will explore later.

I reckon the 21k comprise a balanced mixture of my work, political and sporting obsessions. You are as likely to find Olympic Champions or MEP's as you are CFO's so you are in good company. The Great & the Good are all to be found close by.

The background. I started as an Accountant, ACMA, before discovering what a Project was in 1996, that would be one whole year after I discovered what an Accountant was. I guess I am wired to solve problems and change things though I confess to secretly hankering after a good Trial Balance once I have naturally first of all defined the Business Requirements...

I was lucky enough to work for two great and quintessentially British companies in Whitbread and Argos for 10 years combined. They taught me how to run a Project because I already knew how to pull a Pint. I met great people who are still friends today and I would have said on the people development and project management side they were light years beyond most companies.

Followed by 5 years at Deloitte and 2 with Logica all in the glorious atmosphere of Finance Shared Services, Global Business Services, BPO and any other 3 letter combo you can mention. I learned loads working for both.

Then the fun really started trying to do it all on my own since 2012. I should have just competed in the London Olympics it would have been easier than the challenges of being an Independent Consultant.

Anyway that's the intro, that's me. I see no reason why Utd cant be great again even if I have to take over as 'Interim'.

In the next instalment I will start with some tips for the Contractors and then move on to LinkedIn. Then we get down to the nitty gritty of what it takes to run a Project and don't let anyone tell you the Technology is the challenge.

Remember, don't Subscribe unless you are clear on the above.

Speak soon,

Michael.