My chimp is called Bob...

So, this year I plan to do a number of quick Q&A’s with people I know well and respect, it’s an opportunity to share experiences and I hope for all that have a read pick up some great tips for life or work.

I will be asking the same questions each time, these are :

1.    How did it all start for you?  

2.    Who is your biggest influence & why?

3.    What does your typical day look like?

4.    Trends for the year ahead?

5.    What would you tell your younger self?

First out the block is my good friend Conner, I’ve known and worked with Conner on a number of projects over the years, and what I love about his approach is his ability to make the complicated sound simple. I once got told, keep it simple stupid… Conner keeps it simple, for me the stupid…

How did it all start for you?  

By accident - when I was 20 I was made redundant from the construction industry, my mum saw a job for a cable tv & telephony designer at one of the early cable tv companies (Nynex) on one line the spec had Draughtsman skills required, the rest was foreign to me. Anyway she pestered me for 3 weeks to apply with me saying “I wasn’t qualified” she said “well you can just apply, can’t you.” So I applied to get her off my back, surprisingly got the job and the rest is history.

Who is your biggest influence & why?

I love professor Steve Peters (the chimp paradox) work has certainly change my whole outlook on things, I was lucky enough to be at a conference where he spoke most of the day about it and the application to our lives - my chimp is called Bob for those that are familiar with the concept.

What does your typical day look like?

Up early as I’m a morning person really - commute to London and then in my current role at BT try to focus on what’s important and urgent to achieve while always trying to find time somewhere to interact with the team, even if it’s just a short chat and a hello. Way too many meetings and boom the day is done and the return journey home - pretty normal really.

Trends for the year ahead?

I’m not one for trying to predict what’s next but I really believe simplicity has yet to be cracked in many organisations - it’s really difficult to do and very hard to replicate but if organisations focus on that and do one thing then the next, I believe over time the compound improvements due to both customers, employees and the business to be huge.

What would you tell your younger self?

Travel more, seek out broad sets of experiences and be passionate, energetic and dedicated to what you do. Cheers Conner