In my earlier blog,
I set the scene for the juxtaposition of combining the concepts of "information" and "Superstar".
Defining what I mean by "Information" will wait for another time, but there's a very personal reason why I felt compelled to use the word "Superstar" alongside it. This site and all the materials that are being produced flow from the experiences I have had and the insight I have gained. To understand that I am not claiming superstar status as some ego trip, you have to understand my story.
Are you sitting comfortably….
In my mind I keep going back to a singular moment while I was an undergraduate student at the University of Durham. I was at the end of my second year of study for degree in Economics and up to that point my entire mindset about how I worked and used my intellect was pretty set in its way from the thinking that had evolved during school. I'm not saying that this moment was the life changing, road of Damascus conversion experience upon which my entire life and values changed. But nevertheless, a single exchange with my department tutor was about to switch on a light bulb that up to that point I had no idea existed.
All the way though school, from an early age, I found myself always 'good enough' to keep my head above water. I was considered quite intelligent, but there were plenty of kids who were considered cleverer.
I was amongst the smallest boys in my year, and didn’t really start growing properly until I was 16 years old. Therefore, although I liked sports there were always plenty of boys who were bigger, faster and more skilled.
In summary there were always plenty of other kids who had more intelligence, talent, parents (my dad died when I was 12), money, bigger houses, trendier clothes etc etc. ... Therefore, although I was happy enough and had a loving family and good friends, I just settled for being - well, mediocre, middle of the road, good enough and so on.
And then that fateful day at the age of twenty. One afternoon in the summer of 1988 I navigated my way around Durham University's economics department, which many years ago had been converted from a set of rather fine Georgian residences into a rather tired labyrinthine combination of twisting Escher-like staircases and odd-shaped offices.
I located my department tutor's office to get the results for my second year exams and knocked sheepishly…
"Come in"
The door opened with a heavy squeak and this doubly-timid student put one foot inside the threshold…
"Ah - here he is - our superstar!!!
"
A bit of a double take follows. "Who me….?"
Because that wasn’t how I saw myself.
My tutor went on to explain that I achieved top-of-the-class marks in my exams. I was flabbergasted, and of course over the moon!
So I had to start reconsidering a few things. I’d done quite badly in my first year exams, which hadn’t count for my final degree grade. But now there was a serious possibility of doing really well. And suddenly little Andy - the little kid whose friends were always a bit smarter and taller, had grown in both physical and mental stature and had now started to believe that there was a whole heap of untapped potential. If I worked for it, this could mean a future where I was not limited to stay "middle of the pack" in academic or employment terms and constantly be in the same place in the cosmic pecking order.
So I guess over time I've learned to think of myself differently, and there have still been plenty of smarter, more capable people around. But my place does not have to be fixed in the pecking order - I can simply be the best that I can be.
I can be a superstar at being me.
As Oscar Wilde put it "Be yourself - Everyone else is taken"
Time has now passed and I am indeed thankful. I've achieved far more than that 20 year old could have dreamed. After qualifying as a chartered accountant with a precursor to PwC, I've worked for large international companies as well as smaller, entrepreneurial entities. I've been a CEO and a CFO and worked with so many amazing people.
And looking back through the thread of my career to date, I can see that my natural instincts for working with information and technology, my willingness to continue to learn and progress, and my desire to build quality professional relationships have coalesced into defining what I hope to share with you.
I believe that I have found my niche in a category of one, but recognised that I am only one of many 'Information Superstars' across the globe.
An information
superstar is an individual who uses their natural gifts and potential skills
for data analysis and use of technology, who thinks and works strategically to
create and communicate useful information, and who ultimately save their
organisations time and money and allow them to focus on mission, not data,
spreadsheets or email.
They make stuff happen.
I've got further
blogs and materials coming - to talk
about case studies, technical skills, personal effectiveness and a whole system
of thinking that I believe will help you rapidly acquire the wisdom and
knowledge that it took me years to learn.
So, if you like what
you've read / heard so far, then hang around. Sign up for my mailing list
and you'll be the first to know about the
materials I'm prepared. There's heaps of stuff to keep you inspired on your
journey to realise your full potential as an information superstar!
