Tag: Hitchhiking

The Importance of Uncertainty
The importance of uncertainty cannot be under-estimated when preparing people for work Setting out for Loughborough University (to guest speak at their entrepreneur's 'ThinkBig' awards) I was reminded of the insight and wisdom of Patrick Awuah. Earlier in June of that year I had listened to him talk about the importance of uncertainty at the GBSN conference in Tunisia... Read More

Going faster by slowing down
Going faster by slowing down is a important way think In my earliest hitchhiking days, any stopping vehicle was an opportunity to travel. The excitement of the moment put me in the car. Going faster by slowing down was a concept outside my impatient grasp... Read More

Teenage Love Fires Entrepreneurial Spirit
Teenage love fires entrepreneurial spirit To describe one of my first loves as a 'big bag' might be a little misleading, but it is quite true. Like any other 16 year-old, relationships were important to me. I wasn't necessarily looking for love. But back then I had no idea how or why teenage love fires entrepreneurial spirit. Fast-forward. Thirty years later, I get goosebumps. And the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end when I think of how we first met. It was like this... Read More

Take students to the darkside
Take students to the darkside to make learning meaningful & relevant Pink Floyd's chart breaking 1973 album 'Dark Side of the Moon' brought a legendary band together in a highly creative and entrepreneurial manner. The music was rich and expressive and importantly tangential to the popular but increasingly bland 'Glam rock'. Charting for over 740 weeks, 'Dark Side of the Moon' opened the door to world fame and fortune for 4 young men... Read More

Present to Influence the Audience
How do you present to influence the audience? Stood by the roadside thumbing lifts was an empowering experience. Drivers who stopped validated what I was doing and thus hitchhiking became meaningful, worthwhile and rewarding. Whilst it wasn't rocket science, I always thought carefully in advance about my appearance as well as how and where I stood. And I looked at the driver as the vehicle approached. By thinking about how I should present to influence the audience, I was doing my best to sell the idea of being offered a lift... Read More

Need to achieve
Do entrepreneurs have a stronger need to achieve? Leeds station, 11.35pm. It's a dark, cold November evening. The last train to York departed 5 minutes before my train from Huddersfield arrived. But for the night-time usuals I'm on my own, frustrated and penniless. But my need to achieve will get me out of here. Read More

The Devil of Self-importance
Smug and the devil of self-importance As I climbed the tank crane's 10 foot ladder to access the driver's cab I knew this wasn't going to be a typical hitchhiking experience.. But I wasn't aware that I was about to be hijacked by the devil. The devil of self-importance... Read More