Who was your hero when you were growing up?
Bjorn Borg. I played tennis in high school and Borg was my hero because of his incredible talent, yes, but also because of how he remained calm in the toughest situations, was always focused, and had a very strong work ethic. I think this influenced me a lot not only in my competitive sports but also as a person and certainly in business.
What was your big career break?
In 1993, working for Kevin O’Connor, founder of internet advertising pioneer DoubleClick. Kevin was the CTO of a company called DCA (later acquired by Attachmate/MicroFocus). I was part of a product research group there, where we were tasked with coming up with one new product idea per quarter, doing market research, a high-level business plan, and forming a small team to prototype the solution. We would then pitch this to an executive committee and if approved, would have a chance to lead a team to go deliver the product to market. I enjoyed this so much, it became the founding thesis for a company I started called Thoughtmill. I grew it up to 200 people, and over 20 million in revenue, and later sold it to American Systems. Thoughtmill unquestionably gave me the experience of running a business that became essential to every job I’ve had since. But I wouldn’t have founded Thoughtmill if it weren’t for Kevin O’Connor and the job he hired me to do at DCA.
What did you want to be when you were growing up?
I always wanted to be a doctor growing up. My college degree was going to be pre-med/chemistry at Emory University in Atlanta. But when I was a freshman in college, I started working as a salesperson for a local computer company. The company closed the retail store eventually but kept me on as a software engineer in their support organisation. I liked software and technology so much, I decided to change my major at the start of my senior year (better late than never!), got my degree in computer science, and then went on to grad school to get my masters in computer science at Georgia Institute of Technology.
If you could dine with any famous person, past or present, who would you choose?
I think it would be incredible to meet Abraham Lincoln. Not only was he one of the greatest leaders in the US and world history, but he was also an Enneagram Type 9 personality (the mediator), as am I. I would love to learn from him how he dealt with some of the most difficult times and topics in the history of the US.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given?
I think it would probably be: “be present” in whatever you do. I can remember a time in my life when I didn’t have a healthy work-life balance, and while I was “present” for my job, I wasn’t “present” in my personal life. I would always be distracted by work, and not give my 100% focus to my family. But I credit my wife, Angela, for helping me stay grounded in how to do that with my children’s lives and my family as a whole. Honestly, by finding that balance, and learning that lesson, not only did it help me in my personal life and that of my family, but it helped me become a better employee and leader in business.
If you had to work in a different industry, which would you choose?
Wow, that’s a tough call. I’m a would-be guitar player and musician, and truly love music, so that might be one choice. But I also think becoming a teacher. I really like sharing my experiences to help people, especially kids, and feel like being around that drive and hunger for learning would be a great way to stay energised – and stay “young” myself.
The Rolling Stones or the Beatles?
Well, I love them both, but would have to choose the Beatles. The song writing genius of those guys is unmatched in the history of rock music. But if I could choose a write-in vote, my answer would be Led Zeppelin.
What would you do with £1 million?
Buy a farm (see below).
Where would you live if money was no object?
On land, owning a farm (hobby farm for my family, not farming as an occupation). It could be anywhere, to be honest, but the English countryside has always appealed to me. So, a farm in the English countryside. I still love technology, so I’d definitely have a high-tech farm, but love the peace of it all, raising and building what you need to live on, and providing that kind of environment for my family, especially my 7-year old daughter.
