While some individuals have achieved one and possibly two careers in their life, Edward Allen has managed to squeeze in several careers, possibly going into the double figures. At times, several of these careers have been squeezed into action in the course of one day. It is only when an occasional CV is asked for or when asked to write “about the author” does one seriously consider reviewing the many years of lessons learned or relearned several times and in what bracket of career did one learn them.
Firstly, I would like to make clear that one should not assume that I excelled at everything I put my hand to. Technically I have been a lecturer, CEO, CFO, CTO, MD, Chairman, Data Analyst, Computer Guy, Trainer, Business Consultant, Sales Representative, Electrical Engineer, Mechanical Engineer, Fabricator, Troubleshooter, Hatchet Man, Innovator, Technical Designer and probably a few more that may come to mind sometime. If I had just had one career, I guess I should have been able to excel at it.
I got doing these things in many cases because someone else was doing a bad job of it, or it wasn’t being done at all. Sometimes I said “I will look at it” when others didn’t say anything or were seen beating a hasty retreat when they saw work was required. That’s when the job title was added, usually so they could more easily proportion blame if anything went wrong. They could then coldly point with a concise finger at me and say “I told him it wouldn’t work”. The stampede to take the glory when things went well was the only time many people seemed to get enthusiastic.
I suppose the main thing about the author is that I have managed to like work. A good job well done is better that a hole in one on the golf course in my mind. Creating something and doing what others won’t do is an excitement in itself. Money is important but that’s not the really important thing. If you are doing something you love you cannot really call it work, can you?
Hopefully I can save you a little hassle and heartache with what I have learned. They say that you should learn from other people mistakes and I have made loads. I have also had to fix and pay for many of my mistakes as well as fix and pay for the mistakes of many others individuals. You will possibly not repeat my exact mistakes but the broad principles are basically the same.
Best of Luck.
Edward Allen
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