|
||
 |
||
 |
||
 |
||
 |
||
 |
||
 |
||
 |
||
 |
||
 |
||
 |
||
 |
||
 |
Creativity challenges, the necessity to innovate, and rolling up my sleeves (only on creativity and innovation matters).
What inspires you?
Great new ideas and whacks on the side of my head.
Strongest influences.
A few real friends and a few good books. My family.
Other interests.
History of science, technology and marketing. Books, comic strips, comedies (movies and theatre), Spaghetti Westerns, Fellini, Audiard, Astaire, Wikipedia, ice hockey, jazz, samba, Italian opera, Médoc, Barolo, Dezaley, Pouilly Fuissé and Fumé.
Favourite quotation.
"It is not possible to step in the same river twice" Heraclitus.
Best decision.
Quitting the corporate rat race, realising that true power is doing what one likes.
Greatest regret.
Trusting some 'respectable' persons.
Happiest business moment.
1983 European launch of Apple's Lisa, the predecessor of the Macintosh, as the very early evangelist of graphics - mouse technology and when Windows aficionados didn't even know what a mouse was.
What would you change about British business if you were given the opportunity?
The total abolition of pinstriped suits (except for football commentators on TV), especially the ones that people wear in their head.
Fantasy job.
Stand-up comedian.
Most admired businessperson.
Richard Branson (for his chutzpah), then Steve Jobs (for his insanely great ideas) and Larry Ellison (for his MIG fighter aircraft).
Least favourite personal characteristic.
Low tolerance for stupidity and hypocrisy.
Pet hate/s.
4WD 'tanks' in the middle of the road (especially during the school run) and across two parking spaces; queuing at the station when one bloke blocks the only open counter while buying a ticket to Timbuktu via Moscow with an out-of-date credit card; tepid white wine; ice cold red wine; current football off-side rules; pretentious 'haute cuisine' restaurants; tailgating white vans; Christmas shopping in October; endless meetings; ridiculous, intrusive mobile phone ringing tunes; ITV news.
Most over-used phrase.
"I just opened another one, ma chérie."
Other people's most over-used phrase.
"Oh really? How interesting!"
What makes you laugh?
'Yes Minister'; 'Fawlty Towers'; 'Open All Hours'; 'Cheers'; 'Frasier'; Rory Bremner; Monty Python; Louis de Funes; Michel Audiard; Bourvil; Bernard Blier; most Prime Ministers.
Favourite city.
San Francisco. Then Paris, Rome and Montreux.
Greatest extravagance/s.
My first motorcycle (in Zurich, driving between tramway rails to beat traffic, in business suit, with a helmet and leather gloves - one is never too prudent!).
Current reading.
"Watching the English", by Kate Fox; "A Short Story of Nearly Everything", by Bill Bryson; "The Funniest Thing You Never Said", by Rosemarie Jarski.
Favourite albums.
"Kind of Blue", Miles Davis; "The Great Paris Concert", Duke Ellington; "Dark Side of the Moon" and "The Wall", Pink Floyd; "A Night in Paris", Diana Krall; "Call Off the Search", Katie Melua; "Studio", Julien Clerc; "Once Upon a Time in America", Ennio Morricone.
