I Couldn’t Have Imagined

I wonder how many of us could ever have imagined, when we first embarked upon our vocational journeys, where we would be some twenty or thirty years down the road. I for one would certainly never have guessed.

I’m sure that like most young boys, born during the era of steam trains, I wanted to be train driver. When I reached my mid-teens, however, that quickly changed to wanting to be a fighter pilot; so much so that I joined the Air Training Corps. Despite being a model cadet my hopes of being a pilot were cruelly dashed when I discovered that I was mildly colour blind. A condition that apparently effects one in five men. So I have been told.

Having just finished consuming an extremely tasty bowl of “Potato, chive and cucumber soup”, which is about to be followed by a dish of “Roast turbot fillet”, my thoughts went back to those early days in my career. I’m currently on board an Emirates flight from Birmingham to Dubai, where I will get a connecting flight to Kuwait, to once again undertake an assignment for EQUATE. Having made seven such visits in the last three years, in the capacity of trainer/consultant for The Training Foundation, it feels a little bit like going home. Such is the warmth and hospitality that is extended to me.

Who’d have thought that the shy and introvert young man, who questioned whether or not he would ever make the grade as an engineer, would one day be valued so highly for the contribution he was able to make to the commercial success of others. Since joining the Training Foundation I have been fortunate enough to travel to many foreign climes; including Halifax (Nova Scotia) and George Town (Grand Cayman – where I got married on the beach outside the Governor’s house). I must therefore thank them for the many fantastic opportunities they have provided me. Something that can only come as a result of having a respected brand, a powerful presence in the market place and an incredible team of people working for them.

As I tuck into an incredible dessert of “Chocolate and salted caramel torte”, accompanied by a refreshing glass of Veuve-Clicquot (courtesy of Business Class), I selfishly hope that the TAP Brand will continue to be the first choice of organisations wanting to ensure that their trainers are able to deliver to the highest standards possible.

I wonder what your earliest ambitions were, from a career perspective, and how different things turned out..?