Work hard play hard
Play is essential to personal development, whatever your age! As a child I was frequently told that I was a day dreamer. Only in later life have I realised the daydreaming is a core component of creativity. A trait to be embraced (in moderation) rather than criticised.
Albert Einstein was credited with the quote that “Creativity is the residue of wasted time”.
That one quote embodies a perspective that I live by, to spend time in a creative way. It may feel frivolous at the time to not be sitting at ones desk, but ultimately the stitching together of ideas, perspectives and experiences from having fun in a creative way feeds a creative working mindset.
This is where the boundary between work and play blur into an output that is greater than the sum of their parts.
I enjoy a broad range of challenging hobbies in my spare time that keep me engaged in mindfulness and creativity, alongside being physically and mentally challenged.
Sea
I have been sailing all my life and enjoy the multifaceted challenge of being on the water. Whether that is the tactical nuances of racing sailboats, the complexities of navigation, mastering the unpredictability of an uncontrollable environment, or watching sunrise on the morning watch in complete solitude, I find the sea a tonic to life on land.
Racing, cruising, windsurfing, rowing, paddle boarding, e-foiling - if it floats I will love it.
Buying and owning boats is somewhat of a chronic condition, and after many years of research I have established that the optimum number of boats to own is n+1 (where n = the number of boats you currently own).
AIR
Aircraft have always fascinated me for their engineering, married to the naturally efficient elegance of aerodynamic forms. As a child I built countless model aircraft, many flying but equally many not. In 2003 I took up the sport of hang gliding having been attracted by the pure engineering simplicity, and the challenge of mastering unseen energy.
Flying unpowered aircraft is the ultimate in mindful activity. Being very dependent on the weather, and management of risk, this sport requires a high degree of tenacity and patience as well as intimate understanding of an invisible environment. The rewards of climbing in an upward moving thermal to many thousands of feet, often in the company of birds or prey, are unspeakable.
In order to widen my flying experience I learnt to fly powered weight shift microlights in 2021 and in future aspire to build my own three axis microlight, ideally powered by advancements in battery technology.
land
Right foot therapy is a favourite land-based pastime. Having owned and restored a number of practical classics I enjoy hands on engineering as well as driving. I am particularly drawn to quirky exotics where daring design is fused with innovative engineering. A favourite marque that embodies this is Lotus, where the philosophy of founder Colin Chapman, “Simplify and add lightness” strikes a cord with my own approach to many engineering challenges.
I also enjoy cycling and in 2022 completed the Blue Marine Foundation London to Monaco cycle, by far my biggest physical achievement.
CREATIVE
Art, music, photography and movie making are all creative outlets I enjoy.
Amongst the frenetic pace of delivering commercially profitable work, pure creativity often feels like a luxury, and is a pure elixir.
Creativity feeds the soul and ultimately provides the fuel for the creative leadership of much of my professional work.