The human spirit

I've never had robes and a shaven head, but the rest I think I've probably done. I think the world of human potential is mysterious, adventurous and inspiring. Of course, there are pitfalls, like anything worthwhile.

Putting out fires

Mia thinks I'm a kind of Forrest Gump. After I'd only been a part-time fire fighter for a few months I was called to a fully developed housefire and sent inside. Actually, the basic training is the same as for full-time fire fighters here in Sweden.

Business

I've really enjoyed Jim Collins' Good to Great . The E-Myth Revisited was good fun. I've also been lucky enough to have consulting help from Oakroot Consultants in London, where Chris Persson is an inspiration. And from wonderful coach, 'Curios' George Copsey. I've watched one phase of the growth and divestment of a €300m newsletter publishing company from the inside. And have started businesses of my own in the UK and Sweden – but not yet sold one for $300m(!).

Where I live

I live on the island of Donsö near Gothenburg, where travelling to the mainland means a ferry or small boat ride. By what seems to an English man a fluke of nature, the sea gets warm along the granite coast in summer. Donsö is an old-fashioned, car-free, religious community which turned from drink some generations ago and has since then got on with creating not inconsequential businesses like Stena and a dozen other oil products shipping companies. We have a rental apartment which is often let in the summer months.

Sales

I've worked in sales and enjoy the work and learning about it. I've attended part of Jay Abrahams' Million Dollar Summit and interviewed him. Blair Singer has some great ideas. Tony Robbins' Power of Persuasion seminar in Harrogate in 1991 was what got me started. Recently, it's been wonderful to do a year or two of coaching with Curios George Copsey. I've some Joe Vitale which I keep meaning to rip into my ipod.

Writing

I've got an MA Journalism from a good university, but it was an afterthought really. By that time I'd already written for the UK broadsheets, reported and made documentaries for BBC Radio 4, 5 and 1, edited books and travelled eastern Europe on assigment. All armed with nothing more than adequate spelling, an inspiring grandad on the Manchester Guardian, and a tape on goal-setting.

Since then I've developed my passion for writing by attending Robert McKee's Story Seminar and studying screenwriting with New York's New School for Social Research. Recently I wrote a short film script called Skinheads.

Performance and personal growth

In 1994 I did the isa experience and one of many upshots was that I committed myself to becoming a great entertainer, not just a jazz musician who sits unobtrusively in the corner. My goal was a 100% excellent weekly show at which people stood on their chairs and screamed for more at the end of the night. I looked at everything about how I performed and changed most things, from the lights, to the guitar, to an almost scientific approach to the songs in my set. It took three weeks to get them on their chairs and I still do my show here on the islands (weddings, funerals!).

Public speaking

Hmm... if driving a local BBC radio car doing live outside broadcasts doesn't count, then it probably should. Otherwise, I've chaired international conferences, presented a weekly radio show, run teleconferences and taught media for two years, partly to 'dropped out' teenagers.

Diverse

Hmm... First aid. I'm a delegated ambulance driver if one's needed locally. Shorthand. Some management experience of web development and former computer programmer (bad one). IT trainer. English and Swedish business admin. English, French and Swedish as fluent spoken languages. I write in English. The written Swedish is coming along (quite slowly).