Birthday Interview...Martin Dangerfield
Not sure how you deal with your birthday. Some embrace the event with relish and optimism, sadly I'm a lot more reflective and less positive. This year is a big birthday. I'll let you do the sums. 1971. For those people who said I look older in my pictures, thanks, I've had a hard life and there are no signs of it letting up.
To make the event I have copied that well trodden format of mini-interview... Well if it is good enough for the guardian it works for me...
Martin Dangerfield was born in South Africa in 1971. Returning permanently to the UK in the mid seventies he a had a normal childhood before subconsciously 'opting out' sometime before his O-levels. Having scraped enough passes to continue education and add A-levels in business and politics to the list he decided that computers held a future for him and he joined British computer giant ICL. Working every available hour of overtime available he quickly gained a reputation for being the ultimate 'martini man' regularly being called out in the early hours of the morning as a technical first responder.
Moving through a number of management roles Martin finally embarked on a career in sales and sales management, having a number of individual contributor and leadership roles before starting his first business in 2005.
Living in South Manchester he travels all over the UK and mainland Europe, currently managing a team of talent acquisition specialists across EMEA for a US software organisation. He spends a lot of time on the train.
When were you happiest?
Christmas day 1977, my Raleigh Grifter arrived.
Which person do you most admire, and why?
Alive - cliché maybe but all of those people that live with a disability and continue to make their lives rich and fulfiling.
Dead - my dad. We all admire our fathers as we get older, realising the sacrifices they made.
What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
Impatience.
What is the trait you most deplore in others?
Indecision.
What was your most embarrassing moment?
I think I have been spared any major embarrassment, tending to embrace the big mistakes.
What is your most treasured possession?
My dry sense of humour and sarcasm.
What makes you unhappy?
Open mouth eaters on the train.
What do you most dislike about your appearance?
My belly is bigger than it should be.
Who would play you in the film of your life?
Toss up between Eddie 'my middle name could have been danger' izzard, Danny Wallace or maybe George Clooney.
Which living person do you most despise, and why?
Not really thought about it, whilst I carry a grudge list with me for the day to day stuff I suspect on a larger scale it is someone like Nick Griffin, BNP leader for his manipulation of vulnerable people, spreading fear and hatred wherever he goes.
What is your favourite book?
Generation X by Douglas Coupland.
What is you guiltiest pleasure?
I have spent huge amounts of money on buying the best chocolate in the world, washed down with the best coffee. I am a sucker for provenance and a bit of a story.
What do you owe parents?
Everything, some money and my independent spirit.
To whom would you most like to say sorry, and why?
Everyone that has loved me that I later let down.
What or who is the greatest love of your life?
Coffee, made with skill and heart.
What does love feel like?
Heart stopping then painful.
Who would you in invite to your dream dinner party?
Guess it would be either one full of famous people that have left us like JFK, Elvis and Lennon or more likely my Dad knowing what I do now and being able to ask him those things I didn't.
If you could bring something extinct back to life, what would you choose?
Douglas Adams, only now has technology caught up with his vision.
What is the worst job you've done?
I've loved them all, in that they have all given me something. Probably Head of Sales for mid-Market IT company, I gave my life to then for nearly 3 years and they gave me nothing back.
What has been your biggest disappointment?
Failing to take advantage of opportunities I had in my 20's.
If you could go back in time, where would you go?
1960's New York as seen in mad men.
When did you last cry, and why?
This week, realising the pain I have caused other people.
How do you relax?
I don't.
What single thing would improve your quality of life?
Time.
What song would you like played at your funeral?
'End credits', chase & status or 'live forever', oasis.
How would you like to be remembered?
Intelligent, fun and there when you needed me most.
For more about Martin click here. To get in touch click here and to follow on twitter @MDangerfield.
Martin Dangerfield will be inviting offers of investment into his business mckinleyresource as it further develops a portfolio of managed and outsourced recruitment propositions. Information packs will be available in the next few months and if you would like to receive one of those please email me@martindangerfield.com.