Cartoon by Mike Dater
A While back, I shared an office space with a web design agency in Hull. The days of staying in and working from home began to get to me. I’ll easily admit I was becoming a recluse. I couldn’t see it personally, but my passion for my job was on a downward spiral and I was contemplating a change in direction. This scared me. I couldn’t see myself doing anything else. I felt so comfortable but something was getting to me.
I took a chance and placed an ad on gumtree. I was asking for a desk and in return I’d share my knowledge. Wasn’t expecting much.
Months passed since the ad and then out of the blue I got an email. Templar Communications opened their doors and soon I was working from an office in the town centre. The simple act of leaving the house, getting the bus and grabbing a coffee before work was great, my enthusiasm started to come back.
I’ve never looked upto anyone, especially in the world of web. Yes there are designers that I like and books I’ve enjoyed immensely. But never that teacher-pupil, wax-on, wax-off kinda thing.
That soon changed.
His name is Graham Bolton. His talent, his passion and his business mind kept me in continuous awe. I could say this was a man crush. He had ethics. Web design ethics. He stood his ground when he thought a clients request was absurd. He wasn’t rude, didn’t tell them they where stupid, didn’t moan that clients just don’t get it. He explained it. With such clarity. The clients would tell him want they wanted and he would paint a picture, let them see the possible problems. Gradually the client would see it.
He wasn’t one to roll over just because they paid the bills. He was willing to lose a client. He had his reputation to think about. He wasn’t cocky, he was happy with what he knew and he wanted to share it and always looked at the bigger picture. This ingrained on me. I didn’t realise what sort of impact it left.
Too many times, when interviewing a client I would note down what they wanted, happy to tick their boxes.
One thing he said has stuck with me. Whilst sorting out the offices on the weekend he turned and said.
One thing I want you to learn when you leave from here is to ask questions. Never take things at face value.
You can easily use this for life in general. Which I did.
Meeting clients was never something I disliked, but when doing so I still felt like a graduate from uni, I felt insignificant. I didn’t feel like a professional. I felt I had to earn it, start at the bottom and work myself up. I still feel like this now, everyday I earn my position.
Only recently have I accepted that I’m an expert and that clients look at me to lead the way, not to be a nodding dog. Not to then go home and moan at what they want is ridiculous. They looked at me for direction. Excepting that position felt like a huge burden. But if I wanted to get there this was something I had to deal with.
Being around someone with such passion opened my eyes to what I’m about.
Thank you Graham Bolton. Friend. Teacher. Mentor.
Oh, I blame him for introducing the devil that is 20 Marlboro red.
As the title asks, did you have a mentor? What advice did they give you?Are you in the position to be such an influence?
Filed under: Education
