Biographical Snippets

2012

For the first time, Mike is forced to turn down requests for appearances,
as his diary quickly starts to fill, six months ahead, sometimes.
With the launch of his two most important books to date: Smart to Wise and
The YES/NO Book, this is an important year for Mike.

2011

With three more books published and two commissioned, Mike now needs to allocate
more time to his writing.  He reluctantly resigns as a director of Kent Trainers and
wishes his former colleagues well.  After many years commenting sporadically on
BBC television’s “The Apprentice”, Mike starts a popular Apprentice blog.

2010

With three further books published in the autumn (after Mike’s first book last year),
Mike can finally call himself an author.  Time for a new passport?
Profession or occupation is no longer on a British passport.

2009

Management Models Pocketbook is published and Mike is hooked on the writing process.
This is also the year Mike marries Felicity and his best man uses the opportunity of a
wedding speech to gently pull Mike’s leg about his first book.

2008

As a two-year run of articles for Training Journal comes to an end,
Mike has an idea for his first book. When he looks up the publisher’s address to pitch
the idea, it turns out they are based in the town he plans to move to. Freakish or fated?

2007

Mike has been speaking to business audiences since the late 1990s, but in 2007,
he started seminar tours, first with Practical Project Management and then with
Practical Time Management too.  He starts to build a national reputation as an
energetic and entertaining speaker who packs a lot of information and insight into
his keynotes and seminars.

2006

A turning-point year when Mike met five important people: his four co-directors in
Kent Trainers, and his wife to be; Felicity. Building a new company and a new life in
parallel!  Over the next few years, Kent Trainers really thrives.

2002 – 2005

Mike builds Thoughtscape as a business, coaching, training and supporting clients in
making change happen.  Mike starts to widen his focus from project management to the
other business skills he learned as a full-time project manager.

2002

Mike wanted to focus on how people respond in times of change, whilst his employer
wanted him to continue delivering technical project implementation. It’s time for a change:
Mike knows that if he wants to learn more and move in his own direction, he must leave Deloitte.
A sad-happy year.

1997 – 2001

Mike is increasingly recognised as a thought-leader and able team leader within the
Project and Programme Management division of Deloitte Consulting.  Joining as the
13th member in 1995, it proves to be lucky for Mike, as the team thrives,
and grows to over 80 by the time he leaves.

1990 – 1997

Mike leaves academic life in 1990, for the excitement of management consultancy.
He quickly specialises in project management, working with increasingly bigger clients on
steadily more complex projects. Mikes talent for getting things done gets him noticed.
He grows the reputation for never missing a deadline.

1983 – 1999

Mike enjoys the rigour of a scientific training in two of the UK’s finest academic Physics
departments.  He also realises that he is passionate about communicating and craves the
excitement of getting things done.  He leaves academia with a BSc and PhD in Physics.