60 seconds with... Martin Hawkins
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What was your first job?
My first ever job was shelf stacking in a local Morrisons to pay for a school skiing holiday.
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Who’s most influenced your career, and why?
My late fathers’ best friend who introduced me to colour scanning and changed a photograph in front of my eyes using buttons on a scanner. I was amazed (easily pleased).
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What’s your greatest business achievement?
My greatest business achievement would have to be selling a software solution to one of the world’s biggest companies.
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What was your worst mistake – and what did you learn?
Over 25 years there have been plenty…It is about dusting yourself down and cracking back on. Someone had to make the call…
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What gadget can’t you live without?
My iPod.
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How do you describe your job to your mates?
I’d say “I work in the print industry”.
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What’s the worst piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
“Don’t listen to him…”
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And the best?
“Don’t ask people to do what you either can’t or aren’t willing to do yourself.”
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Describe your perfect day off
My ideal day off would be a day of sporting activity with the kids.
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Tell us one thing no one knows about you
I’m not really as miserable as some people think!
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Which one person would you most like to have dinner with – and why?
It’s impossible now, but it would have been Nelson Mandela. The story of how he survived and forgave is a lesson to the world.
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What luxury would you take with you to a desert island?
See number 5 – my iPod.