60 seconds with... Martin Hawkins

1. What was your first job? 

   My first ever job was shelf stacking in a local Morrisons to pay for a school skiing holiday.

2. 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).

3. 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.

4. 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…

5. What gadget can’t you live without? 

   My iPod.

6. How do you describe your job to your mates? 

   I’d say “I work in the print industry”.

7. What’s the worst piece of advice you’ve ever been given? 

   “Don’t listen to him…”

8. And the best? 

   “Don’t ask people to do what you either can’t or aren’t willing to do yourself.”

9. Describe your perfect day off

   My ideal day off would be a day of sporting activity with the kids.

10. Tell us one thing no one knows about you

    I’m not really as miserable as some people think!

11. 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.

12. What luxury would you take with you to a desert island? 

    See number 5 – my iPod.