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In 1976 part time early morning cleaning jobs were my way of contributing to family funds. Still in School and although a real strain it set the “Protestant Work Ethic” at the heart of employment.

Wanting to write I also did some work experience in Journalism, that came as a shock, what you write as a journalist isn’t always what is published once the editors had worked their magic. No it wasn’t for me.

First business

After leaving education it became a case of wandering from job to job, nothing really suited. So with my older Brother we decided to work self-employed as window cleaners and contract cleaners.

That was great fun but dangerous for anyone who worked with me as I was reckless. Favourite pass time – step back and admire the work, not such a good idea when you are at the top of a ladder.

Bad weather and a tragic accident meant I changed occupations and headed in doors, but hadn’t stopped writing.

Warehouse and Retail

Looking back it was another occupation I wasn’t cut out for, couldn’t stand some halfwit telling me how to stack boxes or move trolleys. However, I did enjoy the computer work and the health and safety, a chance to train others.

This created the basic understanding I did have communication skills, speaking, listening, writing and presentation. I discovered my transferrable skills.

Sales

What a rubbish sales person I started out as, I learnt all the so-called successful techniques but couldn’t bring myself to use them.

Somehow I hit my targets so only sacked twice but I suddenly realised to sell effectively I needed to let the person buy. Talk less, point out more reasons to take sometime, then they bought! If we didn’t sell the product but it could lead to repeat business, I found them the product and a safe supplier.

It was all about relationships and building trust.

Writing and employment

Following a prolonged period of illness I moved into a period of employment training with a local authority, they needed a researcher for economic projects and my writing began.

Fill the page with facts, directions and clear reasoning that led to conclusive outcomes.

The career jumped about from there but involved writing everyday in my unique style. Self educated and driven by a desire to make a difference bid and tender writing filled 20% of my time.

Winning large project funding from EU and UK sources, raising money for the voluntary and community sectors.

Finding the means to deliver in so many fields, the niche of writing National Occupational Standards, foundation qualifications and management tools.

Dilemma

In 1994 the fundraising and competitive tendering market place began to attract so called “professionals”, by 2000 these individuals out numbered the core volunteer writers who had been successful for years and marginalised them.

My dilemma, I crossed both sides, writing as a volunteer and being paid by local authorities and national charities to write for them. It was clear by 2004 I had to make a decision.

Dropping into freelance and self employment I slid away from the issues. But now after 22 years of freelance work it’s time to ask the hard questions.

Did I do the right thing by avoiding the confrontation? In hindsight? No.

The marketplace needs fresh ideas, maverick contributors, not people like me who hide as authors of blogs, and content. We need the market disruptors.

So if you are reading this and thinking I have something to say or write, don’t wait find the right audience and communicate.

We change things when the majority stop being silent. Minorities run the world because they are permitted, they dump unfounded guilt on the developed world.

Reparations – example

If you go back 300 years and look at the average life of anyone who wasn’t rich they understood graft, poverty, exploitation, a singular sense of futility.

They didn’t enslave anyone, they didn’t exploit or sell people to get rich, that was a minority across all cultures.

These groups benefited from the social reforms, better housing and the beginning of education. Society changed because a religious few addressed the unfairness of the world.

Whilst reforming at home, they challenged slavery, moved to get it abolished and paid individual ship owners to intercept cargo to release those being transported.

Now those who were benefiting from the reforms in Europe are now managing the communities they live in. Many starting without the advantages of benefactors who gave them much. These ones are being asked for reparations, the rich who maintained their riches remain untouched, the royals keep their special status but the people are asked to pay.

In 50 years I have learnt there will always be injustice so focus on what is right today. Write or speak from your heart and never let others shut you down because you are speaking truth.

Truth is based on unassailable facts the rest is fake, used to scare and control. A few more years to go but I have come to agree with the writer who said – everything is futility!