Who am I and why am I doing this?

It's been almost a year since I started this blog, so I thought now is a timely moment to talk about why I write this blog and who I actually am. The blogs subscription base has grown considerably over the last year and I expect it to grow considerably over the next year.

The world BPM community may be a relatively small place, but it has huge power to effect change on organisations - and one of my aims is to get in touch with as many of that community as I can. In the words of Seth Godin, I am reaching out to my tribe. Having this blog has given me the vehicle to meet a lot of process people - some I can help, some help me - but I always have a good time meeting them. Note: if you are ever in Sydney and you invite me for a coffee or a beer, I will ALWAYS accept (particularly if its beer).

So, I suppose I write this blog to achieve that, but also because I like to write, and it's easiest to write about something you know. It's also easier to write about something you enjoy. I do enjoy my occupation - I'm lucky in that respect (although I continually moved toward doing the things that I enjoy throughout my career). I started this blog because I felt I could bring something a bit different to the table - something practical that people could immediately relate to.

I also write this blog because (to be brutally honest) it's a good way for me to promote myself, my business (www.Ninjaconsulting.com.au) and to get a foot in the door. I always tell people that having a blog about what you do for a career is like having the opportunity to get an interview without having to go to the interview - it's a poster for your expertise and your passion. I am always looking to make connections and get consulting work, so if you need me, drop me a line.

So that's why I write, but who is The Process Ninja?

I'm a 35 year old guy - married with 3 kids under 3 (work that one out!) - I live in the fabulous city of Sydney, Australia. I was born in Knutsford, England but my parents are Scottish and I grew up in the town of Barrhead near Glasgow in Scotland. I did relatively well at school, went on to study Marketing at The University of Strathclyde in Glasgow before I studied a postgraduate diploma in Hospitality Management. I moved to Sydney in 1997 where I met my wife. We returned to the UK for a couple of years where I worked in IT before moving back to Sydney in 1999. I worked in BA and IT related roles until 2002 when I bought a cafe, almost killed myself running it (and turning it into a process centric business) before I plunged back into the corporate world in 2004. I have worked in Business Process Roles since then.

Whilst I work full-time in process I'm also the Marketing Director of my parents underfloor heating company in the UK. I'm also writing a book about buying a cafe as well as starting a hospitality consulting business (The Cafe Ninja). I'm also currently renovating an investment property. I like to keep multiple fingers in multiple pies! Adding all that to three young kids you can see why I don't get much free time...

But when I do there are a few things I love doing: watching my beloved Glasgow Rangers, drinking wine, eating good food, cooking (good food), listening to good British rock music. I'm also totally obsessed with researching my family tree.

So that's a summary of my aims for the blog and who I am. I'd love to find out more about you all and (where possible) to meet you. So why not drop me a line or give me a call to say hello - it will be most welcome.

- TPN

Comments

[warriorpadawan.blogspot.com]

Hey Craig; great post! Nice to learn more about the man behind the ninja mask and TPN legend!

What a small world though... of all the places in all the world, you were born in Knutsford!

I've been to Knutsford! (lol... you thought I was gonna say I was born there too right? ;-). That's a nice place though... Footballer's wives territory! I went there for work a few times when I was at working for a large multinational bank, they have a large customer services area near there where my team and I rolled out a BPM platform!

I for one would really be keen to read your cafe book when you've got it done! What ended up happening to your cafe? Do you still have it?

BTW... either you are part man/part rabbit, or perhaps you had twins, and got pretty busy working on a third (or vice versa), or you had triplets? Or you swapped them all for iPods…

Thanks for the blog mate - I enjoy reading it every time, I don't often get time to comment, but will endeavour to whenever I can.

All the best,

Ryan (Church of BPM ChoirBoy).

[The Process Ninja]

Thanks Ryan - your comments are really appreciated (and always very interesting!) Don't worry that you can't post all the time - I understand that the world is a busy place!

[Kenneth Mortimer]

Hi Ninja
Steve Towers told me about you so that I thought I would visit!
My blog is www.e-performanceimprovement.com and web site www.performance-improvement.com.au.
How's work in Sydney? In Brisbane it is pretty slow, so I am looking for roles in Sydney, Canberra and Wellington.

The best, Kenneth

[GSB]

hey guys...i am a FRESH guy in TQM and LSS....currently apply for a position as a engineer handling TQM and LSS. The interviewer actually request the applicant to do a presentation for topic related to TQM & LSS...any topic that would your suggest? Actually i found an interesting topic...which is the Pitfall in Six Sigma? what do you think?