Paul Walsh, the Irish Opportunist

I asked the Twitter community what their favourite search engine of all time was earlier. After having a great conversation with a few people, I got thinking about my days at AOL and companies that came and went before that.

The purpose of this post is to find out what you did, which you may not have shared with lots of people, to get a job. Before I move onto what lies I’ve told, I might as well give you a little background so you get to learn a little more about me. Skip to the end if what you already know about me is more than enough.

I’ve done just about every job presented to me; sandwich board advertising (me inside one!), washing dishes in an Indian restaurant, collecting shopping trollies, store man, potato/strawberry picking, bar tending, office junior, hotel work and so on.

I wasn’t good enough academically to get into university to study architecture, so I ended up working in a bar, something I really loved because for me, it was all about people. What became apparent from a very early age was that, not only did I always want to be the best that I could be, I always wanted to be the best at what I did, irrespective of what job I did. (I don’t expect everyone to want to be the best. I do hope however, that people strive to be the best that they can be)

I realised that working in a bar, or even running my own chain of bars in the future (that was my goal at the time), wasn’t what I wanted to do longterm. So, after managing a cocktail bar in Greece during the summery of 1993, I returned to Dublin adamant that I’d get a job in an office. I didn’t know what I was going to do, I just knew it would have something to do with computers, because it would be 9 to 5 (cough) and I was pretty handy with computers at school.

I quickly got a two week job helping a company to clear out an office. Like I said, I always did my best and it was always ‘about people’. So, they liked me enough to give me one of their old (286) computers. It didn’t even have an operating system so I sold it and put the money against the hire purchase of a brand spanking new 386 computer with a whacking 4MB of RAM. It was state of the art. I guess that was a big risk at the time because I had very little money and the computer was extremely expensive (for me anyway). I was getting myself into debt on the assumption I’d be able to pay it off later when my investment paid off. I did actually think of the purchase as an investment. Without it, I couldn’t progress.

The first thing I did was learn how to type. I purposely made it more difficult by using my girlfriend’s manual typewriter. I knew it would significantly improve my skills on a computer keyboard when it came to typing tests. I used the same books that secretaries use and within a few months I was speed typing about 120 words per minute and ready to hit the agencies for office junior positions.

Whilst all of this was going on, I must have received hundreds (literally) of ‘thanks but no thanks’ letters. Almost every company in Dublin received an application from me. I was on social welfare and living in a flat I wouldn’t give to a stray dog. I used to find slug trails on the bedroom carpet and I used cling film across the windows to block the wind.

Bending it like David Beckham

I was tired of companies expecting high grades at school, so I told lies to land my first job working for an insurance company. Life was back on track until they asked for proof of my exams two weeks into the job. My forgery skills were never great at school when I tried my parents signatures, so I wasn’t taking any chances in the real world. So, I pretended to be sick and never returned.

Balls in a wheelbarrow

I got my lucky break when the lies I told about my experience gained by working for a great insurance company (see above), amongst other things, landed me the position as Computer Operator at Bank National De Paris in Dublin.

I must have carried my balls in a wheelbarrow on the day of the interview. The role included managing the entire bank’s computer mainframe, backing up the dealer room conversations each day, transferring the daily interest rates between Paris and Dublin and supporting 12 Programmer Analysts’ in their file backup and restore procedures for the rest of BNP’s branches throughout Europe. Remember, I had no experience and no qualifications. Mistakes were made, but thankfully they weren’t too serious. As far as I was concerned I could learn on the job. And I did.

That was the last time I told a lie about my experience or qualifications. I ended up moving to another bank before joining AOL as a startup in 1995.

How did you bend the truth to land a job?

The Web Mission is taking 20 UK Web Entrepreneurs out to Silicon Valley at the end of April this year. The point is to enable the successful entrepreneurs to build relationships with great people in the US and to explore opportunities for their companies.

The Web Mission is supported by UKTI (UK Trade and Investment), Microsoft and Make Your Mark (the National campaign for enterprise). It’s organised by Oli Barrett (also found at http://dailynetworker.co.uk ) and by Polecat.

The trip itself will be a blend of organised activities from drinks receptions to a one day ‘Momentum’ event at Microsoft, one-to-one meetings and opportunities to visit companies in Silicon Valley, from VCs to start ups to high growth success stories. It is designed to coincide with Web 2.0 Expo, so there will be time to drop into that if this is interesting to the companies. They will be working with colleagues in the US to help populate a ‘local calendar’ of coffee shops events and informal drinks, the vibrant business scene for which San Francisco is rightly famous for.

Agenda

Day One. Saturday, 19 April
Arrival and welcome drinks

Day Two, Sunday, 20 April
Digerati Lunch and Optional Event

Day Three, Monday, 21 April
Momentum Event at Microsoft Campus

Day Five: Wednesday, 23 April
Web for Good Event: UKTI

Day Six: Thursday, 24 April
Optional Event: Meet an international Web 2.0 company located in the US
Wrap up Drinks

Day Seven: Friday, 25 April
Depart

Today, they’re opening up the application process to companies all over the UK. The entries will be filtered by UKTI, and individuals who have agreed to feed into that process include Mike Butcher from TechCrunch UK and entrepreneur Doug Richard. They will be looking at the organisation’s market potential, technology, traction, go to market strategy, management team and commercial viability.

Polecat will be assessing the applicants’ sustainability impact. The successful companies will pay a nominal fee which will cover flights, accommodation and passes to Web Mission activities. This will come at a subsidised rate, thanks to the sponsors.

Below are some views from a selection of people who they asked to give their take on what they’re doing.

The Web Mission represents an amazing opportunity for the best of entrepreneurial UK talent to visit Silicon Valley, and learn for themselves the differences that make the US a breeding ground for innovation and more importantly successful execution of ideas. With a spark of inspiration the UK has every opportunity to replicate that success on UK soil.

Michael Birch, Founder, Bebo

Innovation is global, and what better way to help than Web Mission: get the disruptors from both sides of the Atlantic to meet and discuss how they are creating the future. A great initiative!

Fred Destin, Atlas Venture

San Francisco is the world’s leading startup centre. The importance of building ties with the web community there can not be underestimated. I congratulate all involved in this hugely positive initiative.

Robert Loch, Founder, Internet People

I think The Web Mission is a great idea. The best businesses are global from day one and initiatives like this help entrepreneurs build the networks they need to grow their companies internationally.

Nic Brisbourne, DFJ Esprit

In reaching across the Atlantic, the Web Mission is leading the way in networking key talents here with great opportunities in the USA. Good luck in Frisco!

Mark Prisk MP Shadow Minister, Enterprise & Competition

When we create a web business we create it for a global marketplace, we source our products globally, and we’ll probably end up being acquired by a global company or listing on a worldwide stock exchange. It’s absolutely right that we encourage the hottest web talent to look to the unequivocal pace-setter- Silicon Valley – for opportunities, inspiration, and partnership as we build Europe’s answer to the Google, Microsoft and Facebooks the other side of the Atlantic.

James Murray Wells, Glasses Direct

Successful in business comes from meeting people, sharing ideas and creating partnerships. ViaPost has benefited greatly from a close relationship with key partners in the UK such as our Accelerator partnership with Microsoft and we are really excited about the upcoming Web Mission in April.

Simon Campbell, CEO ViaPost

The Web Mission couldn’t come at a better time. The entrepreneurial spirit in the UK is more electric than ever, with communication channels to the US improving all the time. The current climate is one of collaboration and networking, with passionate individuals going out of their way to connect other like-minded peers so they can build stronger relationships, leading to more business.

The Web Mission is testimony to the kind of thought leadership that the UK could do with more of. Again, people going out of their way to help other entrepreneurs to build stronger ties with the US. This is a fantastic opportunity for the UK’s top entrepreneurs to build their businesses by either securing investment, collaborative, partnership opportunities. This is also an opportunity for the Americans to see exactly what the UK has to offer.

Paul Walsh, Chairman, BIMA (British Interactive Media Association)

As you can see from my quote above, I had way too much to say as usual. Please note however, that the opening of my second paragraph is dedicated to the guys responsible for putting this initiative together and driving it forward.

Hat tip to Oli Barrett, Bronwyn Kunhardt and Jim Lawn

The Paddies have done something like this before

I just wonder when Damien Mulley (my new Head of Communications at Segala) is going to arrange the next Paddy’s Valley. He managed to pull this off last year with the help of Conor O’Neill and James Corbett. Whats more, they did it without sponsorship and state agency support! The upstarts, I mean, startups, that went out from Ireland included mysay, Loudervoice, Glowday, Nubiq, PutPlace, justroutes, pixenate, Pix.ie touristr, polldaddy, Eoghan McCabe, Spoiltchild, CoClarity, Bench’d, Relevant Media, Mobonode and Lukulu.

This is a call to Ben Metcalfe and any other Valley based person who would like to help, please do

Register now for the UK entrepreneur mission

I’ve got two conference tickets to give away for a startup event in Brussels on March 19th 2008 call Plugg. If you haven’t been to Brussels before, it’s worth heading over to the conference if only to see this fantastic city. Although I wouldn’t go for the city alone, I’d got for the amazing networking opportunity to be had at this type of event.

Discover Europe’s hottest young internet start-ups and get inspired by some of the most compelling visionaries out there in just one day!

The Plugg conference is an excellent opportunity for you to get up to speed on the state of the European Web 2.0 industry. Register now for this extraordinary event - you can still enjoy the early-bird reduction fee!

I wish Robin Wauters the very best with this event. Robin used to work for Blognation before it was finally brought to a close through the unfortunate battle of the blogs late last year.

I’ll keep this simple. Leave a comment and I’ll pick two names out of a hat live on Qik on February 6th (around lunchtime in the UK).

I hosted a networking event last year called Curry 2.0 in one of Dublin’s finest eateries. I say obviously because my partner and I own Jaipur. I invited a bunch of likeminded people to watch startups pitch to a waiter in a minute. Thanks to Joe Drumgoogle I was reminded of the videos that were captured. Check out the 1 minute pitches.

I’ve also republished my original post below in case you didn’t read it on the Segala blog.

I’m very sorry for inflicting Robert Loch upon you like this. I should have given prior warning. The picture was taken on our way back to the UK after Curry 2.0, where Rob gave his pitch about a new idea called Jokaoke (a bit like karaoke but for people who really can’t sing, rather than pretend they can’t before getting up and singing like a pro).

What started as an idea to entertain a few people over dinner, turned out to be a successful ‘networking event’ crammed with cool people who between them, traveled a few thousand miles to take part in some idle banter over a curry and glass of wine. We had folk fly in from the UK, Spain and the People’s Republic of Cork. My sincere thanks goes to everyone who attended but a special thanks is extended to those who collected air miles just for a curry (Jaipur only delivers within a 500 mile radius, sorry).

Left to right, Paul Walsh and Farzad Jamal.

I started the evening with a few games of pool with Dennis Howlett, Robert Loch and Farzad Jamal. I won, naturally.

We then moved onto Jaipur where we were greeted with some of the delights of Stormhoek wine. Whilst getting familiar with their surroundings, everyone sipped the only Rose wine specifically made to serve over Ice. Full fruity style, yet dry on the finish when served over ice, Stormhoek’s Couture Rose 2007 was a fresh start to the evening. It was also the beginning of my steady decline into a slightly inebriated state. For which I am (almost) sorry given that it’s captured on video thanks to Paul Campbell. I refuse to watch any video footage of myself so feel free no to comment on my performance

I introduced the evening’s entertainment as just that, entertainment; a time to sit back, relax and enjoy good food, wine and company. As the evening pressed ahead we got to taste more of Stormhoek’s offerings, which I may add, isn’t bad at all. The Sauvignon Blanc was my personal favourite. I won’t pretend to know anything about wine. I simply know what I like and dislike. I leave all that stuff to my restaurateur business partner Asheesh (oops, just realised we haven’t included a profile for him on the site!).

I’m hoping this will be the first of many similar events in Dublin (and other parts of Ireland should anyone wish to use the term Curry 2.0).

Left to right, Christ Smith Paul Walsh and Dan Teodosiu.

I spent some time chatting with Dan Teodosiu, Microsoft Director, Windows Live Europe. Very cool guy. He now wants to host some events at the Microsoft office. So, please leave a comment if you have any suggestions. Perhaps we could do something with the Blue Monster.

I didn’t hear this from Dan himself but Farzad filled me in on a (not-so) funny story. Apparently Dan went to college with Google founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin. The sore point is that Dan was offered a job which would have made him employee number 3! How sorry is he for not accepting that job offer. He’s not doing too badly though, as he sold his venture in the Valley to Microsoft and is now heading up Live. I look forward to working with him on a future event, or two.

Left to right, Paul Walsh and Brian Caulfield.

I’m pretty confident our worthy waiter purposely absconded just before the pitching session started. So, who better to replace our 100 meter sprinter than Sanjay, Head Chef. Brian Caulfield of Trinity Venture Capital was my independent adjudicator. It took Sanjay no time at all to decide that James Kennedy of SmartNote was the easiest pitch to understand. I don’t have a video clip of this particular pitch to hand so I’ll write a separate post and explain why I personally feel he deserved his place on the podium.

First up on the pitching session is a buddy of mine, Philip Wilkinson, Founder of Crowdstorm. This was a little different because Philip previously recorded a video clip especially for the occasion, which I ran on a laptop connected to some loud speakers.

It was good to have Maxim Kelly, Business Reporter for the Sunday Tribune (the first Irish newspaper to write something about me) at the table. I put Maxim on the spot by introducing him as one of the pitching companies. I love doing stuff like that. He did a fantastic job given that he had less than 5 seconds to prepare. I think I said something like ‘so, why should we read the Tribune Max?’ to which he had no choice but to respond.

Not only did Chris Smith from Stormhoek provide the wine for the evening, he also flew over from the UK to team up with Julian Alubaidy,from Bubble Brothers. It was good to get a pitch from Chris as it gave him the opportunity to further promote the brand. So Julian, what date are you launching Stormhoek in Ireland so we can start to stock it in Jaipur?

I spoke to Hugh MacLeod on the phone this morning and he has kindly agreed to sponsor the wine at a new event that Robert Loch and I am running (email me if you want to be invited, it’s invite only).

We even got a pitch from Dan Stevenson from Microsoft. I think this was a nice touch because it’s not exactly a startup. It does however, demonstrated how Microsoftians can hang out in the same playground with the rest of the kids.

I won’t run a commentary on each pitch. You can see them for yourself below thanks to Paul Campbell. The picture and sound quality isn’t great but I think that only adds to the character of the evening and demonstrates how impromptu it was. I’ll write a separate post which will include the winning pitch.
Thanks to Dennis Howlett for the pictures

It’s not actually Ben Childers pitching for Microsoft as it states on the YouTube video, it’s Dan Stevenson.

The Top Cats are in town and meeting again on the usual hot tin roof this week.

Each month I host a very exclusive invitation-only event with Robert Loch called Top Cats in London. The goal of the event is to forge stronger ties and greater collaboration between the internet start up, mobile, interactive marketing, TV and advertising communities.

Check out the cool venue and take a look at the 4 minute video that newspepper.com shot at the last event.

[Update, names marked with ** were added after the post was published]

- Alex Hoye, Chair, Faction/Buildersite
- Alexis d’Amecourt, Head of New Media, 19 Entertainment
- Andrew Doe, Founder, PCIQ
- Andrew Romans, General Partner, Georgetown Ventures
- Ann Jameson, Director, Pricejamieson - an Aquent company
- Aoife O’Sullivan, Partner, Gates & Partners
- Caspar Craven, Co-founder, Trovus
- Catherine Toole, MD Sticky, Content
- Cathy Grimes, Marketing Manager, Equifax Personal Solutions
- Charles Billot, Marketing Director, Soup
- Chris O’Rourke, Founder / MD, User Vision
- Daniel Appelquist, Senior Technology Strategist, Vodafone Group **
- David Hart, Director, Codegent Ltd
- David King, Director, APCO Online
- Edward Charvet, Co-founder, Trovus
- Elizabeth Varley, Editorial Director, Online Content UK
- Ellie Kaye, Marketing Manager, Soup
- Felix Velarde, Founder, Underwired
- Giles Palmer, Managing Director, Magpie.net
- Grant Currie, MD , Inferno PR
- Gurpritpal Singh, Director, of Emerging Microsoft Technology Developer & Platform Group (DPE)
- Hugo Burge, COO, Cheapflights **
- Ian Wallis , Editor, Growing Business
- Jasmine Birtles, Founder / MD, Moneymagpie.com
- Jemima Kiss , New Media Reporter, Media Guardian
- Jon Watts, Founder, MTM London
- Justin Champney, Head of Brand Innovation, EMEA, McCann Worldgroup
- Justin Cooke, Founder / Fortune Cookie
- Mark McDermott, Director, Codegent Ltd
- Matthew O’Riordon, Founder, The Lemon Foundation
- Matthew Thomas, Editor, Startup.co.uk
- Mike Butcher, Editor, TechCrunch
- MT Rainey, MD, Horsesmouth
- Neil Hughston , Managing Director, Saatchi & Saatchi Interactive
- Neil Svensen , CEO, Rufus Leonard
- Nic Brisbourne, Partner, DFJ Esprit
- Nick Farnhill, Partner, POKE
- Oli Barrett
- Paul Birch, Founder, Cominded
- Richard O’Connor , Founder, Tablina
- Richard Titus, Acting Head of UX&D, BBC FM&T
- Rob Corradi, Founder, Preloaded
- Robin Howard, Client Services Director, BT
- Roger Thelwell, Founder / Operations, mook
- Rory Cellan-Jones, Technology Correspondent, BBC
- Simon Murdoch, Founder, friendsabroad **
- Stephanie Bouchet, Head of Marketing, Joost
- Steve Schlenker, Chief Investment Officer, DN Capital
- Syd Nadim, CEO, Clock
- Tom Holmes, Founder & Chairman, Creativebrief
- Tom Nixon Founder, Nixon, Mcinnes
- Will Jeffery, Managing Director, Maverick Media
- Will McInnes, MD, Nixon McInnes
- Yoyo Allalouf, Director, Allalouf Investment Group

Hosts

- Robert Loch, Founder, Internet People & Founder, That’s Useful
- Paul Walsh, Chair, BIMA & Founder, Segala

Thanks again to Soup for sponsoring this month’s gather of the Top Cats. Thanks to them, we’ll be nibbling on Sushi and drinking fine wine.