#1. So Grahame, what’s your most favourite word?

Spontaneous.

#2. What gets you up in the morning?

My alarm clock.

#3. What do you truly, honestly think of social media?

It has the possibility of being the Emperor’s new clothes. But I’m not convinced it’s all it’s cracked up to be.

#4. Kindles or books?

Kindle on holiday, book for real reading.

#5. What do you think is the biggest challenge to your industry right now?

Pricing. Constant drive for lower and lower prices, for more and more work, and only some of that can be picked up by technology. A lot has to be picked up by people working longer hours.

#6. What did you want to be when you were growing up?

I had three choices; none of which I was very good at… One was a footballer, the second was a drummer and the third a palaeontologist. I was too crap to be a footballer, not good-looking enough to be a drummer and not intelligent enough to be a palaeontologist.

#7. What led you to your current career?

The band I was in at the time in 1982 folded so I had to get a proper job. Since then, I’ve been in publishing. Properly.

#8. Can you use your favourite word in a sentence?

I can, but not spontaneously.

#9. Jolly good. Can you make it rhyme?

My friends say I’m the zaniest because I’m so spontaneous.

 #10. What advice would you give to your younger self?

Don’t take yourself too seriously when you’re younger. You can, certainly, if you’re doing well and you’re successful but until that point, you’re just a very small fish in a very big lake.

 #11. What’s the best thing anyone’s ever done for you?

Apart from marry me? I can’t think of anything better than that.

#12. Tell us, what’s been your ‘career defining moment’?

Leaving consumer publishing and joining the contract publishing sector in 2004. I think that’s the best professional move I ever made. I found I enjoyed the people, the clients; every part of it. It was the best move I made and it was totally by accident. A friend who I’d worked with 13 years ago left a message on my answering machine to ask me if I’d do some maternity cover. I never left that company and actually ended up as Managing Director.

 #13. If you won a big award of some kind, whom would you thank?

First of all, myself, then all of the people who worked for me!

 #14. Can you give us a timesaver of the day?

You’re asking a person who doesn’t manage his time very well! I think you should review your ‘to-do’ list first thing in the morning and move the three most important things to the top. Don’t do anything else until they’re done.

Another one is: if you’re in the middle of something really important, don’t take a call. You’ll never be able to get that pace and energy back afterwards.

#15. Where do you see your industry in 24 months?

Pretty much the same as it is now. I think we’re in a period where the pace of change is slowing down. Not because of the technology coming into the industry isn’t ground-breaking any more, but we’re finding less ways to apply that technology; there’s only a certain number of ways you can get content to a person. So no, I don’t think we’ll see things change dramatically over the next 24 months.

#16. Where were you 24 months ago?

Happy. I’d just bought an agency.

#17. What’s an interesting fact about your company?

Our company is really actually an iceberg, of which I am the tip you see just above the water.

#18. If you could have a 24-minute Skype chat with anyone living or dead, whom would it be?

I would find it very difficult to resist the opportunity to Skype Winston Churchill. Not just because of the figure he was but because he was known for his great wit; he was incredibly funny.

#19. What’s one word you’d want people to describe you with?

Honest.

#20. Mind taking a selfie?

<Does so.>

#21. What’s your favourite Twitter Handle?

@ReportUK who distil the news and put it into tweets – very useful.

#22. What’s one quote that defines your work ethic?

“Never give up. Ever.”

#23. Apart from seeing us, what’s been the best part of your day?

The best thing to happen today may still be to come!

#24. And finally, anything to plug?

GLA. Possibly the best agency you’ve never heard of.

The post 24 essential questions with Grahame Lake first appeared on 24 fingers.

The post 24 essential questions with Grahame Lake appeared first on 24 fingers.

#1. So Peter, what’s your favourite word?

Profit. Without making profit, the world doesn’t turn. Unless you create wealth, you can’t distribute it. To your staff, to your shareholders.

#2. What gets you up in the morning?

Exercise. I go to the gym five times a week. I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease so I need to exercise a lot to keep it at bay. Otherwise it’d be profit!

#3. What do you truly, honestly think of social media?

Truly, honestly, deeply? It’s not a necessary evil… but it’s something that a guy of my age finds difficult understanding the benefits from it. I can see the need for it, and I can see that the younger generation have embraced it immensely. I think it has a positive role in the way we run our lives and our businesses. When I started my first business, we had a golf-ball typewriter! Years later, we had a multi-platform internet suite and the difference was amazing.

#4. Kindles or books?

Kindles. I’m an avid reader. I’ve loved content ever since I could remember. That’s what got me into magazine publishing; just the love of content. I love being able to have everything in one place. My daughters both prefer books to Kindles and they’re avid readers. I’ve adopted the principle that it’s the content you go for and that’s what’s important. Digital is much more interactive and cheaper too!

#5. What do you think is the biggest challenge to your industry right now?

A few years ago, I would have said the move to digital. Now that it’s happened, I’d say it’s about monetizing. Maximising profit.

#6. What did you want to be when you were growing up?

That’s easy; a racing driver. I’ve been interested in racing since I was four years old, and my first job was for a racing magazine.

#7. What led you to your current career?

Motor racing. All I wanted to do was be involved in the motor racing industry in some form or another. At the end of the day, I’ve found publishing a very rewarding career.

#8. Can you use your favourite word in a sentence?

If you’re not in it for fun or profit, there’s no point.

#9. You’ve got us there. Can you make it rhyme?

If you’re not in it for prof-it, forget it.

#10. What advice would you give to your younger self?

Patience. Be patient. I was always trying to win the next battle, target, argument, and I found that people are more likely to ‘come with you’ if you show a little patience.

#11. What’s the best thing anyone’s ever done for you?

Shown friendship.

#12. Tell us, what’s been your ‘career defining moment’?

Pulling off the biggest single advertising deal for the company I was working for in 1979. The client even pre-paid it!

#13. If you won a big award of some kind, whom would you thank?

My staff.

#14. Can you give us a timesaver of the day?

Don’t look at your e-mails until at least 11:00am in the morning. If you look at them at 9:00am, you’ll still be looking at them at 11:00am.

#15. Where do you see your industry in 24 months?

Interesting… I’d use the word ‘consolidation’ here. I think that the day of the magazine isn’t over because people still like printed books and magazines; there’s a need for the printed word. The skill within the next few years is to generate great content across multiple platforms.

#16. Where were you 24 months ago?

Confused. I had to make a decision about where I went with my business and my personal life as it was around 24 months ago when I was diagnosed. My confusion didn’t last long, thankfully.

#17. What’s an interesting fact about your company?

I think the fact that it was founded out of tragedy and disaster as a direct result of 9/11.

 #18. If you could have a Skype chat with anyone living or dead, who would it be?

Nelson Mandela.

#19. What’s one word you’d want people to describe you with?

Reliable.

#20. Mind taking a selfie?

<Does so.>

#21. What’s your favourite Twitter Handle?

I love @piersmorgan and @Lord_Sugar’s daily Twitter spats.

#22. What’s one quote that defines your work ethic?

If you say you’re going to do something, do it better. Do it quicker.

#23. Apart from seeing us, what’s been the best part of your day?

The gym this morning; I broke my personal best!

 #24. And finally, anything to plug?

Yes. Media consultancy! @publishingdoc

The post 24 essential questions with Peter Moore of PMA first appeared on 24 fingers.

The post 24 essential questions with Peter Moore of PMA appeared first on 24 fingers.

Don’t worry though; even though this paper mogul prefers #TreeBooksNotEBooks, he assures us that plenty are planted to sustain stationery addictions worldwide. Today we’re going to find out a bunch of cool stuff, including what Julian thinks is the biggest challenge to the paper industry, learning a top #TimesavingTip, and just how much he loves his family. Aww! All in all, this guy gets 24 thumbs up from us. So without further ado, let’s hear from the go-to man of paper himself.

#1. So Julian, what’s your most favourite word?

It’s got to be ‘hello!’ Because you never know what could happen.

#2. What gets you up in the morning?

You’ll like this one. Workload! Leftovers from the day before always get me up.

#3. What do you truly, honestly think of social media?

I think it’s a very exciting opportunity for everyone. It’s going to be very interesting to see what it’s like in 20 years’ time. Even I use social media!

#4. Kindles or books?

Without hesitation. Definitely books. Magazines are still fairly resilient but you can get all of your news on a tablet these days. There’s something to be said for handling a physical book though. #TreeBooksNotEBooks is my motto.

#5.  What do you think is the biggest challenge to your industry right now?

From our side it’s definitely consolidation. I don’t know how deep you want to go on this but it’s consolidation of the manufacturing and consolidation of the customers. It’s basically a shrinking market.

#6.  What did you want to be when you were growing up?

A racing car driver (laughs).

#7. What led you to your current career?

A neighbour. When I was about 14, a neighbour was in his 30’s, had a lot of money, wasn’t married and had several girlfriends… at the time I thought that ticked all the boxes. I wanted to do what he did and he sold paper! I ended up having his job when I was 30 myself. Unfortunately he was paid a lot more than I was making by the time I got there. Sod’s law.

#8. Can you use your favourite word in a sentence?

Hello, does paper excite you?

#9. Can you make it rhyme?

Hello, do you know how to play the cello? It makes me mellow.

#10. Very good. What advice would you give to your younger self?

I would recommend networking earlier and more widely. You realize you can start a lot younger than you did. I’d also tell myself to recognise opportunities more. You can sail right past a great opportunity due to inexperience. I don’t know how you’re supposed to get that experience but it’s important to watch out for.

#11. What’s the best thing anyone’s ever done for you?

My wife Tracy for giving me children. They’re much better than paper  (although I do love paper)! Paper pays for the children…

#12. Tell us, what’s been your ‘career defining moment’?

Absorbing the loss of a £1,800,000 contract and still managing to smile.

#13. If you won a big award of some kind, who would you thank?

Tracy again for supporting me; I’ve been terrible! I have been known to go out to work at 5:00am and come home at 10:00pm, we’ve had two kids, moved houses, arrived late for holidays and all sorts of things. I couldn’t have done it without her, she’s been such fantastic support.

#14. Can you give us a timesaver of the day?

Get up early. Every hour before 9am is worth two after.

#15. Where do you see your industry in 24 months?

I think that the industry will continue to consolidate, so being the best in our field will be even more important than it is now. As for me, I hope to be on a beach somewhere!

#16. Where were you 24 months ago?

The same place I am now but with a slightly less smart smartphone!

#17. What’s an interesting fact about your company?

Well, Denmaur Papers is a private company in a mature industry but we still sell £110m worth of paper per year. Let me do the maths… that’s 190,000 tonnes; 7,600 lorries’ worth of paper.

#18. If you could have a Skype chat with anyone living or dead, who would it be?

You won’t know him… Phil Lynott, the lead singer of Thin Lizzy in the 70’s. He’s one of the most natural frontmen of any band you’ve ever seen. I’d rather have 24 minutes in a bar with him though!

#19. What’s one word you’d want people to describe you with?

I would hope ‘Tenacious’.

#20. Would you mind keeping a tenacious grip on our camera and taking a selfie?

Can I say no? <Photo>

#21. What’s your favourite Twitter Handle?

@MagCulture

#22. What’s one quote that defines your work ethic?

A client once said of me, “You should speak to Julian about paper – if you cut him in half it reads ‘paper’ (like a stick of seaside rock).” And it’s stuck!

#23. What’s been the best part of your day?

It really has been seeing 24fingers!

#24. *Blushes*. And finally, anything to plug?

Any readers wishing to take advantage of a free paper audit send them my way! @DenmaurPapers

The post 24 essential questions with Julian Townsend of Denmaur Papers first appeared on 24 fingers.

The post 24 essential questions with Julian Townsend of Denmaur Papers appeared first on 24 fingers.