NEWSLETTER #2. 

The complementarity of being a banking/payments consultant and fiction author.

I'm a banking consultant and author of 8 fiction novels (with more in the pipeline). To some this is incongruous and others advise that I don’t make public my writing life on LinkedIn as it’s not “business”. Certainly, these 2-time consuming activities are in many ways contradictory. For instance, most people consider (and rightly so) that banking consultancy is very much a results game, fact-based, meeting the needs of the client, occasionally dry and, very detailed orientated, whereas fiction writing is all about flair, creativity, making new worlds and being God who can invent or kill characters. On the surface, there is little that joins the 2 but I believe they are complementary rather than opposing and, by doing one hopefully, it makes me better at the other. Let me explain.

1.    As a consultant I work with clients who often have been doing business the same way and need to change legacy systems and management mindsets to meet the ever more sophisticated demand of customers. In my specific line of work, this can be summed up by the phrase, digital transformation. Having a creative mindset allows me to get across the message of 1) the need for change to senior leadership and, 2) change management best practices.

2.    Much of my day-to-day as a consultant is managing freelancers, sub-contractors, junior consultants and interacting with the client’s management. As an author, I also work with freelancers, whether they are painters for my front covers editors, proofreaders or those who do cover design and book layout. In each case, I negotiate a contract and make sure the client’s timelines are met. 

3.    As an international consultant, one of the great benefits is that I’m fortunate to travel to new countries and meet new clients, rejoice in new cultures and make new friends. I incorporate some of these experiences into my creative output. For example, I lived for 18 months in Ethiopia , the culture there very different to that in southern Africa where I have lived most of the last 15 years.

4.    Being a consultant means I need to be detailed orientated, whether that’s building business cases, gathering business requirements or making presentations. As an author and who on the whole writes in the faction (realistic fiction) genre, this side of my life also needs to be researched for authenticity and accuracy. For example, in Dying for Afronia, there is a chemical weapons attack and which I based on the Halabja chemical attack against Iraqi Kurds on 16 March 1988.

5.    Being an author and consultant there are also common rules to the game, namely discipline, be efficient and focused rather than working long hours, always making sure you do a little every day, meeting deadlines, giving it your best, keep thinking of the next project and seeing how to get repeat contracts / new reviews.

Specifically, to writing, I have captured what an author needs to do on a regular basis in my blogpost "the 5 rules of being a paperback writer".

6.    Being a consultant makes me hyper-critical of my work; it’s never good to disappoint a client.  After a draft, I don’t take track changes or comments as a negative but rather a positive way to make the end result better. I actively seek out input rather than run from it. And if there are any disparaging comments (assuming it is done professionally) I don’t take them personally. In essence, being a consultant makes me, to an extent, appreciate the self-discipline of following the process and doing multiple rounds of editing of my novels, and getting feedback/input from 3rd parties. 

7.    Most importantly, as both a consultant and novel writer I do this for my family, whether that is to earn money, give opportunities to my kids, or lead by example. This is especially so when I think of fathers’ day and when we spend time together on holidays. 

In summary, being an author helps me find creative solutions to business problems. As a consultant, I can make my fiction realistic through researching details and gaining insights. But not only that, being both a consultant and author I’m true to myself. I follow who I am and not what or who others want or think I should be. I follow Socrates’ philosophy of Temet Nosce. Here is a poem on the complementary nature of being consultant, fiction writer, father and individual.

I'm 4-in-1 so don't label me;

I'm neither more nor less than the sum of my parts.

I’m a businessman…

that loves the thrill of the chase,

a contract,

a client,

the working as part of a team

or hailing personal glory.

Of finding mental strength,

perseverance when things don't go my way.

I'm 4-in-1 so don't label me;

I'm neither more nor less than the sum of my parts.

I'm a creative man...

who sees beauty in the ordinary,

extravagance in the mundane.

I love the challenge of telling a story from a new perspective,

the psychological gymnastics to overcome doubts,

rejection from the majority when seeing the world through a different lens.

I'm 4-in-1 so don't label me;

I'm neither more nor less than the sum of my parts.

I'm a crazy man...

who will do what whim decides,

the devil visits my right shoulder

kicking the ass of the angel on my right.

I will do what I know is wrong or stupid,

this is the, no rules, me,

the, not give a damn, me,

the me…

who will take risks not calculated,

who goes with gut or serendipity over logic,

and who revels in the unknown and outrageous.

I'm 4-in-1 so don't label me;

I'm neither more nor less than my whole.

I'm a family man...

the future of my children is the reason why I try business.

I’m creative to get through the stresses of life

and to find solutions to insurmountable problems.

And I need crazy times to keep my sense of self.

I'm 4-in-1 so don't label me;

I'm neither more nor less than the sum of my parts.

Thanks for reading this newsletter and following my author journey.I would love to hear your feedback and read your reviews of one / some of my books – go on, you know you want to!