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My 25 years in the computer industry gave me a large reservoir of technical and historic knowledge. This enabled me to be perceptive of the likely future shape and direction of technology and hence adaptable to changing ideas, markets, fashions and trends. It gave me an awareness of what makes computer software marketable yet future-safe.
I also acquired a good measure of self-discipline. This gave me the power to focus innovative ideas on cost/benefit and quality objectives. Coupled with my knowledge and experience, it also gave me the confidence to challenge new thinking with the caution of hindsight. I also gained the kind of mind which is able to switch instantly between overview and detail. As a programmer this made me quick to spot the wider potential of specialised ideas and techniques. As a writer it give me an uncommon ability to communicate difficult ideas and concepts in simple terms.
Running my own business for 15 years give me a broad-based aptitude profile. I have had full contractual responsibility for the projects my business has handled, in which I have been recognised for quality of work. My clear approach to project management can be seen in such examples as Project Marketeer and EBS Nomad. I have also had administrative responsibility for the up to 7 subcontractors which I have had from time to time working on other 'client-managed' projects.
This aptitude profile, which displays my relative aptitudes in different skills, was derived from the following self-assessment tables.
Each skill is rated on a scale of 1 to 10. Each skill corresponds to a bar on the above chart, and its rating out of 10, is shown in bold. The sub-skills of which each main skill is made up, together with their respective ratings out of 10, are shown beneath their corresponding main skill in normal print.
| Product Creation | 9 | |
| Devising new ways of using software and technology | 9 | |
| Applying these to making life easier and more productive | 9 | |
| Realising them as commercially saleable product designs | 7 | |
| Product development | 8 | |
| Writing software and product specifications | 7 | |
| Developing and perfecting software | 9 | |
| Product Presentation | 7 | |
| Writing system and user documentation | 8 | |
| Creating basic product sales literature | 6 | |
| Market Research | 2 | |
| Finding what the market perceives its needs to be | 1 | |
| Finding how individual prospects perceive their needs | 3 | |
| Generating Interest | 1 | |
| Finding new potential prospects | 2 | |
| Initiating contact - cold calling | 1 | |
| Getting foot in the door and establishing a rapport | 0 | |
| Demonstrating | 7 | |
| Showing people how the product works | 7 | |
| Showing them how it applies to their business | 6 | |
| Answering technical questions at all depths | 8 | |
| Negotiating & Closing | 2 | |
| Originating terms & conditions | 5 | |
| Working out an individual contract | 2 | |
| Arguing over the points in a contract so as not to get done | 1 | |
| Closing a sale | 0 | |
| Installation & Training | 7 | |
| Loading & configuring software on customer's hardware | 8 | |
| Importing customer data | 8 | |
| Training customer staff to operate the software | 7 | |
| Tips on the best way of applying it to the customer's business | 6 | |
| Technical Support | 8 | |
| Telephone support on use and application | 8 | |
| Fast return-of-post fixing of problems | 8 | |
| Fast software enhancements from customer wish lists | 7 | |
| Maintaining Contact | 2 | |
| Remembering to call customers regularly | 2 | |
| Checking them out for further potential sales | 2 | |
| Finding onward recommendation sales possibilities | 3 |