Paul May

Version 0.2 - Updated 09.07.08

This is a quick, hopefully useful Beginner’s Guide to Triathlon. I’ve been competing in the sport for a couple of years and I wanted to put down a few hints and tips to help anybody thinking of giving Triathlon a try. The sport has had a very positive impact on my life, it’s hugely popular, great fun and very achievable; regardless of whether or not you have a sporting background. You will also get to meet some amazing people if you decide to give it a go. I’ve written this guide from my own perspective; so it’s more appropriate for people coming from a non-sporting background, as I was when I started. Enjoy.

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A talk I gave at Barcamp Belfast 2008. A very early draft of something I might develop in the future. 20 mins talk + 10 mins q&a

Hypothesis: There are some incredibly talented people working in technology, design, business - and I’ve often wondered, how do these people stay so fresh, so highly skilled and so motivated when the nature of their industry and their business changes so quickly and so often. So I asked them. And what they told me was very interesting. For some people it’s a strategy, but In most cases these just happen to be some things that really great people seem to have in common. So, what are these traits, these strategies?

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I’ll be presenting at BarCamp Belfast. Notionally the topic is: “Everything You Know is Likely to be Wrong - Perspectives on creating value and remaining relevant in the technology industry.” Should be fun! I’ll post slides, notes and photos here next week.

Update: I’ve now uploaded my notes from the talk. it was a good day. The topic I landed on in the end was “Staying Relevant in Tech Industries“. It was a little abstract, but it was a good first stab at a topic I’d like to develop further.

I made it! Escape from Alcatraz was everything I hoped it would be; tough, fast, exciting. Hotter than I would have liked, but an absolutely great race. This is my full report of the lead up to the race, the race itself and the journey home. Read the rest of this entry »

In most surveys of fears and phobias, public speaking comes close to the top.  There is rarely a week where I don’t have to stand in front of a group to present a concept, a proposal, or a piece of work. It’s a skill I’ve had to learn and think about more and more as time goes by, and I still get it spectacularly wrong on occasion, but less than I used to.

In this article I wanted to write down a few of the points I’ve noted while giving talks, a few I’ve noted while watching others, and offer some basic advice to anybody interested in getting better at presenting their work or ideas.

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Two weeks to go.

It’s buckin freezing here in Belfast. Cliona was visiting this weekend, which was lovely. Quick swim today, back training tomorrow. Seriously. I am. Promise.

I’m all in for Alcatraz; god help me. 8th of June I’ll be jumping off a boat off into the Pacific for a leisurely swim from the famous island to San Francisco followed by a bit of a cycle and a run. Grand stuff.

Back in the real world we spent New Year’s Eve in the company of Jape and friends at Whelans. Cracking gig and a fun night. I’m back in work today. Yay. Photos of Christmas exploits are on Flickr.

Things are going well; we’re working on some kick-ass projects in work - and it’s nearly time for our Christmas break :) My brother (who’ll be home tomorrow from Chicago and will be brining my new camera) launches a new blog. Oh, I’m getting a new camera. Yay!

I’ve been drawn out of the hat to take part in the 2008 Escape from Alcatraz triathlon. Should I go for it? Answers on a postcard. Exciting, terrifying, expensive.

What else. Hmm. Nothing for now.