CURRENT MISSION

Explore the workd mixing business and pleasure

ABOUT ME

I am a British born citizen and I live with my Brazilian partner. We are civil union partners (married in effect). I am the Founder and CEO of a professional body that aims to promote the practice of strategic management in businesses and organisations in all sectors. I aim to travel on business and mix this with pleasure.

We are also happy to receive guests as we have a 2bedroom, 2 bathroom apartment and one bedroom is free for occasional guests on a short-term basis.

We don't mind male or female guests, and people of any nationality are welcome. Gay, straight or bi-sexual is OK, but you must be gay-friendly.

PHILOSOPHY

My motto for life is "If you think you can you can, If you don´t you won't"

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I plan to offer services to CS members and also to promote awareness of the CS community and its activities.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I used to receive guests and offer tours when I lived in Brazil. I have not been active on Coach Surfing since I returned from Brazil, until now.

Interests

I an interested in strategic management, travel, current affairs / world news, politics (not party political), good food, wine etc. I read extensively.

• dining
• wine
• coach
• partying
• clothing
• politics
• technology
• news
• traveling
• surfing
• soccer
• business
• science
• tours

Music, Movies, and Books

A Thousand Splendid Suns from the same author as the Kite Runner is one of the best books I ever read. I also like Zen and the Art of Motor Cycle Maintenance, and inspirational reading like The Power of Now and writings of Osho. I like a wide range of music, particularly Indie. I can't stand rap!

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Bought a homeless teenager clothes, gave him a meal, and used contacts to get him a job - transformed a life for a few pounds!

Ran a marketing agency that dedicated 10% of time to marketing charities that we believed were adding value to the world.

Helped the Street League take a representative football team on tour of Brazil with sponsorship from Nike a Brazilian Airline and my company. Changed the lives of several people who needed a little direction and support.

I applied the basics of strategic management in a small business that has been around 25years achieving the same results annually, but no growth. I managed to increase revenues x4 in 3years with no additional investment. I believe strategic management well practiced can transform the fortunes of businesses and organisations of all types,and thereby of communities, economies and society as a whole - and for the benefit of all.

Teach, Learn, Share

I am not religeous, but I believe in people. Everyone knows right from wrong. And, we are all born, and always have the potential to be, good. Society prepares the crime, the criminal commits it.

My heros are Nelson Mandela, Ghandi & Martin Luther King. They fought for what was right and in each case it was un-just societies that made them ´criminals´.

I believe the root of all evils is ignorance which is often combined with poverty, inequality and a lack of opportunity.

These are the biggest problems the world faces. And I totally support the views of Nelson Mandela:

"As long as poverty, injustice and gross inequality persist in our world, none of us can truly rest."

" Massive poverty and obscene inequality are such terrible scourges of our times - times in which the world boasts breathtaking advances in science, technology, industry and wealth accumulation - that they have to rank alongside slavery and apartheid as social evils."

"Millions of people in the world's poorest countries remain imprisoned, enslaved, and in chains. They are trapped in the prison of poverty. It is time to set them free."

"Like slavery and apartheid, poverty is not natural. It is man-made and it can be overcome and eradicated by the actions of human beings."

"And overcoming poverty is not a gesture of charity. It is an act of justice. It is the protection of a fundamental human right, the right to dignity and a decent life."

"While poverty persists, there is no true freedom."

"The world is hungry for action, not words. Act with courage and vision."

The last comment was directed at politicians attending a G7 summit. But I think action should be the responsibility of everyone capable of taking action. We cannot wait for politicians to take action or trust them to do so. And, we should not use them as an excuse and a way to reduce our guilt. We can all make a difference, this and every day - and we must!

If you don´t take action you are part of the problem. You help to create the un-just society, a society that gives birth to crimes born of inequality and ignorance.

Countries I’ve Visited

Brazil

Countries I’ve Lived In

Brazil, United Kingdom