An Illuminating Introduction From a Fellow Writer
Hello, my name is Paul and I’m delighted to make your acquaintance
As recommended by Dr Mehmet Yildiz and other Illuminating writers I thought it was about time that I introduced myself. So here it is.
Who am I?
I’m still trying to figure that out. In truth, my response has changed during the course of my life. What I know for certain is my name, Paul Myers, and I live in Dublin, Ireland with my fiance, our 2 children, and our dogs.
Self-transformation
I’ve reinvented myself a few times. A byproduct of my inquisitive mind. Allow me to summarise for you:
- Swimmer
- Engineer
- eCommerce
- Writing
As you can see my past envelopes a few careers:
- Firstly my athletic career, as a Swimmer
- The second and third phases represent my professional career
- The fourth, writing, is just starting to unfold
A few years ago I was challenged to map out my life. A timeline of professional milestones in no more 10 to 12 events, as shown below.
In hindsight, it was a rewarding experience to reflect on the past. Something we rarely do. I recall feeling a sense of gratitude, a refreshing outlook for the future. So I’d highly recommend that others do likewise.
1. Swimming
During my formative years, as far back as I can remember, I always swam. I wrote about my experiences in the article below.
I also wrote about what life is like a competitive swimmer, a day in the life.
Swimming opened doors for me, culminating in being awarded a scholarship to train and study in Ohio, USA. Swimming also brought lots of opportunities to see the world. By the time I was 21, I’d traveled to at least 25 countries.
I never followed the crowd.
Hailing from a working-class part of Dublin it was unheard of for anyone to win a scholarship. Certainly not as a Swimmer at the time. I don't think my career counselor at school believed me, then at just 17, I left Ireland.
I grew up in Tallaght, a tough neighborhood that produced numerous boxers, Footballers like Robbie Keane, Richard Dunne, MMA fighter Paddy Holohan and Qantas CEO, Alan Joyce, who lived down the street from me. So I was always in good company.
For a time, I was National Champion and record holder. My main event was the 200m Butterfly, but I could knock out a swift 100m too.
I was also a member of the 1996 National Olympic panel but missed the qualifying time for Atlanta. Sydney 2000 felt like a lifetime away, so I left the sport due to a lack of funding.
Living below the poverty line for 4 more years in another country was a step too far, so I returned to Ireland.
2. Engineer
When I returned home, I found myself searching for a challenge that would bring fulfillment in the same way that swimming did. My early-career didn't really satisfy me.
I was looking for something meaningful to fill the void that swimming left.
After some time, I rediscovered education and began to study Engineering, part-time. I experienced a huge sense of achievement when I completed my Engineering Degree.
Education whet my appetite and I was hungry for more.
Soon after my graduation, I landed a new job. For the first time in almost a decade, I once again experienced (career) satisfaction and success that I’d yearned for, ever since I left the pool.
Then the financial crash hit, and everything changed. I wrote about my experience here: How to Change Your Career In a New Industry.
3. eCommerce
Unfulfilling years followed the financial crash for me, career-wise. When I was made redundant I turned to a previous calling once again and enrolled at University to study for my MBA. It was 2012.
My entrepreneurial spirit first took hold around this time too, underpinned by a burning desire to create something with others. So we did.
By accident, I stumbled into the eCommerce industry.
I use the word stumble as a reminder — if I didn't decide to change my career, I may never have had the opportunity to stumble into my current role.
Trust your gut to stumble by design.
I read ferociously during my MBA. Reading unlocked a new way of thinking in my mind. A dimension that I never knew existed in me. I unshackled my subconscious mind, leading to a creative-awakening that lay dormant since the crash. Education was my catalyst to write.
Oh, I wrote about this too.
One memorable highlight during this time was being awarded “MBA Student of the Year” at graduation in 2015. I was beyond shocked.
This leads onto my current phase — writing.
4. Writing
I still work in the eCommerce industry today, but my true passion (outside work) is writing, and reading of course.
Education solidified a self-confidence in my writing. Something that I lacked beforehand. I now feel a strong desire to continue on this journey with my new-found confidence. To learn. To improve. Hence the reason I’m here.
Writing has brought me many rewards, including financial. One of my articles has accumulated over $1,100 so far. I wrote about this too:
So when Dr Mehmet Yildiz invited me to participate in this project, I was humbled, honored and excited. Ambiguity and chaos ignite a fire in me, something that ILLUMINATION offers in abundance.
Over the past 4 months, I’ve read and engaged with lots of tremendously talented writers. Personally, I’m just shy of 80 articles to date, many were curated across 10 publications.
So here’s to all those editors out there — Niklas Göke, Ali Mese, Steve Campbell, Stephen Muskett, M.S.Ed, Summer Anne Burton, Danny Forest, Nicole Akers, S. Stefan Karabacak, Dr Mehmet Yildiz and Team AV — I thank you, and applaud your expertise and commitment to your art.
I appreciate your time, effort and validation.
I’d also like to apologize for the crap I’ve sent you. Your patience is unwavering, endearing. Your talented critique has raised my game.
So I’m eternally grateful for your rejections, you’ve challenged me to become a better writer!
Recommendation
When I started out, I chose writing Mentors from afar. Writers who inspired me. Those whose work I admired, whose words resonated.
So I followed them. Pestered them until they acknowledged my existence.
I’d invite others to do likewise. Promoting your work lies somewhere between pestering and stalking.
People like George J. Ziogas, Brian Pennie, Jun Wu, Dr Mehmet Yildiz, Marta Brzosko, Joe Procopio, Niklas Göke, Sinem Günel, Michael Ritoch, August Birch, Arthur G. Hernandez, and many others have inspired, critiqued and unselfishly supported my work— for that, I thank you.
As a writer, I look forward to learning from each and every one of you. My promise to you is to read and support your work while making every effort to deliver articles of value for your input.
That’s it folks, feel free to reach out and connect on Twitter or Linkedin.
