Twenty three

Today marks 23 years since I started working for what was then the Standard Life Assurance Company and is now abrdn plc.

I started at number 23 Annandale Street – can you believe that? I hadn’t made the connection until I wrote this.

Image of the outside of 23 Annandale Street, the first office I worked in.Merida Scultura bicycle leaning against a wall outside 23 Annandale Street, Edinburgh.

That building is now apartments rather than an office, with much changed on the inside and out.

Same could be said for me.

There’s been so much life lived with so many people in these years that I can’t begin to do it all justice.

Buying a home,, getting married, having two amazing children, being in a band, travelling to places both far-off, and not-so-far, losing friends and family, making music, still learning new stuff every day. Making mistakes and not being there for people when I possibly could have been. Yes, great things, but I’m not perfect.

All of it with Mrs theWeir at my side, which is a wholly remarkable thing. She’s put up with a lot – especially in those early years. And probably still now too… 

I can say that through it all; my faith in God as creator, saviour and sustainer of all has remained. Can’t say it’s not changed – because it has.

And it’s even more crucial for me now than it was then.

What makes today all the more poignant is that in a weeks time it will all be over.

The chapters relating to this part of life will be over and a new section of the story will begin.

For all that’s been said and done to show kindness and love over the last few months, I say thank you.

New adventures await, but more on that another time.

For now, it’s 23 years. And that’s enough. Life is short, live it well.

Grace and peace, my friends.

Letting them know

A few months ago, I started on a wee journey (in case you hadn’t noticed); maybe I’d call it an experiment if I want to avoid the post-modern cliché.

What’s been happening? 

I’ve been talking more about helping people communicate their ideas in effective ways. About my desire to work with people help develop so they can create and deliver presentations that inspire and move people.

  • I will help people take their big ideas and bring them to life for others
  • I will help people use storytelling, humour and authenticity to get their ideas into their audiences heads so they take action
  • I will help people overcome that most-commons of fears; public speaking.

Remember why you’re doing it


Today I was reminded how much this stuff makes me come more alive. A friend was taking some pictures while I told people a few things about story and why it’s so brilliant for communicating ideas. He remarked that I came alive!

And so I’m reminded that we need to be alive to live. I realise again how much it means to me to see people given the tools to communicate great things well.

Tell people!

I’ve asked before for people’s help in spreading the word. And so I’m at it again. Only because I really believe the world needs people who can communicate well. I need to be better at this communication lark too, no doubt.

In less than a week I’ll be giving someone the chance to be at my next workshop for free. I’ve not run a competition before so if it’s your first time entering then that’s cool too!

Here’s the action:

Would you share this link with people you’re connected with? If you enter, you’ll get a unique url you can share. Each time you share it will boost the number of entries you get. Simple! 

Get the Guide and you could win!

You can be there too if you like – either book your own ticket or enter the competition.
Thanks for reading. And for sharing.

I had something in my eye

Last week I sent some emails to people on my lists – friend, contacts and people who had downloaded the Guide I published a few weeks before. It was another milestone for me and one that I’m grateful to have reached.

You know how it feels when you take something from a bunch of ideas, tasks and noise in your head and wrestle into some kind of order and then make it happen. It’s soooo goooooood. But that wasn’t all. Continue reading “I had something in my eye”