“Do You Know – I Hadn’t Even Considered You’d Want to Do That.”
I was talking to an old friend and colleague this week. She’s someone I’ve known for 15 years, and we’ve worked together in two different companies. She’s one of my favourite humans, and I love the chance to catch up - even if she is 4,700 miles away.
But one thing she said really resonated.
We were talking about current challenges and possible projects in her team. I happened to mention some of the management development design work I’ve been doing recently for the NHS, and she said:
“Do you know – I hadn’t even considered you’d want to do that.”
And I guess, why should she? Her experience of me is twofold:
She knows me as a senior Talent and Development leader - managing enterprise-scale programmes, setting strategy, working with Boards and ExCos on succession planning, leadership capability, assessment, and future organisational needs.
She sees me online often talking about my passion for coaching.
But what she doesn’t know me for… is who I am now.
Who I Am Now
👨🏼💼 I’m a small business owner, building his client base.
🤔 I’m an independent consultant, focused on helping others solve their talent and capability problems.
🖤 I’m a human being at a stage where he wants to work with people he likes, on things that have meaning.
☕️ I’m a runner with bad knees and a cyclist who doesn’t spend enough time on the roads or trails (or in coffee shops).
What I am not is someone stuck in one mode anymore. I don’t have a clearly defined role.
I have a lifetime of skills, experience, relationships, and ideas that I can bring to whatever client problems there are to solve.
Consultant, Not a Category
Setting up as a consultant and coach has taken the boundaries away - and that’s hugely freeing.
It’s also… confusing for potential clients.
“But I need a square peg for my square hole problem!”
Do you?
What if your problem isn’t as square a hole as you think?
I see a lot on LinkedIn about “hiring for potential” - and I believe in that.
I’m a proud father of two great kids who are just starting to find their way in the world, and in many respects all they have is potential.
(And the ability to stay up way later than me.)
But there’s also a bunch of us out here who have more than raw potential to offer.
We have decades of experience and a passion for working with great people to help them learn, develop, and grow.
So What Do I Do?
❓ Do I start pigeonholing myself on here?
❓ Do I start advertising “service lines”?
❓Do I stop talking about the messy stuff?
No. I’m not going to do that.
I want people to work with - and buy - Mark Taggart.
I’m the product of all my experiences, and I can turn my hand to a lot of things.
Yes, I have a CV that lists several “big leader” roles in Talent, Leadership, Learning, etc.
But I also want to keep learning.
So Far This Year, I’ve Learned:
How to build a website
What on earth SEO actually is!
How to reconnect to my passion for human development by going “back to coaching school”
How VAT works (as well as why what I “earn” bears little resemblance to what is available to pay the mortgage)
So to all of you - friends, colleagues, strangers:
Never assume what I do or don’t “want to do” these days.
Every day is about learning, serving, and providing for my family.
Yes, the work might not be the right fit. But don’t make that decision for me.
Let’s have a chat. I might have ideas you hadn’t even thought of.
And I’m a bloody hard worker. Often fun to have around, too.
It’s a new world for me.
It’s scary. But exciting.
