Im 30 on Saturday

Mark

Categories: 30th, challenges, future, nick. climate change, ozone, past, Thoughts

Oct 29, 2009 05:31 am 4 Comments

Wooah – I’m going to be 30 on Saturday … a bit of a milestone some may say. I’d like to think of it as a good reason to have a party, get old friends together and drink too much! 

A friend said to me the other day turning 30 was a great thing. It was like a watershed in one’s life when you stop learning and start doing. Being an accountant, and accommodating a more than logical brain, I think he’s right. On that line, it’s a great time to reflect on things – past and present … and make some self promises about future plans. Here goes:

The past.

The world’s changed a huge amount in the past 30 years. Fashions, outlooks, society tolerances, transport, governance and virtues. Some for the better, some perhaps for the worse.

I remember aged 9 my first introduction to climate change. I was sitting in the “stable block” at Parkside School in Cobham in the upper room at the back. Our teacher (Mr Robinson) was explaining the greenhouse effect and the hole in the ozone layer. It seemed pretty alien at the time – but I must have noted it mentally, having remembered it all these years later.

The ozone layer is an interesting one though. CFCs and aerosols were to blame. Government acted. The problem was solved. The ozone hole is reversing and by the end of the century, all will be back to normal. It’s a great example of how governments (backed by solid and reliable evidence) can create legislation that has a positive effect. In this context, it seems strange that its taken government so long to act on CO2.

Nonetheless, the past shapes our future. Mine wasn’t just shaped by that geography lesson. It was shaped by the Attenborough programmes (life on earth especially), by parents who made the world a magical place and let us believe anything was achievable. By a dad who talked of the wonders of the world and the need to safeguard them. Of constant family walks in the Wisley woods near Weybridge, public gardens and the occasional trip to the beach. All these small and notso obvious elements seemed to have manifested in me a deep and genuine desire to work in the natural world.

The recent past 

So, work hard. Enjoy your sport, make some good friends, pass your exams, get qualified and then do what you want. The world is what you make it. I went to Reading University to read Real Estate Management, qualified at Cushman and Wakefield and aged 25 set up my own property company. Time to do what I wanted. I established an office on Bruton Street in Mayfair and developed the flexibility to live how I wanted to. My move also gave me the savings and probably more crucially the time, to set up Project Dirt.

Nick Gardner - he's not that bad 

I hooked up for a drink with Nick almost 5 years ago. We were introduced through a close mutual friend. He was described as the “best/worst family friend one could have” because he always won the prizes, got the As and achieved. So, following a quick pint in a corner pub in Fitrovia (north of Oxford Street), Nick and I began the journey of setting up Project Dirt, getting it off the ground and developing it into something of real use, scope and purpose.

Things haven’t always been easy getting Project Dirt off the ground. In fact, it’s been really tough at points – and thank god there were two of us to pull together and push on through. “No” seems to be a favourite word of a lot of people. And “sorry.” Maybe it’s a British thing – but we’ve pushed, fought, and clawed everything into Project Dirt just to get it to this stage. As ever, there have been a few shining lights along the way. Nick (don’t quote me on this) was definitely a shining light – and I’ll be forever thankful I have a great buddy and business partner to work with on Project Dirt.

The Future 

The future is bright. Hitting 30 reminds me we’re only “dancing on this earth for a short while” in the words of Cat Stevens (pic below). There’s lots to do – and what an opportunity. There’s no doubt huge swaths of the way we do things needs to be re-assessed, redefined and progressed. I see the green space as being the best opportunity to modernise, to push the boundaries and to harness the unbelievable power of society and human creativity (whether that be individually or collectively).

Project Dirt has a foothold. The test site has flown. People are using it, feedback is top notch and we’re primed to move forward. Project Dirt is naturally going Londonwide now simply through demand. We’ll look to support this geographical expansion – as it’s the next logical step.

In parallel, we’re building a new site. We’re improving Project Dirt to take it national and global (whilst, at all times, safeguarding the integrity of the existing membership of Project Dirt). The new site will be simpler, more effective, better for learning, better for networking and collaborating. It’ll have improved funding channels, better connection points with the government and business community.

Stop rambling Shearer

So, as the world carries on spinning and the leaves fall from trees in yet another autumn, I sign off in reflective mood. I thank you for visiting this page and ask you please to keep a close tab on Nick and I and Project Dirt. We think we’re onto something special. And support (as well as belief) is one of the great drivers for us. 

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Eleanor
October 29, 2009 - 10:15am

Nice post, Mark. I got a nice nostalgic feeling from reading it. I can't help but think that one of the reasons our governments have been SO slow to act on CO2 is that because transportation/fossil fuels are such an enormous part of politics that everyone's scared to make a move. And that's just sad, in my opinion.

Gracey
October 29, 2009 - 11:33am

What a great way of savouring the prospect of hitting the big 30. I'm 31 in about 12days & feel quite sad that more people don't realise that even a little change can make a difference. If everyone made that little change it would soon grow into something worldwide & monumental. Some people just don't seem to care & it is about time they got their heads out of their posteriors & did something. Life does get in the way but it is no excuse, these days, with all the conveniences we have to help us have more time to ourselves. I support anything which can have a positive effect on our world be it environmental, behavioural...etc. I don't feel that politicians are afraid to act on the environment, they are afraid of the money they will lose when we are all self sufficient & don't need to rely on them. Not like they have helped us while times have been hard recently. They don't take notice of us & complain like babies when they are caught red handed basically stealing! Anyway congrats for the birthday & excuse my ramble but having a ranty day :)))

Jack
October 29, 2009 - 3:24pm

Great post, Mark. I love that quote " turning 30 was a great thing. It was like a watershed in one’s life when you stop learning and start doing." Very, very positive.

agneslaine
October 31, 2009 - 8:52pm

very nice blog Mark. i have my thinking cap on to find a good slogan for PD after speaking to Nick. Happy birthday again and sorry for the dreadful singing tonight!!!

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