Robin Blandford [ ByteSurgery.com ]

09/05/08 7 different kinds of smoke.

SINGAPORE - A bit of news from last night, my decision to leave Thomson Reuters on May 22nd was announced.

…Robin has been an excellent ambassador for the Technical Graduate Scheme and has made a long and lasting impression on everyone he has interacted with during his time here … Robin has decided to devote himself to running his own company…

My feelings towards the graduate scheme and Thomson Reuters remain extremely positive. It is a highly advantageous step-up into a career with great training, great mentors and great management opportunities for those who complete it. Any Irish final year students who would like interview help for the ‘09 intake for this scheme, please make contact with me.

My passion for my own projects, the instinct that everything has lined up very nicely and the risk vs consequences have now outweighed everything else. I’m counting on my instinct being very right - otherwise this post would have been about accepting a great offer of an innovation role at Thomson Reuters instead.

I thought it would be nice to link back to some of the past blog posts I did since 2005:

I’m psyched about doing something like this, it seems to be a great opportunity. –After Recruitment Presentation (Nov ‘05)

The programme seems amazing, and when asked if I was nervous by people, my answer was it’s more excitement. –Having got invited to the Assessment Day (Jan ‘06)

We should hear within a week of our success although while I’d clearly love the opportunity a sudden realisation that allot of other very worthy candidates are in the running makes me happy to have simply made it to this stage. –After The Assessment Day (Feb ‘06)

I’m very happy to have accepted a position on the Reuters Graduate Programme. –Accepting Position (Feb ‘06)

Eventually it was announced our team ‘Novo - Refresh, Revive, Change’ had won! –Winning Reuters Academy (Sep ‘06)

I can not personally recommend this opportunity enough, and encourage anyone studying Electronic Engineering, Computer Science, Technology, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, Maths or any other technical course. –Trying to spread the word! (Oct ‘07)

For a more detailed reasoning of my decision I’m going to leave my set of slides on Seth Godin’s book called The Dip to explain (Slide 6 is most important):

As Dupree would say, ‘the mothership has called’ (listen to mp3) and it’s time to throw seven different kinds of smoke!

-Robin.

(Image Credit: Notepad and a beer on the 70th floor of the Fairmont Hotel, Singapore. A great place to make big decisions and plan out your future.)

Tags: job, new, new horizons, new projects, quit, quitting, resign, Reuters, startup, thomson reuters, work

20 Comments

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09/05/08 aisling

Great move! I won’t wish you “luck” cos you don’t need it; everything you do is such a huge success and your instinct has proved to be spot-on! So go for it and anything your friends can do to help just reel ‘em in!!!! You’re one of the most innovative people I’ve ever met! Give it loads!

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09/05/08 Grannymar

Follow your dream.
Give it your all
LIVE NOW
Enjoy!

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09/05/08 Eoghan McCabe

Woop! You know I’m happy to hear that news. Hope we can grab a beer when you’re back in Dublin.

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09/05/08 Iarfhlaith Kelly

Great decision Robin. You just can’t beat the freedom and excitement of going out on your own.

I’m sure you’ve got some great plans up your sleeve and I’m looking forward to reading about your next big success (I’ve no doubt that it will be).

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09/05/08 Neal McQuaid

Great news Robin - best of luck in the new ventures, I don’t doubt any will be a success! Will be looking in interest to see what comes from this (I’m amazed with what i’ve seen so far)……

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09/05/08 James Corbett

Delighted for you Robin, you *know* I think it’s the right decision :)

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09/05/08 Damien Mulley » Blog Archive » And he’s off - Robin Blandford is off to startupland

[...] structured like that. Highly creative and highly innovative. One to watch, afterall. So he’s announced he’s off out on his own now. I’m really excited to see what he comes up with. Whatever it is, it’ll be the [...]

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09/05/08 Ken McGuire

Excellent stuff! Congrats, Robin.

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09/05/08 Paul O Mahony

Well done and good luck!

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09/05/08 Aidan Finn

Best of luck! Looking forward to see what you get up to.

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09/05/08 pat phelan

Best of luck Rob

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09/05/08 Gordon

Great image above. Best of Luck with going solo, Looking forward to seeing whats next.

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09/05/08 Robert Synnott

Good luck. :)

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09/05/08 Tom Kendall

Congratulations Robin! The start of (another) exciting chapter! Savour that beer :-)

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09/05/08 keith bohanna

Enjoy every moment of it Robin :-)

keith

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09/05/08 Will Knott

Congratulations and good luck.
Looking forward to the next exciting instalment of “What Blandford Did Next”

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10/05/08 steph

Onwards and upwards! Robin

There’ll be NO stopping you now!

You’ve never stopped since the day you were born - I should know!

I knew all those sleepless nights would pay off one day ;-)

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10/05/08 Anthony

Anyone who’s been reading this blog would have seen this coming alright. :-) Best of luck man. Excited to see what you come up with.

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13/05/08 gregory

what country are you going to be in?

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13/05/08 gregory

seth godin, talk about mediocre…., yet another guy who makes money giving advice about how to make money … his books date very quickly, just bought one in bangalore, it is laughable

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