Notice Board
‘ Have confidence to keep going , to make mistakes , learn , and come out the other side ’
L : What are the challenges now compared to what they used to be ?
M : Due to the nature of previous roles my challenges used to be day to day , very reactive .
As I ’ ve progressed the challenges are different . They are more complex , less immediate , proactive . They ’ re forward facing – what are we doing next year , in three years , five years , and they ’ re more outwardly focused .
The challenges are similar to those faced by Directors of 20 years ago but a big piece of it for me is staying relevant to our target audience . I think you must be open to new ideas , get new people in who bring new ideas and different perspectives with them . What we have always done before will not work now .
This is bigger than just digital transformation , it ’ s a maintained and flexible approach to relevancy for our target market . Relevancy changes . Digital is the current buzzword , and AI with that . This is a real period of growth and change with the older working generation , of pen and paper and fax machines , retiring , with an increasing wave of younger people , new to the industry who research and purchase online through social media channels , YouTube and blogs .
L : Looking ahead to H2 2024 and beyond , what are your predictions ?
M : How AI will change our business , the artificial intelligence kind , you can see that change already occurring in the construction industry . AI is increasingly front and centre in our daily lives and it ’ s how we adopt this to support us .
We don ’ t understand all of the “ how ” yet as it is developing so rapidly . On a weekly basis you can see changes in how it can be utilised in customer interactions , What is seen as ground breaking now will soon be normalised ,
quicker than it ever has been before . It will change how we exist , how we function , and we have to embrace it and make it work for us . If we don ’ t and we choose to fight against the tide , we ’ ll go nowhere .
L : What ’ s the best advice you ’ ve received or would pass on to someone ?
M : If you want to succeed , then you need to be disciplined . Don ’ t give up when you start , and things don ’ t immediately work out or go the way you want . No matter what you do , if it ’ s not working out you have to stick to it , to keep going until you get good at it . Have confidence to keep going , to make mistakes , learn , and come out the other side .
One of my favorite quotes is from Charles Darwin “ it is not the strongest of the species that survive , nor the most intelligent , but the one most responsive to change ”
Thank you to Mike for taking time to share his thoughts . His journey from locksmith to Commercial Director demonstrates a blend of passion , hard work , and adaptability . His career has been all about embracing change , from hands-on locksmithing to leading in a digital age . Looking ahead , Mike is excited about the potential of AI and how it will shape the industry . His advice ? Stick with it and keep learning .
www . doorcontrolsdirect . co . uk
JANUARY 2025
17 locksmithjournal . co . uk