Reader's lives: Perkin things up

Perkins: A silent disco aficionado

What was your first job, and how did you get into IT?
I was a landscape gardener, laying blocked paving. My first IT job was as a business analyst in the finance department at Ingram Micro. I later moved to the ‘dark side’ -- sales.

Planes, trains or automobiles?
None. I would travel by helicopter to get me quickly and smoothly from A to B, especially from our Manchester offices down to my home in the south, avoiding the traffic. I would then have a chauffeur pick me up.

What sport should be in the Olympics but isn’t?
Pub golf. This would combine one love of mine with another.

What could prompt you to give it all up and join the revolution?
If I thought my family needed protecting and their life was at stake, I would give it all up to defend them.

“In my dreams …”
I would be on the last green at the Ryder Cup, the match was all square and I had a 15 footer to win against Tiger Woods.

What was the best holiday you ever went on?
I love Thailand. Lovely environment, different culture and food. I have family out there and in Hong Kong. I love travelling to Asia, especially Phuket. You can chill out and relax. The world’s best service is combined with amazing scenery.

If you had a week to live, how would you fill it?
I would spend all my time with my family. Playing golf with my two boys would be a high priority. As a family we are always on the go with things to do. I have an Irish wife and there is never any sitting down in our house. It’s pretty fast paced at the best of times.

“I never…”
Get up first for karaoke. My wife and I are tone-deaf. Even after a bucketful of alcohol I would never get up first.

“I always…”
Get up first on the dance floor. I can’t sing -- but I am not a bad dancer.

Will the economic recovery continue?
A recession always weeds out the weak. We as a nation have become too services-driven. We need to own more of the skills base and knowledge and bring it back from abroad.

What does the channel most need to learn this year?
To better identify what technologies can drive efficiencies, and expand incremental revenues without heavy payroll investment. We need to look at process improvements and get creative about how it is all funded.

Do vendors do enough to help their channel?
There’s a mix here. Some do and some don’t. We should all be pulling in the same direction, sharing the same goals and objectives to be profitable.

James Perkins is group sales director of Nimans