Work-life balance

Carl Boraman is addicted to the telecommunications industry, but his family for him will always come first

What was your first job?

Field sales at Tactile Communications, selling fixed and mobile telecoms services to SMB customers. I got into IT when I joined Axxent - an independent telecoms reseller.

Planes, trains or automobiles?

Automobiles. They take you from the front door to exactly where you want to go. You don't have to rely on anyone else, there are no waiting rooms, you can drive at your own speed, you usually have air conditioning, and you can stop along the way to visit people.

What could prompt you to give it all up and join the revolution?

The only thing that would make me do that is if anything ever happened to my family. So long as they are well and cope with the way I work, very little would prompt me to do that. Family comes first.

Should Prince William shave his head?

He is balding so it would not be a bad move. If he doesn't like it, he can grow it back! People going bald can sometimes look five years younger by shaving their heads.

In my dreams…

…I am a living god. Only joking. In my dreams, I'm a great dad, great husband and great businessman.

What was the best business trip or junket you've ever been on?

A trip to Amsterdam 10 years ago. A combination of the drink, the liberal attitude, the evening's entertainment and that they allowed me and my pals to do a proper "wall of death" circus ride on a go-kart while blind drunk.

If you had to choose just one leisure activity, would you choose an art or a sport?

A sport - and it would involve off-road motorcycles travelling at speed. I love the challenge and the whole-body workout.

Oranges or bananas?

Bananas. They slip into the pocket, are convenient to peel, and have no pips. Best by far!

What never fails to make you laugh?

I always laugh at how incestuous the telecoms and IT industry is in the UK. No one ever seems to leave the industry, or never for long. It's like a drug and we are all addicted. Perhaps we're unemployable outside our industry?

Where would you like to go or what would you like to do on your next holiday?

Go to the south of France, to a place where it's warm, near a lake and some local towns. Family caravanning holidays have been some of the best I have ever had.

If someone shrank you to the size of a pencil and put you in a blender, how would you get out?

I'd try to keep close to the sides, avoiding the blades if possible, and as the blender was slowing down, I'd use the blades to throw me further up in the hope I could grab the edge and pull myself out. Or I'd scream, wave and shout until someone turns the power supply off. Is the blender switched on?

What will be the most important trend to follow in 2013?

Flares, ruffles down the front of shirts and hair mullets - everything goes in cycles. It must be their time to come back! Also, cloud and managed services.

What would you like as your epitaph?

"Bloody good bloke"! Because it has always been important to me to try to help anyone I can.

Is there a future long term for IT distribution?

You need good distributors to expand effectively into all sectors and channels.

What is the best way to get UK plc growing again?

Most growth will come from small businesses. The government needs to follow some American ideas - genuine tax breaks and support for SMBs, reduced red tape, reduced tax burden, and the chance to be entrepreneurial.

Carl Boraman is commercial director at Tollring