Flexible Thinking Forum

I recently had the chance to meet with rally car legend Paddy Hopkirk – winner of the Monte Carlo rally and still working in the motor industry – while speaking at the Motor Industry Public Affairs Association conference in London last week.

The event was called ‘Delivering recession-proof PR’ where I covered material from my new book, ‘The Upturn: my part in its rise’ (due out this summer, Tangent Publishing).

I actually came to the conclusion after my talk, and also the session given by industry doyen Tony Spalding, (now enjoying a new life on the Isle of Wight), that there is no such thing as ‘recession proof PR’ – everything will change in some way or the other during this global downturn. What instead you can aspire for is ‘recession-responsive, or recession-friendly PR’.

Meeting Paddy was also an inspiration. At the age of 74 he is still active in the trade and supportive of efforts to promote learning and development in the sector.

His company provide a virtual sales force for the motor sector and he still does exhibition driving, appearing at Silverstone only the previous week for a demonstration for Mini

Paddy shared a story with me of how he received two telegrams on winning in Monte Carlo back in 1964. One was from the Prime Minister, the other was from The Beatles, who were both near neighbours and great fans of the motor ace. (Their telegram still has pride of place in Paddy’s toilet!)

Although my presentation went down well with delegates, eager to devise new responses in a marketplace desperately hit by the recession, my meeting with Paddy brought home to me a more valuable lesson; if you love what you are doing you will still be working at the age of 74, whatever life throws at you, but you won’t think of it as work. And you will also be a pleasure to meet.

Just a thought.