NORTHERN PLANNER

So I finally met Rob the other week. 

(Rob's picture)

After knowing each other only in digital form since 2006. That was when planning blogs were a thing, no one was really on Facebook and Twitter worked worked through SMS. 

It was also a time when it felt that planners has a real community, some sort of support network. You might not need one if you work in London or New York, but in can be a bit lonely if you're in planning department of two or three in a more regional outpost and the only frame of reference is your boss.

Now of course, your boss might be great, but there is always the chance you have the kind of leader who wants you to have their opinions rather than your own. Or even worse, the kind who lets you walk before you can crawl, offer little guidance and then criticise you when you fail.

I digress. Rob has done the kind of work most of us dream of, in every continent. He's deeply respected around the world and is still moving things forward. 

And yet if you read his blog, he quickly discover he wears his intelligence lightly, as those with real talent and experience tend to. You'll also find that he's kind and generous.

He's done stuff for me that would amaze you, without meeting once. On a couple of occasions when a couple of things were difficult for me, he was always there. 

So I was really happy to find he was moving to London a few months back, because I was sure we would finally get to meet. Eventually it happened and though I was super excited to meet him, I was a little nervous. It was ROB after all and I'm even less interesting in person than I am online.

Naturally in person he was funny, and wise.  But more than that he was kind and thoughtful. 

What a legend.