Tim Dobson
Thinker, Blogger, Hacker, Hiker.
Meeting Steph and swapping vanlife stories in Woolacombe
5 May 2018
Yesterday I met Steph who has been living in her van since January. We explored Woolacombe and shared stories about #vanlife realities that don't get talked about so much. Steph told me about how fairly recently she'd come back to her van to find two guys leaning off against the front of her van. "Could […]
The hairpin bend that got the better of me
30 July 2017
Today I made a poor decision and tried to go too tightly round a hairpin bend I couldn't reverse up out of and got stuck. One wheel was basically off the ground and the other wasn't moving. The recovery company managed finally to use a small van, and a towing strap and some slim Jim […]
#TimOnLoan: borrow me for a week for FREE (worth £3000)
15 March 2017
Are you drowning in emails? Trying to get some things done whilst juggling a bunch of other things? Perhaps I can help? I want to lend out my skills to organisations in Manchester for free: Is this you? You know decision makers need your product or service but it sometimes feels like they speak ‘different language’ […]
![The [passenger side] window in question - right above the door handle!](/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/sfgsf22-e1489067384204.jpg)
What happened after my van was broken into (or how you can harness a customer's negative experiences for good!)
9 March 2017
My van was broken into the other night. Someone removed the front front side window, from the outside, without breaking the pane. They took a dashcam and walkie-talkie but kindly left the window pane in the gutter unbroken! I'm ok, all is well but I had a problem: I had a van with no front, […]
Why I failed at a Sales Conversation that looked like it went well
7 March 2017
Back when I was a technical sales person trying to help customers find the right hosting solutions for their products, I had a sales memorable interaction. A customer "Alice" get in touch, looking for an onsite meeting to discuss what they needed. Me and a less technical colleague, "Brendan", went to visit. At the meeting, […]
Video conferencing from a van above the Lake District
6 March 2017
Video conferencing from the van perched on a hillside above the Lake District Originally posted on this post on Instagram
Great views and spicy wedges from home
4 March 2017
Great view from home today! So I did the only obvious thing and made spicy wedges! #thugkitchen Originally posted on this post on Instagram
A relic from the 1978 Manchester University Hiking Club songbook
4 March 2017
Found in the 1978 Manchester University Hiking Club songbook. Errr. Because that was a thing?! It doesn't sound like that much has changed! Originally posted on this post on Instagram
What no-one will tell you about rocking employment fairs! (specifically the Manchester Digital talent fest)
3 February 2017
All you need to know: Get a ticket Turn up. Talk to as many tech companies as possible to try understand what they do and how they operate All you need to know to rock it: Do: Ask people lots of questions – especially about the area you're most interested in. People LOVE anyone who's interested […]
Like climbing? In digital? Join us for #DigiClimbMCR
2 January 2017
Are you a climber? Set a new years resolutions to be more active? Spend most of your day behind a computer because you work in technology or creative industries? #DigiClimbMCR is an informal, weekly Wednesday evening climbing meetup in central Manchester for any friendly person linked to or interested in technology or digital & creative industries. […]
Nearterm 2017 plans!
27 December 2016
My plans for the next month or so, are fairly focused: Setup the #DigiClimbMCR meetup Research how people climb, and use fitness apps, by spending almost as much time at MCC as possible. Launch #TimOnLoan and loan myself for ~2+ weeks to small/exciting companies in Manchester I'm looking forward to sharing how I get on […]
This one time I screwed up leadership and communication
8 December 2016
When I was 18, I lead a team of young people into a 12 hour sailing race. I was relying on the support of a bunch of their parents, but because we'd all done it before the previous year without a hitch, I assumed I didn't need to communicate directly with these key team members. […]