Why I Love Mondays

Neil Leyden, a scriptwriter, ideas junkie, entrepreneur and professional optimist. I’ve worked for myself (and set up companies) for the last 10 years. This year I’m busy implementing my idea which won Your Country, Your Call in 2010. The aim: to set up an International Digital Services Centre in Ireland.

Company: I work for neilleyden.com which is a full time job, terrible hours and the boss is always at me.  My main role is manufacturing ideas out of bits of thoughts. I then make these ideas happen, usually in a binary fashion…whether they be TV or film scripts, companies in themselves, ideas for someone else’s company or, in one particular case, an idea for a whole country.
Job Description: Bringing ideas to fruition one bit at a time.    If it’s a script, it’s creating the story and making it sing so someone will make it shine on a screen. If it’s making a company, it’s putting together a team that believe in the idea as much as you do and will work as hard as you will to sell that product or service to the world. If it’s working for someone else, it’s understanding what is their “pain”, how can you cure it digitally and making them understand that it’s the right thing to do (even if it hurts a little bit getting there.)
Likes: The continuous challenges…
Career Ladder: My career really started on the docks in Windmill Lane Pictures, a fantastic den of motion pictures, music, and magic. It was one of the few places in Ireland you could go from making the tea to making a film in a matter of weeks. I learnt my trade there and also stumbled across the digital revolution. How did I get there? By accident, as all good things should happen.
Qualifications: BA in History of Art and English from UCD. Diploma in Film Making from DIT.
Working hours: Whatever is required but usually 8.30 to 6.
Breaktime: In my head, I have a Dockers Special. But alas, that fine establishment is gone.
Social Media Credentials: I’m working on not lurking and finding the time to update but I’m getting better. I look at Facebook and Twitter mainly on my iphone but browse it on Flipboard on the iPad. @neilleyden
News Sources: Storyful.com on Twitter, independent.ie and the Flipboard for whole range of tech and media content.
Onsite or Offsite: Increasingly, where ever I lay my laptop. I’m working with a number of different people in a number of different offices. Many of which look like Starbucks.
Digital Strategy/Vision: For me digital is just the most incredible way to communicate something you believe in to the whole world – whether it is a piece of music, a film, a work of art, product, a service or just an idea. We are truly blessed to live in an age where we’re no longer limited by government or shoreline to express ourselves or find a market for our goods.
I love Mondays because: sure why wouldn’t you?