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But then it fell apart in an afternoon and I was back to Earth with a bump. So I turned to a safer form of numbers - a career in banking.

Still, the one thing from that very early part of my life is that I was full of dreams, creativity and aspiration, and it is a sense I have never lost.

I started out at Barclays in branch banking, where the biggest adrenaline rush came from an armed robbery - oh and it was where I met my wife, too.

I opted for another risky environment after that and moved to First Direct just as it launched. They were exciting times and that was where I learned what it was like to be involved in a start-up, and I loved it. I also loved being part of such a forward-thinking, bright and energetic team. Recruiting the best people, even if they challenge your own position, is an absolute necessity to create success and should never be compromised.

Having learned my marketing trade with gusto at First Direct, I moved on to be marketing director at Guardian Direct. I was only just 30 and my career was flying - as was the owl...

But at just 34 I had grown tired of the corporate nonsense: the endless meetings, the back stabbing, ladder climbing and the commute, too (I had two young children by this point, who I rarely saw). Enough was enough. I was in danger of losing my sense of humour. Time to move on.

I had harboured thoughts of starting my own business for some time and, when I thought about who I would like to do it with, there was only one person on the list - Andy Gardner, whom I'd met at First Direct during its formative years. So I met Andy (now Jaywing's managing partner) for a pint. He didn't think I was completely mad, and so we went for it. In May 1999, Jaywing was born.

At the end of year one we broke even, and had grown to 11 people. Our culture was already well established at this point. We were determined to make sure our environment was appealing to senior people, many of whom would have children. It was not difficult to place trust in those people as they were, and still are, great professionals. Yet this established our enduring operating model. Trusting people rather than controlling them has been a huge contributory factor to our success: they become free in so many senses of the word, and that brings better ideas and greater commitment.

Our genuine desire to be everything corporate life is not created a very strong internal brand that was also appealing to clients. We were never engaged in petty politics, were incredibly inventive, responsive and to the point. Our brand was us. And it still is. Not only are we committed to our jobs, but we are fiercely protective of what it means to be a Jaywinger, how we treat each other and what we deliver for clients.

Even at our current size of more than 100 people I can honestly say I have not met a single Jaywinger I wouldn't choose to have a pint with. Jaywing is full of strong personal relationships both between each other and our clients. A friend of ours, Professor Bob Gibbs, an expert in workplace relations, said he simply couldn't believe how much people laugh and enjoy each other's company in Jaywing and how humour is never used to belittle, which it so often is elsewhere.

So here we are and in just eight years we've grown up to be a company of sufficient scale and interest to be part of Digital Marketing Group. Data has never been sexier. It provides the means for marketers to integrate their direct and digital channels to improve return on investment substantially.

By the way, those two children became four, and because of Jaywing I've had some precious times with all of them.

CV
Climbing the ladder
1983: Management trainee, Barclays
1990: Customer development manager, First Direct
1994: Marketing director, Guardian Direct
1999: Formed Jaywing

Secrets
- Create a strong brand people can get behind
- Never compromise on recruiting the best people
- Manage people through trust not control
- Build strong personal and professional relationships with your people
and clients
- Gain as much practical experience as possible
- Keep your sense of humour