Jonathan Burrows’ BIO
Education & School
I was one of those kids that never did well when it came to exams. I was ‘ok’ during term lessons although I was often accused of having my head in the clouds! I still do that today!
So what did I get leaving school? I got two O-levels (English & Geography) and two CSE’s (Maths & French). That’s a surprise considering I’m good at mental arithmetics!
After School
I’ve since successfully completed several recognised qualifications:
- Windows NT MCSE (now out of date and officially NOT recognised sadly)
- Citrix Metaframe for Windows Administration
- City & Guilds in Microcomputing
- Pitman Microsoft Office 97/2000 Advanced Training
Self teaching
I’m self taught in many technical disciplines, some of which are listed elsewhere (My Work). Maybe I haven’t mentioned these though:
- Basic UNIX
- Basic Linux
- Basic MAC OS
- Basic Novell Netware (note the two L’s pronounced no vell)
- Basic Cisco routing
- Basic Exchange Server
- Basic MS SQL Server
- Apache Web Server and Internet Information Server
And it kind of goes without saying that I can do some batch file scripting (MS-DOS style).
Essentially, without blowing my own trumpet too much, I can do many things, a “Jack of all trades” you could say.
Work Experience
Early years (up to 1999)
My early work experience is in fact in retailing. Come to think of it, that’s where the majority of my work years have been. Ranging from quality menswear (Jaeger and House of Fraser) to toyshop management & bookshop management (Tridias Toys). I even worked in a golf shop for a while!
Middle years as an employee (between 1999 & 2008)
It was about 1999 that I first got a job doing something technical. I worked for Appleby Westward as a Support Analyst for (I think) about 18 months. This was an incredibly stressful position with many Spar shop owners needing resolutions to problems … ‘yesterday’!
Since then I’ve worked as a Support Analyst and later as Technical Consultant to Torex Retail. This time proved to be a great learning experience ‘technically’, but it also led to the end of my 17 year marriage :-(
The following three or four years (leading to the present day) have been hard and a time of recovery and self image strengthening for me. I worked for Staples for a while which I enjoyed because it was stuff I had done before and could do it with my hands tied behind my back!
Finally, I was recently (October 2007) offered a job as a Property Inspector at a Letting Agent (Chris Shorey Lettings) in Plymouth where I still work today. This has proved a turning point for me in my personal growth and I am indebted to all those who work there. By the way, Chris Shorey Lettings have been in business for a long time and in my mind are a great accommodation provider, especially for students of Plymouth.
Updated June 2009: Still at Chris Shorey Lettings but now as Property Manager. This is wider role which covers all aspects of property lettings.
Meanwhile, I still do my I.T. related stuff, see the next section.
Middle years as a business owner (between 2003 & 2008)
In 2003, while working at Staples, I met a guy named Ian Simpson who was as enthusiastic as they come! His skills resided in computing while mine had developed into business I.T. (through Torex and Appleby Westward).
Ian suggested that we set up a business doing anything I.T. and that in fact was (and still is) the name – Anything I.T.
Things were ok but never took off like we hoped (not unusual in business I can tell you!) and in the end pressures told and sadly we had a falling out where I asked him to leave the business.
He probably doesn’t know it, but I have full respect for Ian as a person and I hope that he is doing well in his life.
I later asked an old work colleague (Adam Johnson) from Torex Retail to join me because I was not good with programming and I was getting more and more requests for this sort of work.
We had many ideas about how to use software he had been developing. He redeveloped this software (called the Core Libraries) which enabled him/us to build applications reliably and rapidly.
We had several ideas but we never seemed to get to a point where we could get out there and sell them and this led to a certain amount of frustration in me because I was putting money into the software project but nothing was coming of it.
Note to self: Plan plan and do more plans. Double, triple and quadruple financial and time scheduled estimates.
When things became too tough financially to sustain, I started doing my I.T. work part time and got a job. This was a low paid job and I found it very hard because I was at a very down point in my life (personally and financially). Also, I was still talking to Adam and we still hoped that we could get things off the ground.
Unfortunately, things went bad with the people I was working for and because we (Adam and I) were friends/associates with the owner, the falling out I had with him led Adam to decide to go with them for support of the software projects.
If I’m to admit it, I was devastated and totally hurt by what happened. This was the lowest point in my life – ever!
I’ve since come to terms with what happened and can look at things more philosophically.
Several people deserve a mention here who have supported me and deserve my heartfelt thanks:
My mum and dad – honestly without them I really don’t know where I would be! They have been immense!
My children – what beautiful people they are! (despite the crap I have put them through!)
Debs – thanks for being there and trusting that I would come through (she has a cleaning business in Plymouth)
There are several other friends who I won’t mention here just yet – but thanks!
While I’m still the same emotional person, I recognise that tough times happen and people do certain things that they think are for the best.
Enough said.
Looking forward to the future I’m continuing to be a very forgiving person and hope others in my past are forgiving towards me too.
So, this section was about business/personal (the middle years). Now that I’m working full time in a demanding job, what is interesting is that I’m starting to get more and more I.T. related work again! I think this is partly due to my improved self image and the ‘luck’ of having some good people around me.
Gaming and fun
I enjoy playing an online game called Counter-Strike: Source and have joined and been welcomed into an online gaming community called Dead Men Walking. Thanks lads (and lasses!) you’ve played your part in helping me come through some bad stuff. Shoot you online later!
In the real world, my circle of friends is growing again and I enjoy real world stuff with them too.
Update June 2009:
Several I.T. projects are starting to take shape and have real possibilities. I have more and more website work coming my way which helps to pay the bills. For more information about what I can do, take a look at the Services pages.