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TONY CORRIGAN SPENDS a lot of his time working. The CEO of Orbidal also spends a lot of time training for marathons – which gives him some more time to think about work.
Orbidal - which was previously known as Tenderscout - helps businesses find and procure government contracts. It’s already working in the US, UK and Europe and is planning to launch a major product upgrade by the end of May.
The company employs 10 people and three subcontractors. It’s turnover last year was just under €1 million.
As part of our weekly question-and-answer series, we talked to Corrigan about solar powered Kindles and the importance of honesty in the business world.
Here’s what he had to say:
How would you describe your work/management style?
I’m firm but fair. I like to give people autonomy and I like people to learn from their mistakes.
What’s the toughest work-related decision you’ve ever had to make?
Some of the toughest decisions I’ve had to make, especially in building up this company, have been trying to decide what to spend very little money on. A lot of the time it’s choosing between something like paying someone a salary that they really deserve or doing something that it more impactful or longer term for the company.
A lot of the time people don’t have all of the information to understand the decisions that you make. It can be quite hard to balance the long term future of the business with the short term needs of the people working in it.
What would you like to own that you don’t currently possess?
I spend a lot of my time working, and I’m the kind of person that if I really want something I’ll just get it and figure out how to pay for it. I guess my attitude is you only live once and opportunities only come around once, so you kind of have to take them when you get them.
There’s nothing I particularly want – except maybe tickets to the next Kate Bush concert.
If you were stranded on a desert island with just one thing, what would you want it to be?
A magic lamp might be useful, or a solar-powered Kindle. The Kindle is my favourite thing in the world, I reckon if I had a solar powered one I’d be happy forever.
What’s the best piece of advice you ever received, and who did it come from?
It wasn’t in words, it was more of an attitude, and it was from my mother. She was in an accident that left her paralysed when she was 19, she never lets it get in the way of anything she wants to do.
That taught me that there’s no real adversity that can’t be overcome with resilience, determination and a positive outlook.
When you’re considering partnering with another person or business, what factors are deal-breakers for you?
Somebody who is not willing to be a partner and only sees the relationship as a win-lose relationship. More than that, I’ve met plenty of people in business who are not quite honest and don’t really mind who they upset to get what they want out of life.
What have you found is the best way to motivate staff?
The best way to motivate staff is to make sure that they are included in the big picture, so they feel that they have an input into the important decisions that are being made in the company.
What bad work (or business) habit have you had to kick?
I don’t think I’ve kicked any of the bad ones. I tend to work continuously and if I’m not working continuously I’m thinking about work.
I get up in the morning and spend about an hour fighting with the children to try and get them to wear clothes – it’s important to me they do that when they leave the house. From 8.30am I’m working and I don’t switch off until 11pm.
When I’m not working I’m probably doing long runs. I run marathons, which means you have to do lots of three-hour runs. I think less about work when I’m working, I’ve kicked that habit to think about work when I’m running.
If you could invest in any Irish company (other than your own), which one would it be and why?
I have admired Workhuman for a long time. I know the founder so I’ve had an opportunity to see the evolution of that company and the challenges that have been overcome.
What do you see as being the biggest challenge for your business?
Getting to a point where you have momentum. We’re doing an awful lot of the right things but you have to do them for a lot longer than you think before the business starts to get a momentum of its own.
We’re starting to see that momentum. Maybe in another six or nine months time I hope that momentum will turn into something that really builds a long-term sustainable business.
What’s your favourite job interview question to ask and why?
I have a few and they’re all pretty mean. One of the questions that I like to ask is, ‘if you were to get this job, what’s the first thing that you would change about this business?’
Most people spend a lot of time presenting their best face in an interview. Sometimes you wonder, do they even know what they’re interviewing for? I think asking them a question that’s less about them and more about the job they’re going to do, helps to understand whether they actually understand the company.
I have had people at the end of an interview ask what is the interview for? They are just on a treadmill of companies that they’re interviewing for.
Written by Zuzia Whelan and posted on Fora.ie
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Presumably Electric Ireland are giving all the featured houses a months free electricity???
Houses from “all around Ireland” yet features houses only in Dublin and Cork. Disappointing
How has the house on the cahir Road to clonmel not got a look in? Not only is it all lit up, but it actually looks tasteful!
That house is gorgeous,every year it’s a shame it didn’t make the list. It’s the highlight of our shopping trips to see that house!
The house on the Clonmel road out of Cahir must be added to the list if not go to the top of it. The house is in a darkish area so looks even more pronounced and stylish. A lot of those on the list appear loud and abrasive – dare I say it.
Come on Journal – stump up the petrol money to see if any of the writers can survive outside of the pale.
Cos it’s not in Dublin/ Cork
Their broadband speed must be terrible.
Dear Journal
Between Dublin and Cork there is land. This land is home to other counties. What may be more surprising is that to the north of Dublin there is yet more land which is home to more counties.
Yours Sincerely
A person from outside Cork or Dublin
Well put.
Yeah but allot of its dark!
That’s not a list – just lazy journalism or even lazier advertising. Sorry most certainly not Journalism
Noonan’s house in Templeglantine, Co. Limerick go all out with their property every year for charity. As mentioned above there is more to Ireland than Dublin and Cork.
Just so people know house number 6 is not decorated this year :-( the man living there I think is in ill health and couldn’t put up the decorations!! really sad for the estate
Such a shame. Hope he’ll be okay. It would be nice if Electric Ireland did something nice for him, such as get his house decorated for him, given he’s still featured in their advertising campaign.
Where in Artane is house number 6?
I once lived in the Brookwood section and that house looked familar
Please take a look at MULDOWNEY CHRISTMAS LIGHT SHOW in Cobh, Cork We have a static dispaly on from 5-10pm but the main attraction is our PROGRAMMED LIGHT SHOW where, for 20 minutes each night at 7:30pm, our lights dance to music – not only that, we have some features including Frozen, Minions, singing Christmas tree faces (the only of their kind in Ireland) and a special Santa experience at the end of the show! there are free candy canes for the kids every night and donations are optional – all funds going to the Mercy University Hospital Oncology Ward. Since 2012, we have raised just under 15,000e. Please see our promo video – https://www.facebook.com/345884728843279/videos/vb.345884728843279/837059156392498/?type=2&theater
The lower classes love tasteless lights.
That is why they are lower class.
The “lower class” are living in those massive houses in Dalkey? Jesus where are the upper class are living then!?
Honorable mention to that house in Parteen
I’m sure if other home owners post I’m their pics the journal will give them a mention.
Wexford /rosslare road one of the oldest doing it over 20years and all proceeds go to rnli should have been on this, but I guess the journal doesn’t drive past its Dublin boarders and cork office should be ashamed, saying all over Ireland!!!
Artaine house is not lit up yet rumours around the area is its not happening either gutted it’s a great display
If its the one in Elm Mount, I heard its not happening this year.
Thorndale
Rathdrum Road Crumlin!!!!!!!!!!! They light up there house every year, and collect donations for a different charity each year!! This year its cystic fibrosis!!! Santa also greets visitors every night of the 12 days of Christmas!! Well worth a look!! FACEBOOK: JOSIES XMAS LIGHTS
I should do my bathroom the same now I think…
http://jezebel.com/5970944/is-that-a-penis-in-your-front-yard-or-are-you-just-really-excited-for-christmas
Sometimes it goes wrong with too much Christmas decorations??? lol.
I recall this exact same article last year as I remember thinking houses from around the country… Yet only Dublin and cork were featured…. To hear that the house in artane isn’t lit up, nor will be this year highlights the total lazy journalism on here!
Swansnest Avenue, Kilbarrack, Switching on the 11th of Dec.
That’s taking Xmas
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