I’ll kick off by saying this won’t be my average article. There’s not going to be any rants about how important Power Platform admins are, or any Power Fx code snippets to use. This week, this blog site hits an important milestone for me – its 1st birthday, so wanted to take some time to reflect on what’s been more than just a Power Platform blog.
I appreciate no one else dedicates content to the anniversary of when they started; it’s not something I’ll be doing every year so don’t worry. However, the past 12 or so months holds more significance to me personally than you might think.
So, I hope that some of what I’ll share in this article might help inspire others, even in a small way, to break down a few barriers, pursue ambitions or just talk to someone in a time of need.
The older I get, the more I just love getting to know people. Relationships you build are THE single, most valuable currency on the planet. You won’t convince me otherwise.
I don’t care much for titles, how much money you earn, what car you drive or how many bedrooms your house has. What makes you tick? What motivates you? Who inspires you? What are your ambitions or things you want to achieve? What’s your favourite beer? Who do you want to win the next Formula 1 Grand Prix? Where were you when Gazza was inches away from Shearer’s cross in Euro ’96? That’s the good stuff.
I think back 10 years or so and I’d always put Microsoft employees or MVP’s on a pedestal, like they were some kind of gods from another planet. I was very quick to forget the most important part – they’re just people! With the same challenges, anxieties, struggles, unique quirks, and goals that we all have.
That’s very much an influence for this article, too. This Power Platform blog is all most of you will have seen or know about me, but I’m sure there’s much of my last year or two that will strike a chord on a personal level.
This is my way of giving you a small window into the person that writes a few blogs.
Taking it back
9th March, 2022 to be precise.
Have you ever had someone ring your phone and, before you even answer it, know instantly that it’s going to be a bad phone call? Yeah, that. That lunchtime, Mum rings me. My old man had a sudden heart attack, completely out of nowhere (weeelllll, kind of. He was a heavy smoker for 50 odd years, so that might have had something to do with it).
They managed to fix his heart with a few stents. But the 45 minutes it had stopped beating before coming back to life left irreversible damage to other organs. We said our goodbyes a few days later.
Without question, this has been the biggest challenge I’ve faced. To lose my best mate, my confidant, my inspiration. Little did I know then that this event would be a positive springboard to a lot since.
Formula 1 app
The old man wasn’t an avid fan of Formula 1, but he’d watch the odd race back in the day and knew his history. We spent a lot of time talking about sport & technology – and his unhealthy infatuation for Kylie Minogue.
Around Christmas 2021, I’d started building a Power App to capture and visualise Formula 1 data. Personal project, zero intentions of it seeing the light of day, purely for my own indulgence.
That changed with his passing and wanted to share it in memory of him, I guess. With the encouragement of a few close friends, I posted a some screenshots and even recorded a YouTube video (my only one to date 😂). 2 years on and this remains the most liked and commented post I’m ever likely to have across social media.
I was completely overwhelmed with the positive response back then, I still am to be honest. But it was a great distraction at the time and so it sparked my imagination.
"Right, I'm gonna start a Power Platform blog!"
I’d wanted to do it for years. Genuinely, I’ve wanted to do a technical blog for a long time. The F1 app was the perfect catalyst, I had validation from a wide audience that I was half decent at Power Apps. People wanted more, so I thought it’s the right time to give it a go. Ride the wave and see how far it goes.
I got together with a friend who helped get me set up. I bought a domain and even drafted a couple of articles during April 2022:
The blog idea soon crashed as, in hindsight, probably wasn’t the best time to start one. It was a good distraction at the time but one that got quickly overshadowed with supporting my family. I was also trying to just carry on and maintain some kind of reality. I spent the remaining part of 2022 desperately ignoring that I needed to grieve. As you’d expect, this caught up with me in the end.
It also wasn’t the first time I’d started something only for it to quickly crash. This was something I wanted to get to the bottom of as it’s been a common theme for many years.
Neurodiversity assessment
It’s long dawned on me that I have some kind of neurodiversity. I can read through symptoms for adult ADHD & autism and tick a load of them off, quite easily. But I’m no medical professional and let’s face it, the internet isn’t always the most reliable source of information. I’ve always wanted to get assessed, to find out for sure. If you’re from the UK and looked into this, you’ll know that your typical wait time is well over 2 years. It’s growing too, as neurodiversity awareness is increasing and so more people want to go through the process.
As part of the private medical insurance I receive from my employers, I was able to get assessed without a huge wait time. Finally, some clarity and confirmation that ADHD is well & truly part of my personality. I refuse to say diagnosed, because neurodiversity isn’t an illness.
Unlike starting a Power Platform blog, this was something useful to run alongside trying to process my grief. My lack of focus & motivation, impulsiveness & chronic fatigue were exacerbated by my old man’s passing, so it’s something I wanted to learn more about, and how to live with it.
I’m lucky to work for a company that fully supports neurodiversity, which has been a major contributor for my personal improvements in the past year or so (Squirrel Club 4 Lyfe💪). If you or anyone close to you would like support for neurodiversity, here’s some good places to start:
Divine intervention
Working through grief & a neurodiversity assessment, whilst tough, were great opportunities for personal growth. The flipside was my ADHD brain butting heads & dampening my motivation for change. I had to push through, but knew I needed outside influences to help give me the extra push I needed.
I’m a believer of fate and the fact that things can happen outside of your control that will be beneficial. Or, circumstances that might appear spooky but can also be seen as a sign. A couple of things happened in 2023 to help me on my way.
Right place, right time, right people
I moved roles in ANS Group in early 2023. It wasn’t the role as such that appealed at the time (though was a factor), but more the people I’d be working with. Going back to an earlier point in this article – it was about building new relationships that would hopefully help & guide me.
For a long time, I’ve had a very negative, “can’t do” attitude – probably down to years of conditioning in credit control roles & saying no to everyone 😂. So, this new role gave me the opportunity to work with VERY positive, “can do” people. I was keen for some of that to rub off.
The same people also massively changed the vibe and togetherness for our whole team. You cannot understate the impact some positivity can have. This all helped to switch my mindset to a more positive one and be excited for, rather than scared of new challenges.
Wife's business
A key choice for us last year was getting my wife set up to be self-employed. She’s dreamed of doing it for 20yrs or so and we were finally able to commit. I’m glad we did, as the UK economy went pretty mental shortly after. I’m proud of her that’s she’s navigated that and absolutely smashing it.
It was a key decision for me personally, too. I’ve long sacrificed myself so others can have what they want or need, especially true when it comes to my wife & daughter. In hindsight, this particular choice made me realise that they both had their identity and pursuing their goals, but I wasn’t. A part of me got quite resentful of the situation, but I worked through it to identify where and how I can pursue mine as well.
This was important for trying to recapture some purpose. Something where I’m not Solution Architect, not Husband, not Daddy. It had to be something that was ME – much like my wife’s business is to her, or horse-riding lessons are to my daughter.
For real this time
That mindset brought me back to starting my own Power Platform blog, but actually doing it this time. Armed with a more positive mindset, the right motivations and knowledge of handling my crazy ADHD brain, I could attack it with a renewed purpose. One that would be sustainable, fun and not as a distraction to other things.
So, I reached out to the same friend who’d helped me back in 2022 for my initial (failed) attempt. We share a tenant so after a few WhatsApps, we agreed to chat over Teams. Note the dates of the communications; fate playing its part again.
I released my first post a week later. The subject? Building a Power Platform solution to help my wife manage her appointments for her self-employed venture.
The power of community
Stepping out into any community can be daunting. Even with the great reaction to my F1 app, I was still sh*tt*ng myself for how my articles might be received. What I quickly found was a welcoming, encouraging and embracing Microsoft & Power Platform community, who are ALWAYS willing to help and accepting of new people sharing knowledge.
In truth, the community was helpful to me in many ways before even publishing that first post. Lots of communities surround us; at home, our local communities, at work, down the pub with your mates. My work community were the first to give me the lift & encouragement I needed.
There’s a saying you may have heard of: “we rise by lifting others”. I used to think this was just some random thing people said but never meant, until being on the receiving end of it myself. The people I’ve worked with at ANS fully embody this; even at times when they probably could have swung for me, they persevered to help me to a better place mentally.
We see the hashtag #SharingIsCaring used a lot on social media. This is typically used when we are sharing technical content to help others. For me, the power of sharing extends well beyond that. This goes back to my earlier point – we’re all just people with our own challenges; the communities around you are there to help with more than just getting some Power Fx to work.
Always learning
We all have difficult circumstances to face from time to time. I’m sure most of you will have navigated way harder challenges that ones I’ve mentioned above. But behind each one, there’s a new pearl of wisdom or experience that’ll serve you well for the future. Here’s the key one’s I’ve taken from the past couple of years:
Life is too short: We’ve all said this at least once, right? It’s an obvious one, but also something we say and not take seriously. You never know what’s around the corner, start adopting a “can do” approach and crack through your bucket list.
Don’t ignore the signs: You can run from stuff, but you can’t hide. Things will catch up with you eventually, so be honest and address what you need to before it gets harder.
It’s ok to ask for help: You can’t always navigate everything by yourself. A problem shared can be a problem halved, whether that’s sharing with a friend, colleague or paid professional. Be open to experiences and perceptions from others that might be gold dust.
Surround yourself with the right people: Sometimes, that means people that won’t simply agree with everything you have to say. Be accepting of things you don’t want to hear, but NEED to. This might also include letting go of old friendships that hold less value than they used to.
Be unequivocally yourself: If people don’t like you, screw them. You will find your tribe!
Community rocks: There’s always others willing to help and share, even in the most unlikely places. Be active in all the communities you’re involved in to build long-lasting relationships. Pay it forward where possible.
A special mention also for Rule number 5. IYKYK.
Thank you
It goes without saying that I’m very grateful for anyone who’s read, shared or commented on my articles so far. You’ve all played a part in helping to propel me forward after a challenging time. My blog has been a great catalyst for meeting more people, building more relationships and sharing experiences that’ll help others way beyond just the tech.
Here’s to the future and more learning, growth & community 🎉🎂. If you ever see me around at an in-person event or want to chew the fat over Teams, never be shy in reaching out.
Many congratulations on your First Anniversary. Another great read in other respects than tech. Hope you continue to move on to higher heights not just in tech but all areas of life.
Happy 1st birthday Craig! Your willingness to share experiences and vulnerabilities, how you have overcome them, and the human way you articulate yourself is so special. You make it ok for other people to talk openly too 🙂
Here’s to the next 12 months buddy – keep being you!
Congrats on the blog Craig and thank you for being vulnerable and sharing your stories. A testament to the content you have and will continue to deliver. Sorry to hear about your loss, but you have truly turned it into a gift for so many (including myself).
great post, thanks for sharing Craig!