Stay curious

I get asked a lot how I got to become Co-CEO. On the things I can control, I say it’s because I stay curious.

At 16 during my first job at Burger King I wanted to find out how a BK makes money and the manager showed me. Years later that understanding is something I often replay.

I am curious about other people’s life’s, jobs and interests. Often to discover I am not personally interested about what their interested in and vice versa. Being curious doesn’t mean you have to love the topic. Learn just enough to file it away for a future moment.

Most recently I was curious about how train tracks work, remembering how fibre optics work, key moments in art history, Nick from British museum Wikipedia entry and child poverty.

Wikipedia is a great place to start. Followed by YouTube, podcasts, interviews, books and good old fashioned getting in touch.

im curious about what I’ll be curious about next.

Farewell delicious

I can’t understate how important delicious to my early years on the web. Also during university I had an idea around the same time for such a service so I sometimes dream what if.

https://daringfireball.net/linked/2024/11/26/delicious-library-eol

Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery reopening speech

Tuesday 22nd October 2024

As far as I am aware BMAG hadn’t closed since the second world war (which my daughter asked as im old, if I was there).

We really hope this is the last time we fully close for 100yrs Since opening in 1885 (and no I wasn’t around for that kid)

Over 100 million people have visited the museums we care for and a chunk of that was people visiting here at BMAG.

Museums were never just vessels for staring at art. They are places for people. People to feel something. People just being people in all their glory. Where you may take your first steps, Where you take your first date, a place to see wonder, a place to discover something old and something new… a place for a wee and free wifi.

We proudly have famous art, stuffed animals, vehicles of every type, old maps and even hats.

People who just like to wander the world in a gallery we got you.

You are amongst the first 500 people to breath life back into us.

We are most concerned with those who don’t have a voice.

We are attempting something that has never been done before. Both inside the organisation and with the public.

We need to work much harder for the public.

We need to be relatable and democratic and not be shy of continuous improvement

You are our heroes. the tiny sparks that are breathing life back into the museums lungs.

We need you.

The city needs you.

A hero can be anyone.

Heroes leave 5 star google reviews – I want 100 reviews by tomorrow!

If the museum could talk I think it would say:

Electrical wiring forced our closure but still i rise

Covid comes and knocks me down but still i rise

Global conflict and a cost of living crisis but still i rise

Section 114 declared our city bust but hey guess what, still i rise

AUDIENCE participation: After 3 shout “Still I rise”

As Mike Skinner [Birmingham born] from the streets said “ Let’s push things forward shall we?

Ashville weekly

Every week a new episode of the life and times of Daniel. I have been gripped and watched all 204 episodes to date