Michael McCroddan

Cyber security & sustainable energy investor, Family Office specialist, ex-Lawyer & Director of Lunch

[Michael McCroddan @mvmccroddan]

"Safety, under any circumstances, is an illusion" Leonora Carrington

[Michael McCroddan @mvmccroddan]

@ahistoryinart An artist’s artist? JHH seemed to have universal respect amongst his peer group. Lovely body of work, must have influenced many younger artist, Edward Seago comes to mind amongst others.

[Michael McCroddan @mvmccroddan]

Yet another painter I don’t know Richard, it reminded me of the many times I used to walk my dogs across fields in North Hertfordshire at night when I would frequently see shooting stars against an unpolluted night sky. Wonderful painting, must research him, thank you 🙏.

[Michael McCroddan @mvmccroddan]

Lovely tributes, especially from Chris Beetles, on the usual search engines. Totally agree on the frequency of shooting stars although my wife never believed me. JHH seemed to be able to turn his talents to all areas of art but you can see he was influenced by Japan.

[Richard Morris @ahistoryinart]

@mvmccroddan Thanks as ever, Michael. It reminded too of skies where I used to live on the Essex/Suffolk - shooting stars were evident almost every night of the year. JHH produced some wonderful work (died much too young) and often the thoughts are what he would have become.

[Michael McCroddan @mvmccroddan]

Always encourage your staff to be ambitious, if they move on part on good terms as it always comes back to you. You just don’t know when 🤔😉!

[Alan Smith @AlanJLSmith]

This is Tony.

In 2009 he wrote me a letter to explain that he had recently graduated with a degree in financial planning and he’d love to interview for a job at my firm.

We weren’t recruiting at the time, but I liked his direct approach, so arranged to meet.

He drove down from Manchester a few days later and impressed me so much that we hired him on the spot.

He stayed at Capital for five years and helped us to build our investment proposition.

He was a passionate student, keen to learn everything about our profession, get qualified to the highest level and progress as fast as he could.

After a number of years working together, he realised that he had an entrepreneurial itch that he needed to scratch.

So after many conversations with me, he moved on, and in a short time started his own company.

It’s still early days, but it’s progressing well - although he’s found out how difficult it is being a founder and owner of a small business!

I’ve enjoyed watching his progress , first of all as a colleague and now as a peer.

We meet up from time to time, swap war stories and I give him some feedback based on my experience.

I always want to ensure that, regardless of how long somebody stays at our firm, they leave as a better person.

They’re more experienced, better qualified and have been mentored and supported.

Advice to anyone building their career:

1. Do your research and find companies that you’d love to work for. Contact the CEO directly and make a compelling pitch.

2. If you get hired, work hard, become a student of your profession and learn to be indispensable. Read the book Lynchpin by Seth Godin.

3. If you do choose to move on, share your thoughts with your boss, collaborate, and create a mutually beneficial outcome.

Welcome to entrepreneurship Tony, enjoy the journey. 🎢

[Michael McCroddan @mvmccroddan]

Not too simplistic at all, as someone else posted “a zero sum game “. God help Northern Ireland with an even higher percentage of State employees if their Assembly goes the same route 🤔

[Richard Ross @RichardRoss_EU]

@afneil Excellent point; the State will have to pay more to entice workers to stay in Scotland; this will require even higher taxes, unless this is too simplistic?

[BladeoftheSun @BladeoftheS]

Rory Stewart who once seemed to be the next Conservative Leader after David Cameron, is considering joining Labour.

RT if that's a good idea.
Like if it's bad.

[Michael McCroddan @mvmccroddan]

One of many heroic tales of courage by wireless operators working in France during World War 2. Read @MandaScott brilliant book “A Treachery of Spies” for a fictional account based on real places and similar events during this period, unforgettable 👌 🇫🇷.

[Fascinating @fasc1nate]

On Sep 13, 1944, a princess from India lay dead at Dachau concentration camp. She had been tortured by the Nazis and then shot in the head. Her name was Noor Inayat Khan.

The Germans knew her only as Nora Baker, a British spy who had gone into occupied France using the code name Madeline. She carried her transmitter from safe house to safe house with the Gestapo trailing her, providing communications for her Resistance unit.

Wireless operators in France had a life expectancy of six weeks. Noor was actively transmitting for over three times as long.

While she was in France, every other wireless operator in her network was slowly picked off until she was the last radio link between London and Paris. It was "the most dangerous and important post in France."

She was offered a way back to Britain and refused.

In fact, in her transmissions to London, she once said that she was having the time of her life, and thanked them for giving her the opportunity to do this.

She was captured by the Gestapo, but never gave up; she made three attempts at escape. One involved asking to take a bath, insisting on being allowed to close the door to preserve her modesty, and then clambering onto the roof of the Gestapo HQ in Paris.

Her last word before being shot was, "Liberté!"

[Richard Morris @ahistoryinart]

@mvmccroddan Is this the one?

[Michael McCroddan @mvmccroddan]

@ahistoryinart Yes it is, Rosalind has it in her main entrance and to the house. How lovely to see it again, thank you 🙏 😉. Her father’s story is in @Wikipedia , such a tragedy about his wood cuts although Rosalind is also a wonderful artist in this respect.

[Michael McCroddan @mvmccroddan]

@ahistoryinart It was, of course, Douglas Percy Bliss. No wonder I liked it so much!

[Michael McCroddan @mvmccroddan]

@ahistoryinart So perfectly redolent of the 1930’s Richard. One of my clients was Rosalind Bliss whose father I understand was a notable portrait painter pre WW2
but I cannot remember his first name. She had a wonderful self-portrait of him in her home in Derbyshire which I coveted 😉.

[Michael McCroddan @mvmccroddan]

Sad but true 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[Gary Gilligan @garygilligan]

A sobering thought...

[Michael McCroddan @mvmccroddan]

Totally agree with you about M W-T on your first point. Being associated with this was not a smart move and will sully his reputation if it goes to trial. No one is coming out of this smelling of roses other that the journo who broke the original story 🤔.

[Gary Gilligan @garygilligan]

Shortish thread. Michelle Mone "documentary".

I forced myself to watch the whole thing. It was hard work, but here are some reflections.

1. I hope that Mark Wilson-Thomas was paid well as I'm not convinced his reputation as an investigative reporter will be enhanced. 1/8

[James Fitzgerald @JamesFitzJourno]

A thousand times this.

[Michael McCroddan @mvmccroddan]

@MasterChefUK what a final tonight 👌!

[Michael McCroddan @mvmccroddan]

@chefkasae better not put any more kangaroos 🦘 on her menu, let alone eucalyptus! Having been to Australia and read all of @janeharperautho books the journey Kasae Fraser has been on is incredible, she’s a winner already #MasterchefTheProfessionals !

[Michael McCroddan @mvmccroddan]

@chefkasae better not put any more kangaroos 🦘 on her menu, let alone eucalyptus! Having been to Australia and read all of @janeharperautho books the journey Kasae Fraser has been on is incredible, she’s a winner already #MasterchefTheProfessionals !

[Michael McCroddan @mvmccroddan]

Doctors were also required to sign NDAs which they found very weird 🤔 🤣

[Jess-No flags because I actually am British @JessSalop]

@Peston His experience was a mild case that required no invasive measures.

The nurses signed NDAs, and Johnson used his very brief precautionary period in hospital as a PR stunt, and is trying to use it again here.

[Michael McCroddan @mvmccroddan]

@chefkasae better not put any more kangaroos 🦘 on her menu, let alone eucalyptus! Having been to Australia and read all of @janeharperautho books the journey Kasae Fraser has been on is incredible, she’s a winner already #MasterchefTheProfessionals !

[RightJudgeIam @RightJudgeIam]

#MasterchefTheProfessionals

What's that Skippy? There's a bald greengrocer shouting the time to go in the kitchen?

[Michael McCroddan @mvmccroddan]

Well done all of you, what an achievement 👏👏👏👏👏

[GeoTenerife @GeoTenerife]

Graduation! Massive congratulations to our 2023 cohort of @volcanocamp! A busy week in Tenerife and La Palma, so proud of you all! Thank you for coming on this crazy ride with us and good luck in your onward adventures, look forward to seeing where your work takes you next! ❤️

[Michael McCroddan @mvmccroddan]

How to turn the mundane into something extraordinary 👍, he pulled off a brilliant but tricky composition . Thank you for another great introduction to a British artist 🙏