Hello! Who Am I?

I’m a consultant and non-executive director who’s excited by and loves sharing ways that creative design and new technology can help businesses succeed and provide service delivery through my design and marketing agency, Real Point. I volunteer with the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) on policy issues relating at both a West Midlands and National Level and acting as a media spokesperson, alongside this I lecture on entrepreneurship and online marketing subjects at Coventry University.

I’m also an adventurer and love nothing more than spending time running and cycling in new places and exploring new challenges. I’m a husband and dad and fortunate that my children choose to join me on my adventures, both cycling, running and even camping! I’m a Christian and part of local church in Lapworth.

Ian ODonnell MBE portait

Why this blog?

It’s my musings on experience in all aspects of my life, from business leadership to wild camping and cycling with children.

Hope you find it interesting and I would love it if it inspired a reader to start a business, get more active or go on an adventure.

Make the World Better

Make the World Better

This is not a time to use the UK as petri dish for political & economic ideas or for personality driven politics but for collegiate working to create a stable environment with a long term strategy to build a resilient economy and UK community.

Just how much can you transport by bike?

Just how much can you transport by bike?

For the last 2 years almost all my food shops have been done by bike plus trailer, from a few bits to a full CostCo shop, all transported by human power. Why don’t you try it too?

London Marathon 2021

London Marathon 2021

It was great to be back running in London on Sunday, after many “false starts” and a virtual version, London Marathon was back in all it’s glory.

Dan Beaumont is finishing a BIG adventure

Dan Beaumont is finishing a BIG adventure

I love my little adventures, a chance to take a break from “normal life” and the lift that that gives to your mental and physical wellbeing. But I’ve been following Dan Beaumont on Instagram for a while now, his adventure definitely cannot be described as little!

Escaping The Maze – A look at regulation and small business

Escaping The Maze – A look at regulation and small business

When talking to small business owners about the challenges facing them and creating barriers to the growth of their business, one item is always top of the list, the regulatory burden. I’ve worked on a report, published today, which proposes a solution.

3 Key Asks for local elections by Small Businesses

3 Key Asks for local elections by Small Businesses

In my role as chair of FSB’s English Policy Unit, we are calling on election candidates from all major parties to help small businesses and the self-employed get on the right footing for recovery with three key asks.

Unhurried – The Joy of Cycle Touring

Unhurried – The Joy of Cycle Touring

This little film sums up perfectly the joy I find in cycletouring. It’s also inspired me to do the The John Muir Way another cycle tour to add to the list!

Politics – Solving Division with Technology

A fascinating video about technology & politics & the use digital tools to help bring consensus rather than division was recently brought to my attention by Rich Bishop. Has anyone else had experience of this? I would love to look at how we can bring this...