Breaking the mould - green jackets and red trousers
How do you change the world? Well, my view is that if you want
to do so in anything like a reasonable timeframe, the idea of
simply plodding along and conforming to the norms of business as
usual isn't going to cut it. The real satisfaction of changing the
world in terms of energy reduction, which is our ambition, will be
if we manage to do so on our watch. Having a novel idea of how to
reduce the energy consumption in the built environment is simply
just the start.
A dear friend of mine once told me that there are more brilliant
ideas discussed every Friday night "outside of the work
environment!" than anyone might ever believe. However, very few of
these actually turn into reality. Why? Well, the answer is not
necessarily because most of these ideas are fundamentally flawed,
although a number may well be - it is because there is a whole lot
more to a new product or process than simply an idea. The idea is
the beginning, and the really hard work only really starts after
the genesis of the idea.
The steps needed to convert a novel idea into reality are the
tough ones, and in fact the ones which require entrepreneurs to
literally break the mould. In our case, taking the concept of
winter mixing ventilation and building a product around that needed
a great deal of the "new". The crucial ingredient is the "terrier"
or "bulldog" factor - someone, and preferably a team, who simply
won't give up and won't take no for answer. The can-do attitude,
and will-do-anything approach from the team is the key to
success.
At Breathing Buildings we have hired a team of not only
ridiculously bright engineers, but people who don't stop and won't
tire in the pursuit of the ultimate goal of changing the world. We
are different! We have combined the brightest ventilation design
engineers with the team who are responsible for manufacturing
e-stack equipment and undertaking the site checks. This is a
completely different way of helping the construction industry. No
other natural ventilation equipment company has the talent on the
design side which we have.
We are also passionate about getting the brightest and best
mechanical engineers excited about the opportunities in the low
energy building sector. We therefore spend time helping
undergraduate students learn about the industry, the opportunities
for their revolutionary ideas to take hold and make a difference,
and of course about the problems which we face if we stand back and
allow a business as usual attitude to smother innovation.
So what's the reference to the green jacket? Being a Fitzgerald,
I have some Irish blood in me … albeit rather dilute by now. It was
generations ago that the family moved over to England. However,
being a fun-loving guy, I do enjoy St Patricks Day and sporting an
eye-catching lime green jacket when I can (and even red trousers if
I feel particularly loud). This is why the team sometimes refer to
me as the "green jacket" guy - not because I am ex-military! I have
worn it at both investor presentations as well as technical
conferences, and interestingly, I still get reminded by attendees
at those conferences that they remember the jacket which of course
in turn helps them remember the Breathing Buildings story and
technology. A good result for all.
So, what is the lesson learned? Well, it isn't to wear a
colourful jacket. Remember Joseph had a pretty rough time for some
of his life. The lesson is to think differently and to be
outrageously passionate about transforming the world. If you are,
well … then there is a chance you can make difference!
Shaun Fitzgerald
June 2011