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Nigel_James
Active Contributor

Bif! Bam! Pow! Zok! I have entered a Batman episode and been BIFfed by twan.vandenbroek 

Well a big thank you to Twan for the Blog it Forward tag. I still remember the conversation we had at the TechEd when I gave him some tips about running a sapinsidetrack event.

So... to introduce myself for those that have just entered the room. I have been lurking around the S(D|C)N community since pre-beta. I have written a couple of these intro type posts so you are more that welcome to read those but lets see if I can add a little more detail or round out a few things.

You may not have noticed me around here that much recently. Yes it is true that I contributed more to the community and to SCN in the past and let's just say I have been taking a breather before I jump back in.

I really am passionate about community. I think it is what makes life much more fun. This is why darren.hague and I started the sapinsidetrack events which have grown from humble beginnings to being held all around the world.

Please answer the following questions

1. What is your philosophy of innovation and how do you help others to innovate

Necessity is the mother of invention. Innovation that is for Innovation sake is a problem looking for a solution or a solution looking for a problem. Innovation that meets a genuine need is what really moves life forward. Growing up on a farm meant we often had to make do with what was available to solve a problem. I  think of the Apollo 13 as the best example of this. Don't innovate because you want to, don't innovate because you have a shiny new tool on your utility belt. What happens then is everything becomes a nail to your shiny new hammer.

Innovate because there is a genuine need and the solution will make a genuine difference in people's lives.

Often the answer to a problem is hiding under our nose and I like try to help people to see the solution that will work rather than one that uses a bunch of technology for it's own sake.

2. What is the project that you are most proud of in your SAP life

I have worked on some great and varied SAP projects over my career and I believe that with all the great new technology being released and refined by SAP there are only great days ahead. If I was to choose one "project" that I am most proud of it would be this blog: Three Little Words. It started a train of thought inside SAP and it's ramifications are still being felt today. Of course tying for first is the sapinsidetrack events. It warms my heart to hear of events going off all around the world.

3. If you had plenty of time next to your SAP career, what other career would you like to start (or did you already start)

So much to do ... So little time. I could have been a famous rock star - actually not really. I do like to sing and act and from time to time I still do this with various groups. [Winter spring summer or fall / All you have to do it call ...]

So to BIF a few other people: paul.snyman ; dan.mcnamara and cathy.thomas because I have been trying to get them to contribute more to SCN for years and now they have no excuse. I have had the pleasure of working with and alongside them over the years and I would like to ask them the following questions:

1. How do you lead people on projects so that the project is successful?

2. What is the biggest lesson you have learned over your career?

3. What do you see as the 'Next Big Thing'?

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